Your floor is the largest surface area in your home, extending from your living room, kitchen, and all the way to your bathroom. Since you literally walk all over it every day, it’s only fitting that you choose the perfect material that can last in heavy traffic areas. There are many flooring options on the market today, including natural wood, tiles, stone, engineered wood, carpet, concrete, linoleum, cork, and vinyl.
Vinyl wood flooring is especially popular for various reasons. In this blog, we’ll explore the different types of vinyl flooring available, their distinctive characteristics, and their benefits. Read on and learn how vinyl differs from other flooring options.
What Is Vinyl Flooring and What Is It Made Of?
Vinyl flooring is a synthetic material consisting of a polymer core made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC). It can be combined with WPC (wood plastic composites) to replicate the look of wood. This PVC core can also be combined with stone or calcium carbonate to create vinyl flooring that mimics the look of stone.
These materials are sandwiched together to form a highly durable, affordable, and practical floor covering. Vinyl flooring in Australia comes in three main types: luxury vinyl tile (LVT), luxury vinyl plank (LVP), and sheet vinyl. Let’s look at these three.
Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT)
Luxury vinyl tiles are designed to emulate stone, porcelain, or ceramic tile flooring. They have a thick vinyl layer, making them more durable and rigid than sheet vinyl (which also has a design layer with natural stone designs and textures that produce realistic stone visuals).
They come in different installation options: floating, glue-down, interlocking system, etc. Luxury vinyl tiles are less labour-intensive; they require zero grout work, helping cut down on installation costs. This vinyl flooring can be laid on top of existing floors, so you don’t have to rip out your old flooring beforehand.
Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP)
Luxury vinyl planks are designed to mimic most natural wood flooring. They are thicker and more rigid than the sheet vinyl type, making them more durable and scratch-resistant than the standard commercial vinyl flooring type. These planks are composed of thick PVC with a design layer that gives them a hardwood look.
Most design layers on luxury vinyl planks feature a variety of colours and textures, from lightwood and oak to even whitewash and grey. They contain additional layers to help prevent scratching, tears, and stains. Installation options for this vinyl type include glue-down and floating tongue-and-groove option.
Sheet Vinyl
The key difference between this vinyl flooring and the luxury vinyl types is that this one is made in large sheets instead of single blocks or planks locked together. It needs a more stable subfloor compared to LVP or LVT variants that can be installed on top of existing floors. It is also a softer material and thus less scratch-resistant.
However, it is made up of the same PVC resins, with a UV-cured surface protection layer made of urethane. This makes sheet vinyl and the luxury vinyl variants resistant to wear and stains. The biggest advantage of sheet vinyl is its easy installation.
Pros of Using Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl flooring offers manifold benefits, which is why many homeowners choose it as their flooring. Get to know the advantages of vinyl flooring.
Vinyl flooring is a low-cost option
As one of the most affordable flooring options available, vinyl flooring is the suitable choice for the budget-conscious. It can be bought and installed at a significantly lower price than traditional flooring options. However, it doesn’t mean that vinyl doesn’t offer incredible value or looks cheap.
Vinyl wood flooring is the perfect choice for when you’re looking to cover up cosmetic damages like scratches from pets and other markings on your existing floor. Rather than installing new flooring pre-emptively and risking getting it damaged, you can install vinyl wood planks instead. This would increase the value of your home whether you’re looking to sell or renovate it.
Vinyl flooring imitates the look of more expensive flooring types
It merits repeating that vinyl simulates the look of expensive flooring. It can be made to look like stone tiles or hardwood planks. For those trying to stay on budget, it can open a door of design opportunities that may otherwise be inaccessible.
Using vinyl flooring will cost significantly less than buying and installing marble slabs or hardwood floors. However, if you want the feel of hardwood or smooth marble underneath your feet, you may want to go for the actual thing. But if it’s the visuals you’re after, then hybrid vinyl flooring offers that with a fraction of the cost of the original hardwood or marble material.
Vinyl flooring is available in varied colours and styles
This flooring type comes in different colours, styles, and patterns, making it easy to complement your home’s interior design. From oceanic driftwood planks or tiles with grout and stone look to beige tiling or weathered concrete flooring, there are countless vinyl flooring options. These customisable options suit various tastes and preferences.
Flooring suppliers in Australia carry vinyl flooring with modern patterns and classic designs. While it can feel overwhelming choosing from the slew of options available, professional flooring installers can help you choose the right flooring that matches your home’s interior.
Vinyl flooring is durable
Vinyl flooring is designed for high-traffic areas. It is scratch-resistant, which means it holds up against damage remarkably well. You may install it on your home’s entryway, bathroom, kitchen, living area, or anywhere that receives the most foot traffic.
Since vinyl is resistant to cracks, breaks and dents under pressure, you won’t have to worry as much about damaging your floor even when moving bulky furniture or dropping heavy items. Vinyl also has great water-resistance qualities. Waterproof vinyl flooring is a particularly good choice for bathrooms, kitchens, and other areas with high moisture levels.
Wrapping Up: Why Get Vinyl Flooring?
Whether you want the classic look of vinyl wood flooring or the elegant touch of luxury vinyl tiles, vinyl flooring is the right option for you if you want a material that combines durability and beauty.
Here at Serfloor Australia, we have a range of products combining limestone and PVC powder to ensure dimensional stability. Explore the revolutionary flooring systems of our products and join our many satisfied clients who are turning to vinyl for guaranteed longevity of their floors.