The Pros and Cons of Vinyl Flooring
Understand what makes vinyl such a viable flooring option—as well as the downsides to this popular product—to decide whether to install it or remove it from your home
Vinyl is the most popular form of resilient flooring (a category that also includes linoleum and cork) because it’s low-maintenance, water-resistant, cost-effective, and long-lasting. It also has the perfect balance of firmness and “give,” meaning it springs a bit when you walk on it for a comfortable feel underfoot. And thanks to recent technological advances, today’s vinyl comes in a wide range of high-quality, beautiful finishes.
But vinyl flooring does have its downsides. So whether you’re considering installing vinyl or wondering what it takes to remove an existing vinyl floor, read on. We’ve laid out key vinyl flooring pros and cons—from installation and removal—so you can make the right decision for your home.
PRO: Vinyl floors are relatively easy to install.
Developments in the vinyl flooring industry have made the product more DIY friendly. While vinyl was once only available in large, unwieldy sheets, today’s tiles and planks are much easier to install with no sawing or hammering. Most luxury brands now offer “self-adhesive” vinyl—simply remove the backing and press into place on a properly prepared subfloor.
CON: Vinyl floors can be tough to remove.
Once vinyl’s adhesive backing hardens to the floorboards, the glue is difficult to remove. Fortunately, removing vinyl floors doesn’t require professional tools or techniques; it’s all about elbow grease.
Clear the room of furniture and remove baseboards and trim if possible.
Cut vinyl into 12-inch strips, using a utility knife. Manually pull up the flooring strip by strip.
Luxury Vinyl Guide LVP and LVT
WHAT IS LUXURY VINYL? AND LVT VS LVP?
In the flooring world, luxury vinyl is one of the new kids on the block. Luxury vinyl is the cousin of sheet vinyl and the competitor of laminate. When someone talks about “vinyl flooring,” they’re most likely talking about sheet vinyl. This is NOT the same a luxury vinyl. Sheet vinyl is has been around for a long time. It’s cheap and water-resistant, but it also doesn’t have a great reputation because it can look and feel cheap
PROS AND CONS OF LUXURY VINYL
Before we get into what to look for in luxury vinyl, let’s consider if it’s the right flooring for you
CONS OF LUXURY VINYL:
A Carpet Captain guide wouldn’t be complete without giving you a heads up on the problems you may run into. This isn’t to scare you off from luxury vinyl—all types of flooring have their problems
A NOTE ON PHTHALATES AND SAFETY OF LUXURY VINYL
One specific question I receive on luxury vinyl is its safety. At times, it’s had a bad reputation, and maybe even an earned a bad reputation. The reason? Luxury vinyl is a plastic. Most plastics are brittle without chemicals called plasticizers, and often these chemicals are thought to possibly be harmful especially to children and pregnant women. You’ve probably heard similar concerns with the plastic used in drinking bottles, and in Europe, some countries have banned certain plastics in children’s toys.
The plasticizers that are concerning in luxury vinyl are called phthalates. The definite impact of phthalates are unknown, but they are thought to possibly be a carcinogen and cause development and reproductive harm. With this in mind, nearly everyone is already exposed to phthalates. The CDC states 90% of Americans have measurable levels of phthalates in their bodies
How to Install Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring
I’ve installed just about every type of flooring the world has ever known. So when my wife chose luxury vinyl planks (LVP) for the new dining room floor, my first thought was: Why couldn’t she pick something I already know how to do? Now I’ll have to muddle through installing floating vinyl plank flooring — an unfamiliar product, hoping to avoid costly mistakes along the way.
But it turns out that there was nothing to worry about floating vinyl plank flooring. I was able to install 150 sq. ft. in less than a day without any problems. Installing vinyl plank flooring was was fast and easy compared with the other floors I’ve installed. And the next time we need new flooring, my vote will be for luxury vinyl. This article will walk you through the installing vinyl plank flooring process I followed and show you some key tips along the way when learning how to install vinyl flooring.
LV flooring is similar to sheet vinyl, but it’s thicker, tougher and easier to install. It comes in tiles and planks, but this article covers planks only. I used a product called Adura LockSolid. It’s a floating floor which means it isn’t fastened to the subfloor—it just lies there. Luxury vinyl is the fastest growing category in the flooring industry.
Installing vinyl plank flooring ca be done over most surfaces as long as those surfaces are smooth. Rough and uneven spots will telegraph through the new flooring, causing noticeable high spots that will wear faster than the rest of the floor. Concrete subfloors must be at least six weeks old, dry and free of powder and flaking. Large cracks and expansion joints should be filled and troweled smooth. Home centers sell mixable and premixed products that work on most surfaces.
Find the high and low spots on wood subfloors with a straightedge. The floor height should not rise or drop more than 1/8 in. over the span of 4 ft. Sand down the high spots with a belt sander equipped with a coarse-grit belt (Photo1). This is a dusty job, so turn off your furnace to avoid spreading dust all over the house, and wear a dust mask. Fill the low spots in the plywood with floor patch
Vinyl Plank Flooring: Reviews, Best Brands & Pros vs. Cons
Does this sound familiar? “Vinyl flooring gives you the look of hardwood and the durability of laminate — for a fraction of the price.” If you’ve shopped around enough, I’ll bet you’ve encountered at least one variation of that speech.
But, is it the truth or just another pitch? Well, that depends on your outlook. No flooring is 100% perfect, but Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) – aka Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) – comes close. Before we dive in any further, understand vinyl won’t work for everyone. There are a few drawbacks. We’ll go into that in a bit, but before we do let’s discuss the benefits
Price
Luxury vinyl plank is a cost-effective way to update your home without breaking the bank. You can save thousands without sacrificing style. Unlike real wood, you can find quality vinyl for under $4 per square foot.
Style
The sky’s the limit when it comes to designing with vinyl. The options are endless. Whether you’re looking to replicate rich earthy mahogany, silvered barn wood or even natural stone, you’re sure to find the perfect shade.
Easy Installation
You won’t need to be a carpenter to install your new vinyl floors. If you’ve tackled home improvement projects in the past, it should be an easy task. Vinyl tiles are usually glued down, while most planks come pre-fitted with click & lock: locking mechanisms that click into place like a jigsaw puzzle
vinyl flooring buying guide
Our selection of vinyl flooring is seemingly endless, with designs ranging from wood to a stone effect, and everything in-between. Vinyl allows you to create any look you want, with hassle-free fitting and with very little on-going maintenance. We aim to make buying your new flooring easier by offering expert advice to guide you smoothly all the way through from browsing to installation. This buying guide will make it easier for you to find the perfect vinyl flooring
why choose vinyl flooring?
Also known as cushion flooring or lino flooring, vinyl will bring comfort and warmth to your home as well as amazing functionality. It works well with underfloor heating and your feet will thank you for the extra comfort it brings underfoot.
how to choose vinyl by room
You may be surprised to learn that you have probably walked on vinyl flooring in homes and businesses many times firmly believing that it was real wood, laminate or stone. Vinyl is so realistic that guests to your home will never be able to tell the difference
vinyl flooring styles
Due to the ever-improving process of vinyl printing, vinyl flooring comes in a huge array of designs and patterns – pretty much any design you fancy can be yours with each one being incredibly realistic. This wide variety of designs allows you the freedom to be creative in your home with colour and pattern. From wood to stone, mosaic to patterns, vinyl flooring is a great way to be creative with your home’s interior whatever your style. Find out what effects are available in our vinyl flooring range below.
Wood effect vinyl
Wood effect vinyl complete with knots and grain detailing is fantastically authentic. Available in any wood type you care to think of from a whitewashed finish or pale beech, to atmospheric dark walnut, in every wood shade, plank detail and finish. Some even have a textured surface creating even more realism, especially when walked on with bare feet. In fact, all wood effect vinyl flooring doesn’t have is the on-going maintenance of a real wood floor
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