Vinyl Faqs

A. Vinyl is a specific type of plastic manufactured by layering different materials. Most high-quality versions consist of a backing, a core layer, a decorative pattern, and a wear layer. Because it is highly durable and waterproof, it has become a popular hardwood alternative for homeowners who need a floor that can handle moisture and heavy foot traffic.

A. Vinyl flooring can be installed in any room in the house, including rooms at, above or below grade (ground level). It can also be installed over almost any type of subfloor (concrete, wood, vinyl), as long as the subfloor is smooth and level. If the subfloor has imperfections, they may show through the vinyl.

A. Luxury vinyl is a term applied to recent flooring product innovations, which include a vinyl layer. Traditional vinyl flooring is produced in large rolls and installed as a single sheet (or with as few pieces as possible in a given room). Another name for this form of flooring is sheet vinyl. Luxury vinyl is produced in the form of planks or tiles. The planks tend to be thinner than tiles, and generally are made to look like wood – sometimes very realistically – with a photographic image layer, and clear protective top layers, and in some instances, embossing to create wood-like surface textures. The tile form of the product is generally thicker, often consisting of a base comprised of stone dust and binder, with a photographic image printed on vinyl, topped with clear protective layers. So, while the tiles and planks are both called luxury vinyl, you can see that there is quite a bit of difference between them. The differences extend to the installation factors, as well. Luxury vinyl plank installations are widely promoted as great DIY projects, requiring few tools and little prior floor installation experience. Check out a few installation videos online, and judge for yourself.

A. Of all the types of damage to flooring – moisture, denting, cracking, scratching, abrading (wear from rubbing), gouging, – luxury vinyl products are not very susceptible to moisture, denting, and cracking damage, moderately affected by abrasion and scratching, and somewhat susceptible to damage from gouging. Gouges might be incurred by, for example, dragging a refrigerator across the floor. The good news is that many varieties of vinyl plank floors make it exceptionally easy to replace damaged planks or tiles. Worst-case scenario, a luxury vinyl tile is no more difficult to replace than a ceramic tile.

Luxury vinyl is the easiest flooring to clean. Keep it swept, free of dirt and grit, give it an occasional damp mopping, and get on with your higher purpose in life.