Vinyl Flooring – Pros, Cons, Types and Installation Method
Vinyl flooring is durable and versatile.
Vinyl is made from polyvinyl chloride(PVC) with various additives, pigments, and fillers.
Constructed using three principal layers – felt paper, vinyl foam, and a protective layer.
Mostly used for areas that are prone to moisture and wetness, spills like bathrooms, kitchens, laundry areas.
Pros of Vinyl Flooring:
- Durable and versatile
- Water resistance and stain resistance
- Easy to install and less maintenance
- Suitable for high traffic areas
- Mimic the look of granite/hardwood/bamboo/ceramic
- Economical /budget-friendly
Cons of Vinyl Flooring:
- Not an eco-friendly option, cannot be reused
- Difficult to remove if glued
- VOC emissions during manufacture can cause respiratory problems
- With direct sunlight, color may fade
- Not a good option for the resale value of a house
Types of Vinyl flooring:
There are three types in which these are available.
- 1.Sheet Vinyl
- 2.Vinyl tiles
- 3.Vinyl Planks
1.Sheet Vinyl
- Available in large wide rolls.
- 6-12 feet wide
- installed using adhesive
- easy to install
- Mostly often glued down to sub-floor
2.Vinyl Tiles
- Squares imprinted with a variety of designs
- A popular choice in bathrooms and kitchens
- Available in glue down and floating floor installation.
- Smooth uniform appearance
3.Vinyl Planks
- Similar to hardwood or laminate
- Referred to as LVT (luxury vinyl tile) or LVP (luxury vinyl plank)
- Installed in residential and commercial applications.
- RIGID CORE VINYL PLANKS
Such as WPC or SPC
Features a thin layer of vinyl on top of a waterproof core
- WPC VINYL PLANKS
Engineered tile which is a mixture of wood, plastic and vinyl
- SPC VINYL PLANKS
Engineered tile which is stone plastic composite core
- HYBRID VINYL PLANKS
Engineered to combine vinyl and laminate flooring together.
Aesthetics
Colors:
Available in light, medium and dark in various colors as per location and supplier.
Light colors like white and grey create an airy and spacious atmosphere. It appears modern and sophisticated. Medium colors like light brown and brown offers a natural look and suitable for varied styles. Dark colors like dark brown and black makes a difference with a natural look.
Sizes:
WIDTH:
SHEET VINYL – 6 to 12 feet wide
TILES – 9”,12”,18” Squares and rectangles.
PLANKS – 5-6”x48”-more
Narrow tiles/Planks make small room appear bigger whereas wide planks are suited for large rooms/areas. Planks give a unique dimension to the room.
THICKNESS: Thickness of vinyl flooring ranges from 4mm-8mm.The more stable the subfloor, the thinner the vinyl flooring is required.
Shades:
Available in dark shade, light shade, medium/neutral shade.
Edge Detail
Edge details may vary according to manufacturer or supplier.
- Square edge – floors are finished with 90-degree edges. It offers a seamless transition from one plank to others.
- Micro-beveled – Micro bevel or rounded corner.
- Deep beveled – with a V edge.
- Painted Bevel – Edges are painted with a different look
Texture
Texture may be smooth, slate, cement or hand scrapped.
Installation and Finish
3 types of Installation Method for Vinyl Flooring
- Click Lock
- Glue – Down
- Loose Lay
Click Lock
In this method of installation, the planks interlock with tongue and groove joints that gets easily snap together creating a floating floor.
1. Measure and prepare the subfloor.
2. Measure the size of the room and buy about 15% more than the flooring required.
3. Prepare the subfloor to be clean, leveled, and dust-free.
4.Before installation, plan how you will lay the planks according to the size and pattern
5. Lay the first plank after trimming the short tongue edge, leaving little space from the wall.
6. Install the second plank by holding at an angle and inserting its tongue edge into the first plank’s groove edge and snap the planks together.
7. Continue in the same way for remaining row till the end, if required trim the end of the last plank
8.Attach the side of the plank by side for the second row and continue in the same method as first row or the rest of the room
9. Place or replace the baseboard to the walls by nailing it to the wall.
Glue Down
In this method, the flooring adheres to the subfloor by adhesive supplied by the manufacturer
Adhesive can be already on the bottom of the plank/spread along the subfloor.
1. Measure and prepare the subfloor.
2. Measure the size of the room and buy about 15% more than the flooring required.
3. Prepare the subfloor to be clean, levelled, and dust free.
4. In this method of installation, mark the center of the room and start from the center.
5. Apply the adhesive to the subfloor starting at center working outward into the desired area.
6. Place the first plank at the center marked with its short edge.
7.Continue to lay the planks row by row working parallel to the center mark and verify each plank tightly fits against the neighboring plank
8.Trim the border planks as per the dimensions of the room leaving expansion gaps
9. When installation is complete, roll the entire floor by roller
10. Place or replace the baseboard to the walls by nailing it to the wall
Loose Lay
Creates a floating floor, has a self-adhesive layer that connects one plank to another.
1. Measure and prepare the subfloor.
2. Measure the size of the room and buy about 15% more than the flooring required.
3. Prepare the subfloor to be clean, leveled, and dust-free.
4.Before installation, plan how you will lay the planks according to the size and pattern
5. Cut and trim the planks according to the room size and shape and plan to stagger them.
6.Lay the first row of vinyl plank flooring along the wall leaving expansion gap by placing spacers
7.Butt the planks end to end, overlap the adhesive strips and press down firmly using a hand roller
8.Lay next row and continue in a similar way across the room and see that each plank is securely pressed together
9. Trim the planks wherever required for the borders.
10. Place or replace the baseboard to the walls by nailing it to the wall
11. When installation is complete, roll the entire floor by roller after removing spacers.
