Vinyl flooring has been around for over 100 years, invented as a substitute/alternative to another resilient flooring option - Linoleum.
It's rise in populaity in the 1940s came from demand for tough, durable and water resistant products to withstand the higher levels of foot traffic and water risk in rooms such as kitchens and bathrooms, which are prime areas for this form of vinyl product.
Vinyl as we know it today became truly viable once PVC was introduced into its manufacturing process, providing a distinction between high-quality and low-quality flooring in its thickness, wear-layer toughness and its backing.
Vinyl flooring today comes in many forms, including sheet vinyl, composite tiles and luxury vinyl flooring tiles and planks. No matter which option you go for, each has a distinct advantage over other flooring options in their durability, water-resistance and ease in maintenance.
Vinyl Composite Tile (VCT)
Modern vinyl tiles are what is considered vinyl composite tiles (VCT), constructed from a mix of natural pulverized limestone, filler materials, thermoplastic binders and colour pigments.
By fusing all of these materials into solid sheets, the product is then cut into individual tiles to become what is considered the first widely-used form of vinyl flooring - yet slightly less popular than both sheet vinyl and luxury vinyl. VCT would require surface polishing in order to protect its surface, which means it requires more on the maintenance side than a simple sweep and mopping.
VCT is a relatively inexpensive flooring choice, especially if you install it yourself without the aid of a professional fitter, although higher maintenance costs can exceed that of other vinyl flooring options.
Sheet Vinyl
Sheet vinyl consists of continuous sheets of polymer materials manufactured in widths of around 6 to 16 feet. Because it comes in wide rolls, sheet vinyl has fewer seams which repells water at a higher rate.
Sheet vinyl has always been incredibly popular in the home renovation market, but has started to lose its ground to luxury vinyl flooring over the last decade. Sheet vinyl is manufactured with a digital graphic film layer of PVC to give its pattern and colour, which is then bonded to a base layer of felt or fibrous material. It can be installed either by a glue-down method, bonding at the perimeter or floating it over an underlayment.
Sheet vinyl is comparable in price to composite tile, but self-installation can be much trickier - meaning that a professional fitter would be required to cut, fit and glue this particular form of vinyl.
Luxury Vinyl Flooring/Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)
Whether refered to luxury vinyl flooring or luxury vinyl tile, this limestone-based mineral material, mixed with PVC composites, has no felt or fiber layer - making it solid throughout its thickness.
Whilst flexible, LVT is considerably more rigid than sheet or vinyl tiles, resulting in a product that can be installed via a simple tongue-and-groove system that clicks together. The digital graphic layer can create just about any look desired, covered with a reinforced wear layer. Whilst LVT is more expensive as an option over its cousins, it provides more longevity through its durability and ease in maintenance - proving to be vastly cost-effective over the long term.
LVT has its own variety of forms, ranging from square tiles to longer planks that resemble laminate or hardwood flooring. LVT is the current king of flooring for bathrooms, kitchens and other areas of the home susceptible to moisture, as well as those desiring underfloor heating systems.
Each type of vinyl flooring available to you have many advantages over carpet, hardwoods or stone flooring. They are also generally much cheaper and will perform much better in homes with water risk or have pets.
Whilst vinyl used to be a questionable choice for elegance, today it is indistinguishable from most flooring types and a favourite for homeowners who like to reduce their budget on home renovations. At Galloway Flooring in Denton, we know what you will love about flooring from our extensive work in supply and installation of quality LVT options.
Contact our friendly team at Galloway Flooring Manchester today and discover the very best flooring options for every room of your home.
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