Vinyl
Why Vinyl
Today you’re looking for
more fashionable choices in flooring than ever before, and
the flooring industry has responded. Because, more
than anything, they want to provide you with the flooring
solution that’s best for you, the flooring for the way you
live.
Resilient/Vinyl just may be
the one for you and your home. Why?
We’ll get to that in a minute.
First, allow us to clear up
some of the terminology, so you can be a smart shopper in
this unique category of flooring.
Resilient floors, as the
name implies, have some “give” or elasticity when you walk
across them.
Resilient floors are often
used in kitchens and baths because of their good looks,
resistance to moisture and wide variety of colors and
textures.
These floors are relatively
easy to keep clean. Their main enemy is grit or sand that
can be ground into the surface. No matter which resilient
floor you choose, you will find stylish options, high
performance and tremendous value.
You can completely
customize your floor by mixing contrasting colors patchwork
style, creating medallions or curved cuts that express your
unique vision and personality. Let your imagination run
free!
There are two types of
vinyl flooring: sheet vinyl and vinyl composition tiles (VCT).
For our purposes here, and throughout the rest of these
sections, we will refer to sheet vinyl simply as vinyl, or
vinyl flooring.
VCT has all the advantages
of vinyl, is available in a wide array of colors and can
look good anywhere.
Spare vinyl composition
tiles can be kept on hand to repair worn areas, and the VCT
format opens up unlimited possibilities for creating your
own unique patterns.
However, vinyl flooring
also offers you many tempting advantages.
In fact, no other floor
covering category offers you the selection, styling, ease of
maintenance and value as a vinyl floor!
Thanks to some great
advancements in styling and technology, vinyl floors have
been changed forever.
Vinyl flooring can now
realistically mimic the look and textures of real resilient,
stone and wood grain patterns.
These amazing replicas have
such incredible realism it is difficult for most people to
tell whether it's the real thing or not. Who needs to know,
right?
Finally, a note about
linoleum, which is not a resilient flooring but the one you
probably recall as the original kitchen and bath flooring.
While linoleum, because it
is a “natural” flooring material, is enjoying somewhat of a
renaissance, the most popular floor covering material in
this category is vinyl.
But never fear, we want you
to know about
linoleum, and
cork,
rubber and
specialty resilient flooring.
Resilient Styles
Forget all your thinking
about the vinyl of yesterday – about the limited color
selection, the lack of unique patterns – the absence of
anything truly imaginative.
Today, vinyl flooring has
joined the ranks of tile, laminate and carpeting in offering
you beautiful products, a broad spectrum of colors,
virtually endless patterns and configurations – options to
inspire and fire your imagination.
Given that, we believe
vinyl can be a real contender in your quest to find the
ideal flooring – the smartest solution for the way you live.
And in this section on
Vinyl Styles we’ll share with you what’s available to choose
from, as always with our goal of making you a smarter
flooring shopper.
The advancements
in vinyl are never final.
Today’s vinyl flooring has
truly advanced from that of yesterday.
Long gone are the shiny,
plastic-looking floors that easily dented and ripped.
There is now a broad
selection of fashionable colors, patterns and textures that
offer durability and easy maintenance.
Many of these stylish new
products emulate the look of natural stone, slate or
resilient tile and can fit into any budget. Hooray!
Where vinyl has
been at home.
Traditionally, vinyl
flooring has been found in your kitchen, bath or laundry
room areas.
This is because vinyl is a
practical, functional and fashionable option for today’s
active households.
Vinyl is also known to be
cushiony and warm underfoot in comparison to natural stone
or resilient tile.
But now, thanks to
innovations in design and performance, vinyl flooring is at
home in any room in your home. So factor that into your
planning.
As usual, you get
what you pay for.
As you move up in the vinyl
price range there are many benefits.
In terms of product
selection alone, more versatile patterns, colors and
textures will be available to you.
When talking about
performance, today’s premium wearlayers offer superior
resistance to stains, scuffs and scratches. That’s worth
noting if you live in an active household, or with kids or
pets.
Some premium wearlayers are
enhanced with
aluminum oxide,
which provides exceptional resistance to scratching.
More importantly, these
wearlayers make
clean up a breeze. Make your life a little easier.
You’ll also notice that, as
you move up, you’ll get enhanced performance constructions,
designed to protect your floor from rips, tears, gouges and
permanent indentations.
Resilient - Before You Buy
Hopefully, if you’ve been to
the previous sections on
vinyl, you know
that the vinyl flooring of yesterday is long gone and newer,
better performing vinyl flooring is underfoot today.
Maybe you’ve learned enough
to make vinyl, your final conclusion that, given your
home, living situation, performance requirements and project
budget, vinyl flooring is the solution for the way you live.
If that’s the case we say
congratulations.
Understand that there are a
few more things you should know about vinyl flooring before
it’s laid down in your home, and long before you lay down
your payment.
There are product insights,
performance considerations and installation revelations
about vinyl flooring you should consider. And more.
That’s why we’ve put this
section together.
It’s all about the things
you should be aware of, keep in mind, and just plain know,
before you have to reach for your wallet or checkbook.
So read on about this
stylish and versatile flooring called vinyl.
Learn all you can and let
yourself dream a little too.
Make certain that this
truly is the flooring solution for the way you live.
Today’s vinyl
flooring is durable, affordable and “natural.”
The vinyl offered today is
quite different than the vinyl of yesterday.
Advances in construction
and aesthetics have produced fashionable products that are
both durable and affordable.
You should know that many
of the popular patterns today are inspired by nature,
including those that imitate the exquisite look of natural
stone.
With an abundance of
patterns and new methods of texturing the surface, very
realistic vinyl looks have been achieved. Who needs to know,
right?
Realize this
product is like a layer cake.
Vinyl is constructed of
several different layers: the
wear layer, the printed or
decorative layer, an
inner core consisting of a foam
and vinyl layer, and a
backing.
Don’t be so quick
to buy thick.
When selecting your vinyl
flooring, thicker is not always better.
It’s the density
of the inner core that will help your floor resist rips,
tears, gouges and indentations.
Knowledge wise,
stay on top of the top layer.
Understand that the quality
of the wearlayer, which is the actual surface layer of the
floor, will determine how your floor will stand up to
staining, scuffing and scratching.
For example, a urethane
wearlayer will help with stain resistance.
We recommend you consult
with your retailer about the wearlayer that’s right for your
home and lifestyle.
Be aware of
traffic!
When selecting the right
vinyl for the rooms in your home, consider the room’s foot
traffic and the types of activities that will take place.
Ask your retailer to review
with you the manufacturer’s warranty and performance
characteristics of the products that are available.
Usually, extended
warranties are available with upgraded products, giving you
added confidence that your floor will stand up to your
active household.
There’s a fine
line to walk regarding
seams.
Since vinyl comes in 6’ and
12’ widths, seaming may be necessary depending on the area
to be covered.
Certain patterns will hide
seams better. For example, tile patterns with grout lines
are better able to mask seams.
Additionally,
seam sealers may
be visible in contrast with different vinyl textures and
finishes.
Be aware that it is your
responsibility to maintain caulking in heavy water use
areas.
Finally, be
calculating!
Figure the total cost of
vinyl flooring ownership. The “cost per square foot” of your
vinyl flooring is just one component of your entire project
cost.
To ensure there are no
surprises, and the vinyl you select fits within your overall
project budget, be sure to ask your retailer to calculate
the total cost of your floor covering project.
Here’s a list of potential
additional expenses you may incur:
