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Vinyl floors have been rising steadily to fame ever since they came out – and for all the right reasons. They’re durable and affordable and come in endless designs that imitate natural materials. If you’ve been considering them for your property, you’ve come to the right place!
We’ve prepared a detailed guide to vinyl flooring, its types, pros, cons, and price. All you have to do is read on!
Vinyl flooring is a synthetic floor manufactured from a thin vinyl layer and a protective top layer. The design is printed on the vinyl layer, and it mostly imitates natural floors like wood, stone, and marble.
Yes, vinyl floors are extremely common in houses because of their charming designs and durability. You can also find them in commercial properties because of their resistance to wear and water damage.
Vinyl floors come in many types that fit different aesthetics and needs, and we’ve listed them down for you in this section.
No, they aren’t the same. Vinyl floors are made from fewer layers and are less durable than LVT floors. Here’s a brief list of their differences:
Now that you understand the difference between the two floors, it’s time to discuss vinyl floor types in detail!
Vinyl sheet flooring comes in large rolls that are 10-12 feet wide. They’re usually the go-to choice for large rooms because they’re more affordable than tiles and can be laid down easier.
Here are the vinyl sheet flooring pros:
Here are the vinyl sheet flooring cons:
Vinyl roll flooring comes in large rolls that can cover the entire room at once. They’re more affordable than tiles but more challenging to fix if damaged. In most cases, you’ll need to replace the entire floor if damage occurs.
Here are the vinyl roll flooring pros:
Here are the vinyl roll flooring cons:
Vinyl tile flooring comes in equally sized square tiles that are laid down one by one. Some tiles need adhesives to stick to the subfloor, while others have specific designs that click together without the need for glue, like puzzles.
Here are the vinyl tile flooring pros:
Here are vinyl tile flooring cons:
Vinyl plank flooring comes in equally sized planks that imitate hardwood and are laid down one by one. The planks are installed using either pressure-sensitive or hard-set adhesive, and most of them come with ready underlayments.
Here are the vinyl plank flooring pros:
Here are the vinyl plank flooring cons:
Vinyl flooring is an ideal fit for many places because it packs needed qualities, like durability and affordability. If you don’t know where to install your vinyl tiles, here are some ideas:
Vinyl floors are famous among residential property owners because they look similar to natural materials without the extra cost. Here’s a list of rooms where you can install vinyl:
Vinyl floors strike a perfect balance between practicality and aesthetics, making them a top choice for commercial properties. Here’s a list of places you can install commercial vinyl flooring:
Here’s a table showing the reasons why you should consider vinyl flooring.
| Advantages of Vinyl Flooring | |
| Durability | Vinyl floors are manufactured from multiple layers, which enhances their durability. They normally stay from 10-20 years without needing replacements. |
| Aesthetic Appearance | Vinyl planks imitate the endless types of hardwood, while tiles imitate stone and marble. Both choices make for aesthetically appealing floors in various settings. |
| Water Resistance | Vinyl floors are made from PVC, which is a waterproof material. Rolls and sheets are the most resistant to water because they have fewer seams, while tiles and planks are slightly susceptible to damage. |
| Easiness of Cleaning | Vinyl floors only require regular sweeping and mopping with water to look clean. |
Here’s a table showing the drawbacks of choosing vinyl flooring.
| Disadvantages of Vinyl Flooring | |
| Susceptibility to UV Damage | If vinyl floors are placed right in front of a large window or glass door, their colours might fade after a while because of the direct exposure to sunlight. |
| Challenging to Recycle | If you’re pro-environment, you should know that vinyl is much more challenging to recycle than natural materials. You’ll most probably have to throw it out after removing it. |
| No Effect on Property Value | Natural floors like wood and marble can increase a property’s value in case of resale, but vinyl doesn’t share the same privilege. |
Thanks to its manufacturing versatility, vinyl flooring comes in endless styles, patterns, and colours. We’ll discuss some of them in this section.
Vinyl flooring comes in neutral colours that mimic natural materials, like brown, grey, black and white. It also comes in bright colours to fit different aesthetics. Here’s a list of the most famous colours of vinyl flooring:
Vinyl flooring comes in three finishes that enhance its resistance to scratches and give it a slight glow. Here’s a brief roundup of them:
Vinyl floors have elegant patterns that make it hard to distinguish them from natural floors. Here’s a list of the most famous patterns you can find while shopping.
The answer ultimately depends on your needs, budget, style, and personal preference. Suppose you want a new floor in your bedroom or living room. Your best options will be tiles or planks because they give you more freedom in choosing patterns.
Meanwhile, rolls and sheets are better for bathrooms and kitchens because they’re more resistant to water.
There are many renowned brands that sell vinyl floors in the UK, and we’ve listed the most famous ones for you.
To install vinyl flooring in your property, you’ll spend an average of £15-60 per square metre. That said, it’s important to note that the range can slightly change according to the type of vinyl you choose.
Yes, you can. You can find vinyl floors as cheap as £8 per square metre if you dig deep enough. Since vinyl is made from readily available materials that are easy to manufacture, it’s one of the most affordable floors on the market. However, you should expect lower quality than usual if you settle for this low price.
Yes, you can. LVTs are naturally pricier than standard vinyl floors because they’re made from more materials and can last longer. Their average price range is £30-60.
The cost of installing vinyl floors can go anywhere from £20 to £50 per square metre. The exact price depends on the labour costs where you live and the installation method you choose.
Unfortunately, vinyl flooring can either have no effect on the value of your property or lower it. It won’t make much of a difference if it’s still new and looking neat. However, if it’s old and showing signs of tear, it might lower your resale value.
Installing vinyl flooring isn’t much of a tall order, but it’s best left to professionals because any mistake can lead to a replacement of the entire floor. Here’s a general idea about the process of installing vinyl floors.
Before installing new floors, you need to measure the room and know how many tiles or planks you’ll need. Also, you should mark where you’ll lay down the floor pieces so that you don’t make any mistakes.
The second step to do in floor installation is to remove the baseboards in your room using a pry bar. Then, prepare the subfloor by making it even. You can either sand it or use a self-leveller, but the latter is more recommended for vinyl floors.
Now that you’ve prepared your floor accordingly, you can lay down the new tiles or planks. Some of them may need to be cut to fit into corners and doorways, and you can easily do so using a utility knife.
The specific mechanism installation, whether glue-down or interlocking, depends on the type of vinyl you buy.
If you want to know how each type of vinyl floor is installed, here’s a brief roundup of the methods:
No, you don’t. Most vinyl floors are cushioned and can be installed without an underlay, but only if the subfloor is even and smooth.
No, you don’t need an expert, but it’s highly recommended you get one, especially if you haven’t installed floors before. It might sound easy in theory, but installing floors requires attention to detail, and mistakes are common. For seamless results, you should hire an expert.
If you want your vinyl floors to last for the longest time possible, you need to maintain them properly. Here’s how you should do so.
Some stains can lead to the colour of your vinyl floor fading, like lemon juice or vinegar. Meanwhile, some can cause discolouration, like ink. To avoid an unsightly appearance on your floors, you should clean these stains right after they happen. Use a mixture of water and a cleaning detergent, and clean using a dry rug.
Vinyl floors are susceptible to denting from heavy furniture, especially if they’re old. If you don’t want dents all over your floors, you should use protective pads under the furniture legs. You can also rotate the furniture in the room twice or thrice per year, but this isn’t a convenient solution for many.
Doorways, hallways, and stairways take the heaviest traffic in the house, which means they show signs of wear and tear faster than other places. To keep them looking new for a long time, use doormats in all of your house’s entrances and rugs in the hallways and stairways.
You should never clean a vinyl floor using an abrasive powder, steam cleaner, varnish, black soap, or acetone. They all have damaging effects that can drastically shorten your floor’s life.
Here are the steps you should follow to clean your vinyl floors efficiently.
First, you should vacuum or sweep your vinyl floors to remove any loose dirt and dust as a result of foot traffic. For best results, you should do this once or twice per week.
After removing all the loose dirt, you should wipe your floors using a mixture of water and cleaning detergent. That said, make sure to ask your floor manufacturer about suitable detergents so that you don’t use a damaging solvent.
Yes, vinyl flooring can be repaired, but only if the damage is mild. Suppose your floor has scratches and tiny cuts; you can fuse them using a seam sealer. As for more extensive damage, it’ll most probably call for a tile or sheet replacement.
The average lifespan of vinyl flooring ranges anywhere from 10-25 years. Factors like maintenance, traffic load, presence of a protective layer, and thickness of the floor can affect this number, though.
Vinyl flooring is a highly efficient option for both commercial and residential properties. It’s cost-effective and won’t make a dent in your bank account, all while giving you needed floor qualities, like durability and water resistance.
While it doesn’t last as long as natural materials and lacks some of their timeless charm, it’s definitely a considerable second choice if you’re on a budget.
No, it isn’t. Vinyl is a type of synthetic plastic that doesn’t degrade in nature, which means discarded floors fill up unnecessary space on the planet after they’re not in use anymore. Also, vinyl is challenging to recycle.
Yes, it is. Vinyl flooring is a versatile option that can fit in any room, and it’s pet and kid-friendly, which is a plus for big families.
Yes, vinyl flooring is ideal for pets because it resists scratches and cuts. Since most pets have sharp nails that they like to test on the floors, it’s a win-win choice!
Yes, vinyl flooring is good for kids because it doesn’t stain easily. If your kids run around all the time carrying food and drinks, you have nothing to worry about.
Yes, vinyl flooring is suitable for high-traffic areas because it doesn’t show signs of wear easily and resists water and scratches.
Yes, it is. Vinyl floors are mostly resistant to water damage, making them a suitable choice for wet environments like kitchens, bathrooms, and basements.
Yes, it is. Vinyl is a synthetic material that’s completely waterproof. However, the quality of installation can affect the degree to which the floor resists water. If you have a faulty installation, your floors might show signs of water damage.
Vinyl floors are an ideal choice for many settings, and they’re your best bet if you’re on a budget. After learning everything you need to know about them, you can decide whether you want to install some new vinyl floors or not!
If you need more information or a more accurate price quote, get in touch with us now!