Vinyl Flooring Guide
Sophisticated manufacturing techniques are now used to make vinyl flooring. This means manufacturers can create extremely realistic, often three-dimensional patterns, which rival the look of natural materials such as ceramic and slate. Most vinyl flooring utilizes a top wear layer, resulting in a very tough and easy-to-clean floor surface.
Thanks to these new developments, what once considered appropriate flooring only for damp or heavy-use areas, such as kitchens and bathrooms, is now a versatile option that works virtually anywhere. Long esteemed for its durability and resistance to water damage, vinyl flooring is now considered a budget-friendly to achieve an upscale look. Alexanian’s experts will walk you through this vinyl flooring guide to help you make the right choice.
Whether you’re remodeling the bathroom, finishing a basement or seeking cost-effective flooring for almost any other room, vinyl floors can be the perfect choice. This type of flooring is durable, long lasting, and easy to install. They are also water-resistant and can be used throughout the home.
Vinyl floors come in various sizes and can be used in any room in your home. In the vinyl flooring buying guide, we’ll describe some popular styles to help you choose the right vinyl floors for your space.
Shop by Type
Vinyl Plank
Enjoy the benefits of a wood look-alike in wet spaces such as kitchens, bathrooms or mudrooms. When you want the texture and appearance of hardwoods, but at a lower price point, vinyl planks are a great solution. Laid like wood floors, they showcase rich texture and are available in a wide variety of hues.
Vinyl Tile
Using vinyl tiles means getting a cost-effective, durable, moisture-resistant tiling option that can work anywhere. Vinyl tiles are available in either peel-and-stick or groutable varieties. For your convenience, this flooring choice comes in a wide variety of styles and design
Vinyl Sheet
When you want a durable, affordable vinyl option to complete a living or utilitarian space, vinyl sheeting is a smart choice. Made in rolls that measure either 6- or 12-feet wide, this material has a fibreglass core. Even over long periods of time, you can trust it to resist cracking, expanding, shrinking, curling and other damage.
Luxury Vinyl
If you are looking for a durable and moisture-resistant flooring option, consider luxury vinyl plank flooring. It’s low maintenance and easy to clean, which makes it a great flooring option throughout the house across many different rooms.
Shop by Colour
Vinyl Appearances
Wood – Available in both tile and plank. It provides the same look of a hardwood floor with better durability at a lower cost.
Ceramic/Porcelain – Available in tile. it provides the same look and textures of ceramic or pocelain tile, providing a high-end apperaance with the benefits of vinyl.
Patterned Ceramic/Porcelain – Available in tile. Combining styles and patterns with a variety of textures and colours can make any room look more interesting.
Stone/Slate – Available in both tile and plank. It provides same look and textures of nature, providing a stunning and natural appearance with the benefits of vinyl.
Marble – Available in tile. It provides same look and textures of nature, providing a high-end appearance with the benefits of vinyl.
Vinyl Construction
There are essentially two types of vinyl construction: inlaid construction with solid-coloured vinyl chips, and rotogravure construction which involves a printing process to achieve the design.
Most vinyl flooring is constructed with a durable top wear layer. The thickness of the wear layer will vary and is generally measured in mils of thickness. More expensive vinyl floors usually have thicker wear layers. The quality of the wear layer contributes to the ease of cleaning, resistance to staining, its durability and life expectancy of the floor.
Each manufacturer has its own specially formulated wear layer. Generally, urethanes are the most popular. Urethane-type wear layers are found on higher-quality vinyl floors. Some manufacturers apply a special coating on the top urethane surface to improve stain resistance.
Lower-priced vinyl floors often have a PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride) wear layer, which protects the underlying pattern from being damaged by wear. These floors may stain easier and be harder to clean.
Vinyl Benefits
Low maintenance: Sweep or vacuum regularly to remove small debris, or a damp mop to remove stains.
Durability: Multiple layers makes vinyl resistant to damage from scratches and wear.
Water resistance: Properly installed vinyl flooring is watertight, making them perfect for a high moisture space.
Stain resistance: Clear wear layer that acts as a surface barrier to protect the floor from stains and spills.
Style: Available in a variety of colours, sizes and styles. Vinyl floors can elevate the elegance in your home and create a statement.
Vinyl Terms
Interlocking – An installation method that connects engineered tiles or boards to each other without the need for glue on the edges or ends. The pieces lock together via a tongue-and-groove system. Interlocking floors float over the subfloor.
Resilient – Typically refers to sheet or tile vinyl flooring. Resilient is a firm type of flooring but gives a little when it is walked on.
Heat Welding – A process for sealing seams of commercial linoleum floors and some commercial vinyl sheet floors. Heat welding requires skilled professionals who use specialized tools.
Full Spread Adhesive – An installation system for linoleum, felt-backed vinyl sheet products and luxury vinyl tile in which adhesive is spread across the entire substrate before it is placed down for installation.
Vinyl Tile – Resilient flooring available in flat pieces, usually measuring 12 inches by 12 inches, which can be installed as individual units.
Substrate – A smooth surface used beneath floor covering, such as concrete, underlayment or existing resilient flooring.
Wear Layer – The portion of a floor covering that contains or protects the pattern.
Below Grade – Below ground level; partially or completely below the surrounding ground level and in direct contact with the ground or with fill that is in direct contact with the ground.
Flooring Cleaners | Caring & Cleaning | Installation Services | Cleaning Services | Shop-at-Home Service
