Pros of Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl flooring has been around since the 1930s but did not become the hugely popular flooring option it is today until after WWII. Its popularity has maintained over the years, and you'll find vinyl floors in new residential and commercial buildings across the country.
Non-Absorbent and Water Resistant
One of the leading benefits of choosing vinyl flooring over other types of flooring materials is that it is extremely resistant to water. It will not hold on to moisture, which prevents stains from setting in. It will also not warp or twist with prolonged moisture exposure. Both of these qualities make vinyl flooring a great fit for kitchens, bathrooms, foyers, and other high-moisture areas in your home.
Easy to Clean
Vinyl flooring's overall resistance to moisture means that it is very simple to clean. Since vinyl floors do not absorb moisture, there are rarely stains that require scrubbing. Their moisture resistance also makes it easy for you to mop or wipe down your floors quickly and then let them air-dry.
Durability and Longevity
Another thing to note about vinyl flooring is that it is highly durable. While budget options exist, which are necessarily more likely to fall apart with wear and age, luxury vinyl floors are thicker and more durable. They can withstand spills, pet claws, and general foot traffic for years without showing signs of wear and tear.
Aesthetic Customization and Lower Relative Cost
A key benefit of choosing vinyl flooring over other types of materials is that you can replicate the appearance of other floors with vinyl. Vinyl can be colored and textured to look like wood, ceramic tile, or stone floors. This provides all of the practical benefits associated with vinyl flooring, mentioned above, at a fraction of the cost. While budget vinyl flooring options exist, it's a much better idea to spend a little bit more on high-quality luxury vinyl flooring, which is much more durable and will still cost much less than the materials it is mimicking.
Cons of Vinyl Flooring
Despite all the aforementioned benefits, there are some serious considerations that come with vinyl flooring.
Proper Installation is Necessary
Since vinyl is a relatively soft material, it requires a perfectly flat subfloor to be installed on. Even a small bump or a seemingly insignificant piece of debris that gets trapped under vinyl flooring during the installation process can lead to an uneven surface on your floor. As time goes on, that bump will become even more pronounced. Unfortunately, there's no way to fix this uneven surface short of actually pulling up that specific section of the floor.
Difficult Repairs
Vinyl flooring is also not easily repaired. Unlike wood flooring, you can't simply sand down the area and refinish it. Damaged sections have to be replaced entirely. Further, damaged sections cannot be lifted out of your floor if your vinyl flooring was installed with adhesive. However, this isn't an issue with floating vinyl tiles, which interlock and are not glued down.
Yellowing
While not a disadvantage of the material in general, it's important that you invest in modern, high-quality luxury vinyl. Cheap vinyl flooring made in the past was susceptible to yellowing and color fading if exposed to sunlight. Obviously, your floors will receive quite a bit of sunlight, which greatly shortens the attractive life of older vinyl floors.
Rubber Stains
While vinyl is highly resistant to stains from food spills and moisture, it will react when exposed to rubber. This is a chemical reaction that cannot be protected against. Stains are not easily removed, and will likely require the damaged section of your floor to be replaced. This means that you need to pay attention to the materials on your shoes, as well as any mats that you lay down. This is particularly important for foyers and entranceways, which will see more things placed on the floor than other rooms in your home.
Environmental Concerns
Finally, the last thing to note about vinyl flooring is that they are not recyclable. This means that you won't be able to source your new flooring from sustainable sources. It also means that when you do decide to replace your floors in the future, your old flooring will end up in the landfill. It's important to note that this applies to many other types of flooring and building materials, however.
The Pros and Cons of Vinyl Flooring Make It a Versatile Choice
Now that you know the pros and cons of vinyl flooring, you can make an informed decision about installing it in your home. Keep in mind that even if you don't think vinyl floors are the right fit for your entire house, they can work very well in specific rooms. Contact our team today for a free estimate! Our team will be able to answer any questions you may have and match you with the best type of flooring material for your needs.
