A recent survey highlights that 59% of Americans intend to continue their home improvement efforts this year. Are you one of these handy folks who are on a home renovation spree?
Does your home feel like it’s missing that final touch to take to where you want it to be, but you can’t quite put your finger on the cause? Look down.
Your floor has a major impact on the overall appearance and ambiance of your home.
Here’s why vinyl flooring is one of your top home improvement options.
What Is Vinyl Flooring?
Vinyl flooring comprises several layers which account for its many benefits to homeowners. The floor’s built up as follows:
- An adhesive base layer
- Rigid core for stability
- A thick layer of cushioning
- High-definition photographic layer
- 100% waterproof film
- Top layer to seal and protect the floor
It comes in easy-to-install planks that most homeowners can install themselves. It works with a click-lock system in which the ends of the planks snap together.
Since it comes with its own adhesive underlayment, you can install it over any type of flat subfloor. Since vinyl planks are slightly thicker than sheet vinyl, you don’t notice and small imperfections in your subfloor.
Cost-wise, vinyl plank flooring’s comparable to tile, but you save on things like grout and special tools to complete the job.
Thanks to this, you don’t have to pay for the expert services of an installer when you opt for this type of flooring.
Luxury Vinyl Flooring Looks Fantastic
Vinyl flooring’s available in a huge range of patterns, textures, and colors to suit any home’s design. You can create the appearance of expensive hardwood or laminate flooring at a fraction of the cost when you opt for vinyl floors.
Thanks to advanced photographic imagery and high-quality printing, vinyl flooring closely imitates any type of floor surface.
Apart from wood-look floors, you can also choose from vinyl flooring with the appearance of marble, shiplap, stone, parquet, concrete, and decorative tile.
Some types of customized vinyl planks come with an antiqued distressed appearance that closely mimics traditional hardwood flooring.
The days of psychedelic 60s style vinyl/linoleum floors are long gone. Today’s vinyl flooring options create a luxurious, sophisticated look to suit the most discerning taste.
Vinyl Flooring’s Easy to Maintain
Although modern vinyl flooring may have lost the kitsch look of its predecessors, it’s retained all the easy-maintenance benefits.
It’s super-simple to keep vinyl plank flooring looking its best. All you need do is sweep and mop it regularly to maintain it in perfect condition.
Scuff marks and wear are a common issue with any type of floor, but you don’t need to spend a fortune sanding down and repairing vinyl floors in this case. It’s easy to replace the offending planks at a fraction of what it costs to repair other types of flooring.
Vinyl Plank Flooring Is Water-Resistant
One of the biggest benefits of vinyl flooring is water-resistance. You needn’t worry about spills or splashes damaging your floor.
Thanks to a layer of commercial-grade waterproof material beneath its surface, vinyl flooring repels water. You can simply mop or wipe up any spills without any worries.
Vinyl planks are also anti-slip and anti-static.
Thanks to these factors, you can enjoy the gorgeous appeal of vinyl flooring in areas of high humidity and moisture, like your kitchen and bathroom.
Vinyl’s a Durable Material
Water damage can wreak havoc with most types of flooring, causing warping and lifting. You never have to consider these issues when you have vinyl flooring.
Thanks to its tough outer layer, vinyl flooring also stands up well to scuffs, stains, and scrapes. Thanks to these properties, it’s ideal for busy households with children and pets.
Vinyl Plank Floors Offer Comfort Underfoot
Thanks to its layered design, vinyl plank flooring is soft and comfortable underfoot. This is of particular benefit to those who spend hours working at a standing desk or whipping up elaborate meals in the kitchen.
It won’t crack easily either thanks to this cushioned layer since it can easily absorb normal day-to-day impacts.
This cushioning means it’s quiet underfoot too, so you can install it upstairs without concerns about the noise of footsteps overhead.
A little-known fact about vinyl floor planks is that they remain at room temperature. So, you don’t need to worry about a cold floor when you get out of bed on a chilly winter morning.
Types of Home Floors
There are five different vinyl floor types you can choose from when you’re considering flooring for your home. These vary in price and durability, but they’re all equally attractive.
These are the main types of vinyl plank flooring:
- Rigid core flooring with enhanced dimensional stability
- Hybrid flooring engineered to combine the best aspects of vinyl and laminate
- SPC flooring with limestone and stabilizers
- WPC flooring with wood composite plastic backing
Some vinyl floor brands like Mohawk, Cortec, and Shaw, comprise both WPC and SPC offerings. Learn more about Cortec flooring and how it’s made by clicking the link.
Starting From the Bottom Up
Vinyl plank flooring is a durable, attractive, and worthwhile place to start if you’re undertaking a full home refurbishment or if you want to create a big impact when renovating.
Some of the other options to consider include hardwood flooring, laminate flooring, and carpet.
If you’re in search of more home renovation options, keep browsing the home improvement section of our blog for ideas.
