Get To Know The Options and Benefits Of Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl flooring has been a great economical and versatile flooring choice for homes for decades, thanks to its durability and stylish designs. At ProSource Wholesale^®, we know that finding the right color, type, style and look of vinyl flooring can be time consuming. Luckily, vinyl flooring isn’t what it once was, now boasting styles such as vinyl tile, vinyl sheet, luxury vinyl tile, luxury vinyl plank, and wood-look vinyl. Thanks to advances in technology, vinyl has transformed from the formerly shiny, plastic-looking floors into flooring that can impressively capture the look of ceramic tile, stone and wood.

Here is everything you should know about vinyl flooring, ranging from its purpose to design styles.

Why Choose Vinyl Flooring?
There are many reasons to consider vinyl flooring for your home, ranging from economic decisions to style preferences. Here are five reasons you might want to consider choosing vinyl flooring for your house:

1. It’s resistant to damage, such as mold, mildew and moisture, and it is also resistant to everyday nicks and scratches. 
2. It can be used in multiple rooms, such as the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry room. Basically, it’s perfect for any room that is prone to water damage or spills.
3. It’s an affordable option to get tile, stone or wood-looking floors.
4. It’s easier to clean and maintain. 
5. It’s a more comfortable and warmer material than natural stone, tile or wood.

Vinyl flooring allows you to achieve your dream home style without breaking the bank. Its average lifespan has a minimum of five years, but can last as long as the house if properly cleaned and maintained.

To care for vinyl flooring, all that’s necessary is a regular vacuum and a soapy mop. This will keep vinyl flooring looking shiny and new. We suggest staying away from bleach, ammonia and abrasives, as they might ruin the vinyl material. 

Vinyl flooring is making a comeback, and these days this flooring option is seen as trendy and modern. If you want to stay up-to-date with the times, this type of flooring would be perfect.

The Anatomy of Typical Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl flooring is made of several layers, which is what makes it such a durable and comfortable flooring option. A classic vinyl sheet consists of these basic six layers, from bottom to top:
1. A Base Layer. This is the foundation that will be used to support the other layers of the vinyl sheet. 
2. Fiberglass. This layer keeps the vinyl sheet flat and keeps it from curling. 
3. Cushion Layer. This layer is what makes the vinyl sheet comfortable, adding a nice bounce and texture to the sheet.
4. Pattern Layer. This is the layer that provides the color or design of the vinyl sheet.
5. Wear Layer. This is the layer that shelters the sheet’s design or color.
6. Top Coat. This layer is the overall protective layer that safeguards the vinyl sheet from everyday wear and tear.

Types of Vinyl Flooring 
If you are looking to completely renovate your flooring, vinyl flooring is an excellent and versatile option. It comes in many colors, such as browns, greys, blacks and tans, and it also comes in a variety of finishes, types, styles and looks. Vinyl flooring come in low and medium gloss levels, and they’re offered in click, floating, glue down and nail down installation types. 

When it comes to vinyl styles, there are two main types: printed and inlaid. Printed vinyl is the less durable of the two, as patterns for this type of vinyl are printed by applying a paper top coat on a thin surface for the design. Inlaid vinyl seeps the pattern and design through the entire thickness of the vinyl flooring, making it heavier and more resistant to chipping and scratching. Your budget will essentially determine which type of vinyl style will suit you best.

In addition to the two different styles of vinyl, vinyl flooring is available in several formats, including solid vinyl tile, luxury vinyl tile and sheet vinyl. Here’s a breakdown of how each of those differs and how to determine which is best for you.

Solid Vinyl Tile (SVT)
Solid Vinyl Tile is a pliable tile that often includes a photographic print coating in your choice of design. It’s generally available in individual 12-inch by 12-inch squares or in strips of three, and it is a great flooring option if you want a vinyl flooring option that is affordable and beautiful. SVT is also generally a more durable type of flooring than tile flooring.

Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) 
Luxury Vinyl Tile and Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) typically have the appearance of natural tiles or stones. By using advanced 3D imaging technology, the material design is photographed and directly transferred to the tile.

LVT features realistic aesthetic textures of tile and it is resistant to denting, moisture, heat and more. It’s the ultimate high-end vinyl flooring option, but it is also generally more affordable than natural stone or wood.

Sheet Vinyl
This type of vinyl flooring is supplied in continuous and flexible sheets that are durable, water-resistant, affordable and versatile in design. Selections typically comes in 6’ or 12’ wide rolls, and there are three main types: felt-backed, vinyl-backed, and modified loose-lay.

● Felt-Backed: The most commonly used type of sheet vinyl, this type adds a layer of felt for floor comfortability and strength. 
● Vinyl-Backed: The least commonly used type of sheet vinyl, this type is only glued at the edges when installed.
● Modified Loose-Lay: Typically installed using double-sided tape, and includes a fiberglass backing to increase strength. 

When it comes to wear layers and surfaces of vinyl flooring, there are three types to choose from. The first is vinyl no-wax, which is essentially a clear top coating that is the least durable and requires the most care. The second is urethane-coated finish, which is a good choice if you are looking for something that is resistant to stains and daily wear-and-tear without much maintenance. The last type is enhanced coatings, which are final touches to vinyl floorings with a urethane-coated finish — one example is aluminum oxide coating.

More Benefits of Vinyl Flooring
Other than being durable and comfortable, one of the most notable benefits of vinyl flooring is that it can come in a variety of finishing looks that are sure to match your client’s style. Whether you like traditional or contemporary designs, you are bound to find something you like in vinyl flooring. Some of the look finishes we offer at ProSource Wholesale include the following:
● Bamboo
● Ceramic
● Concrete
● Linen
● Pattern
● Stone
● Wood

Another benefit of vinyl flooring is that it reduces the noise of footsteps, which is perfect if you have children or pets. Vinyl flooring is also more affordable than other flooring options, and it’s easy to clean and maintain. Thanks to its durability, experts say this type of flooring can last you anywhere from 10 to 20 years, making it one of the longer lasting flooring options.

Overall, vinyl flooring is a beautiful option for you to consider when choosing new flooring.