For new homeowners, vinyl flooring has many desirable properties that make it an attractive flooring option. To be sure that vinyl flooring is right for your home, what factors should you consider? This guide will cover 8 things you need to know before buying vinyl flooring for your home.
Cost
If you have a tight budget, vinyl flooring is one of the most economical flooring types available on the market. Compared to natural stone, ceramic or hardwood flooring and depending on the complexity of your residential project, opting for vinyl flooring can potentially save you a sizeable sum. The cost of vinyl flooring ranges anywhere from $3 to $6.50psf. Vinyl flooring for HDB flats can go as low as $3psf at Home Expo Asia. This means that you can save minimally a few dollars ($1-3psf for materials such as ceramic) or substantially upwards of that (>$10psf for hardwood flooring). The option to do vinyl overlay instead of fully dismantling the existing flooring also contributes to significant cost savings.
Installation
Vinyl flooring is one of the easiest flooring types to install. Floating vinyl flooring allows for hassle-free installation without the use of any adhesive. Instead of adhering directly to the subfloor, the individual pieces snap together in an interlocking click-and-lock system. Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) vinyl flooring is typically installed in this manner. The floating floor can be installed directly over the existing flooring, which saves you the cost and trouble of hacking the existing flooring.
Comfort
When it comes to comfort, it is worth noting that thicker vinyl flooring will tend to feel softer underfoot. On the other hand, thinner vinyl flooring will be less comfortable underfoot. As it is less thick, you may feel as if you are walking on the subfloor beneath. Vinyl flooring is superior to many other flooring types when it comes to comfort. As it is able to maintain some degree of flexibility while retaining its hardness, it is more comfortable underfoot compared to other materials such as natural stone flooring. Vinyl flooring is also warmer underfoot compared to flooring materials such as marble.
Not Impossible to Damage
The durability of vinyl flooring accounts for its rising popularity amongst homeowners. Its layered construction consisting of a vinyl derivative foam core and wear layer gives it desired properties such as rigidity and durability. However, homeowners should note that vinyl flooring is ultimately not as hard as materials such as marble or ceramic. This makes it susceptible to damage to a certain degree. Scuffing, punctures and dents to the flooring can be caused by dragging of heavy furniture, dropping of objects at substantial velocity, or accidents caused by pets or children.
Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) Vinyl Flooring
If you are a new homeowner, you may encounter the term Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) vinyl flooring when you are shopping around for flooring products. Compared to traditional vinyl flooring, LVT vinyl flooring is a type of flooring that has a thicker wear layer. The wear layer lies between the surface protective coating and the printed image layer and contributes to the overall durability of the vinyl flooring. For high traffic areas in the house or households with children and pets, you may wish to opt for this type of vinyl flooring.
Stone Plastic Composite (SPC) Vinyl Flooring
Stone Plastic Composite (SPC) vinyl flooring is another type of luxury vinyl flooring product on the market. This type of vinyl flooring has a foam core made of ground limestone and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The high mineral content in this vinyl flooring product makes it exceptionally rigid. Its rigidity makes it the most durable type of vinyl flooring available on the market.
Subfloor Preparation
Before commencing installation, adequate preparation of the subfloor is critical to ensuring a seamless final outcome. Should there be any debris present on the subfloor, telegraphing can occur. This is a process by which the irregularities on the subfloor get transferred to the vinyl flooring above it. This is one aspect of the installation process that homeowners should note during completion of your residential project.
Less Eco-friendly
As vinyl flooring is a synthetic material, it is a source of Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) emissions, or ‘offgas’. VOC emissions are of particular concern when opting for LVT vinyl flooring products. The emissions are a result of the plasticisers that are added to the manufacturing process, which enable LVT vinyl flooring products to be more pliable. Offgas can reduce indoor air quality and can contribute to respiratory issues.
However, all vinyl flooring products carried by Home Expo Asia have passed the minimum acceptable level of emissions. For added peace of mind, you may wish to consider opting for SPC vinyl flooring. This type of vinyl flooring does not contain added phthalates in the manufacturing process and is free of any toxic emissions.
Hopefully, this guide has given you a better understanding of vinyl flooring and the pros and cons of buying it for your home.
