The History of Vinyl Flooring
They say history repeats itself, and nothing could be truer than flooring for a home or business. Yes, the history of flooring has repeated itself. When habitats were first created for humans, we had caves with dirt floors. Then man invented homes with wood flooring, and vinyl flooring for kitchens was introduced in 1933.
As soldiers returned from the war in the 50s, and into the 60s, vinyl flooring became more popular. It was affordable and durable, ideal for a home with kids, becoming the hallmark style of the Mid-Century Modern style.
Over the years, improvements made it even more popular, like no-waxing and a cushioned thickness. More colors were introduced with patterns like imitations of parquet, ceramic mosaic, Roman tile, and Spanish tile looks. Vinyl flooring took over the reign of carpeting as it was available in sheets or tiles.
By the 80s, wood flooring had returned in popularity, but was too expensive for most homeowners, not to mention the delicacy of maintaining it! Now, now in 2022, and for the past few years, vinyl flooring has returned, and it is even better than ever!
Why is vinyl flooring better today?
The first thing is when compared to ceramic tile, linoleum, and wood flooring, vinyl flooring is more affordable. And it comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns, mimicking those other expensive flooring materials and it is an excellent DIY-friendly material.
What vinyl flooring is best?
Today, vinyl flooring comes in planks and there are 3 categories:
- Luxury Vinyl Plank: This type of vinyl flooring looks like authentic wood and has a superior construction with four layers, including a waterproof core and top layer that is damage resistant.
- Rigid Core Vinyl Plank: With a strong composite corner, this vinyl floor is built for a long lifespan. With the level of durability of this option, it is ideal for an open-concept type of décor and high-traffic areas like entryways and hallways.
- Waterproof Vinyl Plank: This vinyl flooring mimics features similar to the other two but is 100% waterproof, making it the best choice for bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms.
What type of vinyl flooring is the most durable?
Because the core is a dense composite material, rigid core vinyl plank is the most durable of vinyl flooring materials. It is a durable flooring, ideal for high-traffic areas and the engineering gives it a long lifespan. There is a variety of core materials used in this vinyl flooring option, with most being a stone plastic composite, wood plastic composite, or a hybrid variation.
What thickness of vinyl flooring is best?
When it comes to vinyl flooring, simply being thicker doesn’t mean it is more durable. It is the outer layer that will make the determination of how well it wears. The wear layer is the protective layer against dents, scratches, stains, and water damage.
In general, choosing a thicker wear layer is recommended for vinyl flooring in high-foot traffic areas. Rooms like entryways, hallways, the kitchen, living room, or in offices and waiting rooms. If comfort is the goal and the area or room has low traffic, like a bedroom, a thin wear layer with a thicker vinyl plank, sheet, or tile gives the flooring that comfort with extra stability.
Vinyl flooring ranges in thickness between 2mm and 8mm. For a heavy foot traffic area, the rule of thumb is a thickness between 4mm and 6mm thickness. For areas or rooms with less foot traffic, 4mm or less is recommended.
What are the disadvantages of vinyl flooring?
Yes, vinyl flooring gives your home a remarkable appearance on a budget, looking like wood without being wood. But in the long run, the disadvantages of vinyl flooring can cost more. What kind of disadvantages does vinyl flooring have?
- It can’t be repaired if there is a puncture or tear.
- It emits VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
- Lifespan is shorter than wood flooring.
- No impact, positive or negative, on resale value.
- If installed with an adhesive, it is difficult to remove.
- Not an eco-friendly material, recycling is difficult.
Which vinyl flooring is nontoxic?
All three categories of vinyl flooring have very low VOCs and off-gassing.
Is vinyl flooring waterproof?
Yes, to a limit. Vinyl flooring is mainly PVC which makes it all waterproof. But, because they are installed in planks, there are several seams that can allow water in, causing damage under the vinyl planks.
Can vinyl flooring be painted?
Absolutely and if you’re changing the décor of a room, using an enamel floor paint will give a flooring to match that is hard-wearing and slow to be marked.
Can vinyl flooring be used outdoors?
In a controlled environment, yes, vinyl flooring is possible. This means it will work in a closed-in porch or sunroom, but even though it is 100% waterproof, the temperature fluctuating should be considered.