Among homeowners, buy vinyl flooring online is a popular option, especially in bathroom and kitchen applications. This type of flooring is the synthetic cousin of linoleum and it is versatile, stain-resistant, water-resistant and provides decent durability for its cost. Due to a number of technological advances throughout the years, vinyl floors nowadays are economical and attractive.
Types of Vinyl Flooring
The two types are tile flooring which uses 12×12-inch or 9×9-inch tiles and sheet flooring, in which the vinyl is laid down in sheets between 6 and 12 feet wide. Sheet flooring is easier to install and more water resistant; however, a number of homeowners prefer vinyl tiles. This is because the tiles replicate the appearance of ceramic tile floors but are more reasonably priced.
Pros and Cons of Vinyl Floors
This durable flooring stands up quite well to heavy foot traffic. The floor is comfy under foot and lowers noise, which can be vital for homeowners with children or pets. Additionally, it is less costly than many other flooring applications and easier to install and maintain. The flooring is available in a wide assortment of patterns and colors to match all décors, including a variation of life-like wood grains.
However, vinyl floors can be damaged by sharp objects and are incapable of standing up well to heavy loads. Furthermore, extreme temperatures could damage the floors and colors could fade with exposure to excessive direct sunlight. As such, vinyl is not endorsed for outdoor or indoor/outdoor applications.
Installation
The key to successfully installing this kind of flooring lies underneath the flooring itself. An extremely smooth surface is required for vinyl tiles and this is because any imperfection and flaw will come through as indentations and bumps in your floor. Typically, a layer of sanded plywood will serve as the best subfloor. The majority of manufacturers do not recommend installing new vinyl over existing ones if there are more than one layers. In fact, manufacturers will not guarantee the flooring if more than one layer of vinyl is underneath.
Another issue with laying over vinyl is that if the existing layer has patterns, the texture will become visible through the top layer eventually. Concrete could provide a good base for vinyl flooring but again, smoothness and uniformity can be an issue. Additionally, a plywood layer will provide a better feeling under foot. You can buy vinyl flooring online as some manufacturers provide do-it-yourself installation kits.
