SHOPPING GUIDE FOR VINYL FLOOR

Price

Vinyl flooring has become one of the mainstream products on the market due to its affordable price and excellent durability. It costs $1 to $5 per square foot. According to the consumers’ feedback, the average cost of vinyl boards and tiles is $3.41 per square foot. And the labor costs $1 to $2 per foot. Please allow SayHomee to help you find more options in price. We would obtain different quotations from multiple contractors, check licenses, comment, and make it a reference for you.

Where is the vinyl floor used?

Vinyl floor is a great idea for kitchens, bathrooms, and other damp rooms. It is also used for rooms to host a lot of people, for example, the living room. Consumer Reports recommended it as the best choice for the basement floor because it is moisture resistant but not as cold as tiles.

The thickness of vinyl wood floor

Understanding the thickness of the vinyl floor would make it convenient for you to pick a floor for your place. It varies in the room, and you do not necessarily need the thickest floor because after all, some of the thickest floors are approved for commercial purposes. Below are some of the most popular thickness of the vinyl floors: 2mm, 2.5mm, 3mm, 3.2mm, 4mm, 5mm, 5.5mm, 6mm, 8mm, 8.5mm.

Advantages of vinyl floors in interior design

Affordability: Vinyl floor’s high affordability is its main advantage. It mimics high-end floors in appearance, but it is more affordable, and the cost can be as low as less than $5 per square foot.
Wide color selection: There is a wide color selection for vinyl floors to make them suitable for almost any design.
Easy installation: It can be easily installed on brick, wood, as well as directly on the floor. The tile is usually a 12x12 square. Most vinyl floors are installed by pasting, which means you can install it yourself and save the labor cost.
Moisture-resistant and waterproof: The vinyl floor is completely waterproof, so it can be used on the main floor, upper floor, lower floor, and almost anywhere in the house. It stands out in the bathrooms and kitchen because the water always ends up on the floor in these rooms.
Easy clean: The water on the surface of vinyl floors will not permeate, thus it is easy to clean. Regular cleaning and occasionally mopping can keep a clean and shiny floor.
Durability: vinyl panels have “wear layer”, sometimes up to three layers, to make it withstand regular wear and tear. High quality vinyl floors can last 20 years.
Comfort: Vinyl is a type of “resilient” floor, meaning it is soft, and you feel comfortable on it. You can stand on such floors for hours without feeling tired.

Disadvantages of vinyl floor in interior design

The quality of vinyl flooring varies on the market. Cheaper products reduce the choice for colors and patterns, and the patterns often look phony. Although the vinyl is more long-lasting than before, we still realize that cheaper vinyl floors are still easier to be scratched than other types of floor. In addition, if vinyl is installed directly on the floor, it makes a hallow echo sound when walking on it.

Another major drawback with vinyl is not it is not environmental-friendly. According to New Jersey Department of Human Services, PVC is “a major source of phthalates” and is banned as a plastic softener in toys as it damages children’s health and development. Although the tests of phthalates on vinyl panels are found low in the air and on the surface of panels, parents with young children are warned to use this material.

Three types of vinyl

There are three common types of vinyl: rigid core vinyl planks, luxury vinyl planks, and waterproof vinyl planks. They have similarities, but they are made of different layers and have different characters.

Luxury vinyl planks

LVP stands for luxury vinyl planks.

LVP usually has a strong structure and high durability. These planks can withstand high-intensity crowd and tolerant the abuse by children and pets. It is worth mentioning that there is no clear definition for the word “luxury” yet in the industry. However, LVP products include thick and durable and multi-layered floors, with vivid pattern and strong wear resistant layers. Otherwise, it would not be as high quality as it claims.

Waterproof vinyl planks

WPC is for waterproof vinyl planks.

WPC is a material mixed by wood or wood powder and plastic. It is also known as Wood Plastic Core or Waterproof Core. And it is a 100% phthalate-free material. WPC’s main component is like LVT floors, but the biggest difference is that the foaming agent is added to WPC to make it lighter and more comfortable when you step on it.

Rigid core vinyl planks

SPC is for rigid core vinyl planks.

Similar to WPC, SPC is an engineered luxury vinyl, combined limestone and stabilizer to form an extremely durable material. SPC is 100% waterproof, more stable, and dent resistant. Because the rigid core is very hard, it is a great choice for high traffic areas and commercial buildings. In fact, it has been approved for commercial buildings. As its core is ultra-dense, it is unlikely to dent under a piece of heavy furniture.

Vinyl floor style

Imitation wood flooring

Imitation wood vinyl floorings have different colors. Keep looking and you will find the style you want.

Imitation stone flooring

Most people might want imitation stone floors, with the popularity of ceramic tile flooring, we will see more and more imitation stone vinyl floors in our selection list.

The above is a short introduction about vinyl flooring. SayHomee is here to serve you if you are considering installing this type of floor. We have a large number of professional construction teams and experienced interior design masters to help you. We strive on providing you the best experience.