0
0
Vinyl floors are made in layers, like laminates. However, the main difference is that the vinyl does not have wood; they are vinyl. This gives them a smoothness that laminates don’t have.
- Backing layer: The bottom or backing layer is the thickest layer. It is made entirely of vinyl and provides stability and resistance to the ground.
- Design Layer: This is the printed layer that features the floor design. It is the one that gives variety and style to the floor.
- Protection layer: On top of the design layer is the protection layer. It is transparent and protects from scratches.
- Upper layer: The upper layer is composed of aluminium oxide. And it is that it gives you double protection against scratches.
The installation of this type of flooring is the same as laminate. It is installed as a floating floor. Within its varieties, you can find rigid core vinyl flooring or SPC, waterproof flooring or WPC.
Types of vinyl floors
Check out the types of vinyl flooring. They are found in rolls, tiles and planks. Each of these floor types. They have different characteristics. Therefore, it is important to know them and differentiate them.
Sheet vinyl flooring
Its main advantage is the variety of designs it has. Vinyl rolls or sheets usually come from 2 to 4 meters wide. In addition to their variety, they are cheap flats without neglecting quality. They are made up of thin layers of vinyl sheets, with a top layer printed with the floor design. They are also water resistant and ideal for covering your bathrooms or kitchens.
Vinyl tiles
These types of floors perfectly imitate ceramic tiles. But better, because they are softer and cheaper. In addition, they are resistant to water. So they are perfect for your kitchens. They come in square pieces of 30 or 45 cm. They can be installed without seams. But they can also be installed with grout, just like ceramic. It is a durable, resistant and waterproof floor.
Vinyl Plank Flooring
It is also known as luxury vinyl; they are pieces similar to laminate flooring. But with, its characteristics: More resistant to water, durable, soft to the foot and cheaper than solid wood. But just as beautiful and resistant. Its installation is as easy as a laminate floor, and the cutting of its pieces is even simpler.
To install vinyl flooring, you will need to have the right tools. Among them are tape measure, square, pencil and chalk line. Don’t forget to include the scalpel. Next, measure your space and determine the space to install. Calculate the square meters of material needed for the project and add 10%. Select the right flooring.
How to install vinyl flooring?
Once you receive your floors, it is important to acclimatize the material for 48 hours in the area to be installed. After the process is complete, start the installation on the longest wall in your room. The most common closure is the click fit. For this, you will need to attach the tongue to the groove. Starting on the shortest side of the board. This way, you will already have your first row for the last piece cut the material. You only need the measure, the square and the scalpel.
Fit the tongue and groove on the longest side. In this way, you will be able to have the following rows of your floor. When finished, cut if necessary. Finish including final finishes. That is the transition profiles and the matching broom guards.
Advantages and disadvantages of vinyl flooring
It is important to know the advantages and disadvantages of vinyl flooring. Thus your choice will be perfect.
Advantages of vinyl floors
- The advantages of vinyl floors are innumerable; here we present some of them:
- Resistant to stains, wear and scratches.
- They are durable, and with minimal care, they can last more than 15 years.
- Easy to install thanks to its click-type closure system.
- Cleaning vinyl flooring is quite simple, and it will only require a damp mop and the right cleaner.
- Waterproof and moisture-proof floors.
They have a special layer that gives the material an acoustic comfort making them more comfortable under your feet. Therefore, in the kitchen, they are perfect.
- Variety is another outstanding aspect of vinyl floors since you can find them in rolls, tiles or planks according to your needs, making them the ideal floor for all the spaces in your home; there is the perfect one for each one.
Disadvantages of vinyl flooring
Vinyl flooring, just like another flooring, also has some drawbacks. Among them, we find:
- The sensitivity to the subfloor indicates that it will be a big problem if the subfloor has any imperfections in the vinyl floors.
- They are very delicate with heavy furniture because their softness, in this case, can become an inconvenience.
How to choose the right vinyl floors?
These tips help you choose the right vinyl floor regarding the type, design and other important characteristics. It all depends on the kind of project you are doing. For example, vinyl flooring can be installed over concrete floors or existing flooring.
Types of vinyl floors
Sheet vinyl can be installed over ceramic, tile, or wood flooring. To give water resistance to your floors. Or to improve its design and modernize it. For example, suppose you are remodelling and don’t want to invest in new flooring. Or delete the old ones. This may be your best option.
If, on the contrary, you are starting your project. Vinyl tile or plank flooring are great options. Tiles are ideal for your kitchens and their installation in bathrooms, which is very common. The planks will be perfect in your living rooms and bedrooms. To match the decoration, you hope to have in your home.
Designs
In designs, you can choose dark or light shades. There is imitation oak wood, as well as pine and redwood. If you already have your decoration, your choice will be easier. If you still do not have it, it will be your opportunity to define it. In addition, you can choose the brushed style or with long scratches, where the variety of styles multiplies.
Quality and price
Depending on the type of floor, the quality and price vary. But this is not all bad. In this variety, you can find the one that fits your budget, style, and quality. Waterproof floors are more expensive, but they are worth it. For their part, SPC or PVC floors are ideal for high-traffic spaces and are also beautiful.
