3 Types of Vinyl Flooring and How to Choose One

The term vinyl flooring refers to a resilient flooring material made of synthetic materials, such as PVC vinyl, fiberglass, and various chemical plasticizers. Vinyl flooring has been around for more than 100 years, invented initially to replace the original resilient flooring material, linoleum. In the 1940s, vinyl flooring became very popular for spaces where resilience, durability, and water resistance were important.

Bathrooms and kitchens have always been the prime areas where vinyl flooring products are used. While vinyl flooring is not completely impervious to the rigors of these rooms, it is very resistant to water and easy to clean and maintain, making it a low-cost, low-hassle flooring choice. But modern vinyl flooring products with improved design and manufacturing of products are now a viable option even for spaces once dominated by ceramic or porcelain tile or hardwood. Read on to learn more about the three types of vinyl flooring: vinyl composite tile (VCT), sheet vinyl, and luxury vinyl flooring (LVF).

The Composition of Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl flooring became a truly viable flooring material with the introduction of PVC (polyvinyl chloride), a synthetic plastic containing carbon, hydrogen, and chlorine. In traditional sheet vinyl or vinyl tiles, the flooring material is a composite product, with a layer of PVC bonded to a fibrous core, and covered over with a printed design layer and a tough, clear wear layer. The distinction between high-quality and low-quality vinyl flooring lies in the thickness of the products, the toughness of the wear layer, and the kind of backing it has.

The vinyl flooring sold today can take several forms, including sheet flooring, vinyl composite tiles (VCT), and a newer product, luxury vinyl tiles or planks (known as either LVT or LVP). Whatever type of vinyl flooring you choose, vinyl has several distinct advantages:

• Durability. Vinyl flooring is a surprisingly tough material, even though it is slightly soft underfoot.
• Water resistance. The main reason that vinyl flooring is popular in bathrooms and kitchens is that it is resistant to moisture, steam, and humidity. Water is largely unable to penetrate the surface of this material to do damage to the subfloor, although it can be slightly vulnerable at the seams.
• Easy maintenance. Vinyl flooring is very easy to clean. It is resistant to dirt, stains, scratches, and punctures, although it can be pierced if heavy furniture legs are not outfitted with protective pads. Be aware that rugs containing rubber backing may cause a chemical reaction that can stain vinyl. And vinyl flooring may yellow slightly if it is exposed to constant direct sunlight (although high-quality products have UV protection).