Home flooring: discover the advantages and disadvantages of vinyl flooring

Vinyl is the second best-selling plastic in the world and for good reason. Vinyl is affordable, high-performance, and versatile, making it the best choice for many industries, including communications, healthcare, aerospace; and, of course, flooring for the home. Statistics show that vinyl flooring production increased by 6.1% between 2011 and 2012, which would point to a significant increase in demand for this type of flooring. Adding to this, vinyl exports are up 1.9% in the last year alone, with vinyl continuing to overtake traditional wood to occupy 68% of the overall home appliances market.

It’s not just vinyl in general that has seen tremendous growth over the last decade or so. Vinyl plank flooring is now the top choice for many homes in the United States and beyond, primarily due to the low cost, durability, and versatility of this type of flooring. Before deciding on vinyl as your best choice for flooring, it’s important to first discover the benefits and drawbacks with vinyl plank flooring. Like all other types of flooring, vinyl isn’t quite perfect. There are a few downsides that might be worth considering before making your biggest flooring decision.

The Advantages of Vinyl Plank Flooring

There are a number of notable advantages of vinyl plank flooring over other types of flooring. It is these advantages that have led to the growing popularity of vinyl for home flooring applications:

cost factor: Vinyl planks are created to mimic the look of real wood, but cost only a fraction of the price. Telling the difference between vinyl and real wood flooring is difficult, especially to the untrained eye, which means homeowners can enjoy the aesthetics of real wood without breaking the bank.

grain size: Vinyl plank flooring is also designed with a wide variety of wood grain sizes that would otherwise be hard to find in traditional hardwood. You can simply choose the grain dimension that matches your specific solid wood preference and easily incorporates into home decor. In addition to this, there are many different shades that mimic oak, maple, cherry, and other types of wood. Design options here are literally limited to your imagination.

sustainability: Vinyl flooring is one of the most durable types of flooring on the market; Definitely more durable than real wood. This type of flooring is ideal for high-traffic areas in the home and is hardly susceptible to scratches, dents, and other blemishes, as is common with real wood flooring. In addition, the flooring is waterproof, meaning it can be installed almost anywhere in the home, including sensitive areas like the kitchen or basement.

Installations: Vinyl plank flooring is some of the easiest flooring to install in any type of space. Although it is recommended that you hire an expert for the job, DIY enthusiasts with the right knowledge and experience can easily install flooring without the added cost of calling in an expert. Installation can be done quickly, professionally, and smoothly with little to no mess or waste, which is more than can be said for hardwood flooring.

Comfort: Vinyl planks are comfortable on the feet and can be installed in high-traffic areas. Planks also add an extra layer of insulation, making it a good option for additional soundproofing. The floor also does not generate noise underfoot, as is the case with real wood floors.

Maintenance: Vinyl is extremely easy to maintain and only needs a vacuum followed by a damp mop or mop. The flooring also doesn’t stain easily, making it ideal for homes with pets and small children.

remodeling: Some touch-ups may be needed over time to restore the floor to its original condition. The advantage of vinyl planks is that they can be replaced easily and cheaply. You don’t have to take out the entire floor to restore it, all you need to do is work on the problem areas and your floor will be back to its former glory.

The Disadvantages of Vinyl Plank Flooring

As with any other type of flooring available on the market, vinyl planks have some drawbacks. No floor is 100% perfect, so it’s important to understand both the benefits and drawbacks of vinyl plank flooring before making a decision:

sustainability: Although vinyl is durable and can resist chipping and warping, the floor is still susceptible to scratches. These can start to show over time, especially in high traffic areas, so a little extra care is needed to maintain the aesthetics for as long as possible.

fadingNote: Vinyl planks are also known to fade over time, especially when exposed to direct sunlight. Therefore, this makes it a poor choice for outdoor applications.

Installations: Because vinyl is not as strong as natural wood planks, an underlayment will need to be installed before the actual vinyl planks.

Aesthetics: Although vinyl mimics the look of real solid wood, it is still vinyl. This is obvious especially to the trained eye, which can be a problem for some homeowners.

Cleaning: You should be careful when cleaning vinyl plank flooring as there are certain cleaners and solvents that can damage the flooring. You want to use cleaners that have been made specifically for vinyl flooring.

final thought

It is extremely important to look at the benefits and problems of vinyl plank flooring. Only after carefully considering both sides will you be able to make an informed decision as to whether or not this is the floor for you.

Despite the drawbacks, vinyl plank is still an incredibly good option for home flooring applications. The disadvantages can easily be ignored given the many advantages of this type of flooring. The cost factor is the most important advantage, as not everyone can afford real solid wood flooring, especially given the current global economic situation.

It is important to explore other options before settling on just one. Flooring is crucial to the aesthetics of the home and is one of the first things people see when they walk into a home. That said, a lot of thought and consideration goes into making this very important decision.

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