There is no other flooring that can compete with vinyl flooring’s numerous attributes, versatility, and affordability. While vinyl flooring has been around for decades, today’s flooring technology has elevated vinyl flooring to a whole new level. The different types of vinyl flooring now available offer wood and stone visuals with a texture that mimics the real thing.
Rustic wood looks or refined stone looks with a strong waterproof story make it possible to put vinyl flooring in any space in your home. With such a high level of design freedom at your fingertips, you can easily create the look you want at a great value.
5 Benefits of Vinyl Flooring
Let’s review a few of the top benefits vinyl flooring has to offer.
1. Waterproof
Wood plastic composite (WPC) and stone plastic composite (SPC) vinyl flooring are each designed with a core layer that is completely waterproof, allowing them to be installed in areas where high moisture is present.
2. Scratch-Resistant
Vinyl flooring is known for its durability, but some vinyl flooring options are scratch- resistant like luxury vinyl tile, vinyl plank, and vinyl sheet. Each is an ideal choice for high traffic areas.
3. Cheaper than Hardwood
Want hardwood but not the hardwood cost? The spectrum of realistic wood-look vinyl products are available at a fraction of hardwood’s cost. Save even more by installing your vinyl flooring yourself!
4. Limitless Variation
The sky is truly the limit when it comes to the variations in vinyl flooring. The wood looks come in dark wood species as well as light and even gradients, spanning light to medium to dark — all in one floor. Create a stone look with everything from rustic to refined, and design tile looks that range from neutral to colorful to patterned.
5. Easy Cleaning
Vinyl flooring is easy to clean, requiring only sweeping or dust mopping daily. It is possible to vacuum the seams without damaging them. When it is time to deep clean, a damp mop is all that is necessary.
Types of Vinyl Flooring
You know what look you are going for, but which type of vinyl flooring is right for you? Here is a breakdown of the different types of vinyl flooring to help you decide which vinyl flooring is the perfect one for your home.
Vinyl Plank
Vinyl plank is designed to mimic hardwood flooring minus the high level of maintenance and of course, the cost! Additionally, vinyl plank flooring has a higher stain resistance than hardwood. Where it really stands out though, is in its realistic aesthetics combined with the fact that it is waterproof. Vinyl plank offers up the same wood species, colors, and textures as hardwood flooring. Vinyl planks, once put down, can be sealed to create a completely waterproof installation.
Vinyl Tile
Vinyl tile is a great option for DIYers. Easy and quick to install, vinyl tiles can be replaced if one is damaged. Vinyl tile squares come in a wide range of sizes and provide infinite design possibilities. Vinyl tile also comes in a peel-and-stick option, making that last-minute renovation possible.
Vinyl Sheet
Vinyl sheet, as its name implies, is a single sheet of vinyl typically ranging from 6 to 12 feet wide. The benefit of vinyl sheet is the lack of seams with the exception of those at the perimeter, making it ideal for high-moisture areas. Visually diverse, like its plank and tile counterparts, vinyl sheet comes in stone, ceramic tile, and wood looks with the same durability, low-maintenance, and affordability. Vinyl sheets can be installed over just about any type of flooring or underlayment, making it a convenient option.
Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)
Luxury vinyl tile offers an elevated level of design with rich stone and textured wood visuals that range from high-end travertine and marble looks to rustic reclaimed wood and exotic wood looks. Combine the high-end design with LVT’s warmth and comfort underfoot, and you’ve got a recipe that is tough to beat.
Determining the Best Choice
With such a wide selection of design options to choose from as well as various types of vinyl flooring, you are sure to find a vinyl product that fits your style and budget.
If you are looking for a highly realistic wood look, then perhaps vinyl plank is for you. Maybe you need to complete a flooring project in a matter of hours; so you could consider vinyl tile. Want to ensure that moisture is not an issue and cover a large (or even small) space in a short amount of time? Vinyl sheet just may be the right choice. Does your living room or dining room need a more high-end look? Luxury vinyl tile is the perfect choice for you.
As for the DIYers, you could not pick a better product to install yourself, whether it is your first floor or your 100th. The different types of vinyl flooring can be installed below-grade and over old vinyl, concrete, and tile flooring, so keep that in mind when selecting the vinyl flooring to find the style that is best for you and your home.
Ready to get that flooring project underway? Let us help you get started.
Contact BuildDirect’s team of flooring experts to help you choose the look and style of vinyl flooring that is the perfect complement to your home.