When thinking of vinyl flooring, most people think of gross, thin bathroom or kitchen sheet coverings that don’t do much for protecting your subfloors or raising the value of your home. Vinyl flooring has come a long way, however.
Vinyl Composite Tile Flooring
Modern vinyl flooring tiles are generally known as vinyl composite tiles (VCT) and are constructed with a mixture of natural pulverized limestone, filler materials, thermoplastic binders, and color pigments. Vinyl composite tiles come in thicker, waterproof square or rectangular tiles designed for high-traffic areas. This makes composite tile vinyl flooring ideal for most commercial uses such as hospitals, schools, and offices. When cared for properly vinyl can last for 10 to 20 years, making it surprisingly sturdy and cost effective. Coupled with the low installation and material price, it’s a great option for major projects. While composite tile vinyl flooring works well for commercial functions, it may not be ideal for homes due to resale value and more chaotic foot traffic in the occasion of children dropping things and pets running about. While very waterproof and able to maintain good looks in high traffic areas, it’s still recommended that homeowners use protective felt tips on furniture and cover flooring with rugs to protect the material.
Luxury Vinyl Planks
The crowning jewel of vinyl flooring, Luxury Vinyl Flooring or LVF is a solid and more rigid material than other vinyl flooring options offering a digital graphic film layer that can create just about any look desired from more expensive materials such as hardwood, stone, and ceramics. These planks are easy to install and reduce the time needed for a full floor replacement. Unlike Composite vinyl tile, LVF are a much better option for your home due to the aesthetic draw alongside its resistant features. With varying thickness options offering comfort underfoot and the latest in vinyl flooring technology, LVF will transform your perspectives on what vinyl flooring could and should be.
Choosing a Vinyl Flooring Material
Vinyl flooring of any type has many advantages over other flooring materials in some applications. It is generally much cheaper than hardwood, and it performs far better in situations where moisture is an issue (bathrooms, kitchens, entryways, basements), and it’s considered pet-friendly. And while vinyl was once considered somewhat lacking in elegance, that’s no longer true with the advent of luxury vinyl flooring, which is often nearly indistinguishable from wood flooring or ceramic/porcelain tile. Within the three types of vinyl flooring, luxury vinyl flooring (LVF) has many virtues and is often the best choice, as the higher cost is more than offset by superior appearance and performance.
At Keystone Floor Works, we have everything you need for a quick and easy vinyl flooring installation project. We also offer a variety of flooring services from carpeting installation to care and maintenance. Call today and take advantage of our free furniture moving services with any new carpeting or flooring installation!
