One way to add value to your home is to consider laminate flooring installation. Laminate floors combine the beauty and elegance of hard wood, or tile floors with the easy maintenance of linoleum or vinyl flooring. Constructed from a high density fiber (HDF) wood board topped with a wood or stone pattern, laminate flooring is incredibly durable. Resistant to scratching, scuffing and burning, the beauty of laminate floors will last a lifetime. With today's constantly changing interior design trends, the easy installation and variety of laminate flooring is a popular choice for home designers.
Pros of Vinyl Flooring
- There are many unique variety of colors and designs, inspired by the colors and patterns found in nature. Tiles can be grouted to make it look more like ceramic or stone.
- Vinyl flooring provides a slightly softer surface than options like tile or wood, because the product is backed with a thin layer of either felt or foam—depending on the manufacturer. The soft layer results in the floor having a little more flexibility and give, which makes it easier to stand on for long periods of time.
- Luxury Vinyl Floor is featured in a unique variety of colors and designs, inspired by the colors and patterns found in nature. You can also choose to either have a subtle or dramatic variation between individual tiles. Tiles can be grouted to make it look more like ceramic or stone.
- A typical installation can be completed in half the time it takes to complete a comparable ceramic tile installation. LVT tile can also be glued down or the can be floated. Individual tiles can be clicked together and then installed without glue, to float on a special underlayment.
- Vinyl tiles are available in a huge assortment of colors and styles, with some designs even mimicking the look of stone tiles or wood planks. While you can notice the difference up close, it can be hard to tell from afar the floor is vinyl.
- Luxury Vinyl Tile is high durability and scratch-resistance, making it an excellent choice for heavy foot traffic areas. It is made from limestone and is a composite material that resists chipping and cracking.
- Luxury Vinyl is easy to clean and maintain and is guaranteed to keep its vibrant color much longer than ceramic tile or vinyl. Regular sweeping, dusting, mopping or vacuuming the floor can prevent dirt or grit from causing scratches and marks. Avoid vacuums that use a beater brush, as these may cause damage to the floor.
- Vinyl also wears incredibly well. It is extremely durable, with many manufacturers backing their products with warranties of 15 years or more. In truth, a well-installed and properly maintained vinyl floor can last for well over 20 years.
- Vinyl flooring is very resistant to dirt and water, and it's one of the few flooring types that can be installed directly over the subfloor—or over a previous vinyl or linoleum installation—without requiring demolition first. It is also one of the best choices for installing on a floor with a lot of cracks or excessive movement.
- As far as cleaning and maintenance goes, vinyl is hard to beat. Requiring practically no maintenance after installation, vinyl needs to just be swept and mopped occasionally to keep the floor clean.
Cons of Vinyl Flooring
- One of the biggest problems facing vinyl is the product is manufactured using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and will emit volatile organic compounds (VOC), especially when it is new. It is important to note, however, that since 2010, many manufacturers have started using less PVC in their vinyl flooring products.
- Don't think inexpensive vinyl flooring or "peel and stick" tiles. Luxury vinyl tile can cost as much as some standard hardwood or ceramic tile.
- While vinyl tiles are very easy to install on one's own, getting the subfloor ready for installation can prove to be a difficult job. In order for the tiles to look their best, the subfloor needs to be free of all particles—or they may show through the tiles in bumps and lumps. In addition, installing peel-and-stick tiles on a dirty floor will result in loose tiles quicker than you might expect.
- Manufacturers need to address transitions, as the only option right now is staining unfinished wood pieces to match.
- The spongy quality of vinyl flooring may prevent a glass from breaking if it's dropped on the floor, but a sharp object can gouge the surface if dropped. This is also a concern when it comes to moving furniture. Furniture pads needs to be installed on the feet of all furniture—or moving the couch could result in scratching or gouging the tile or popping the tile off the floor entirely.
- Become an educated buyer when shopping for flooring. Don't rely on big box stores and their associates to provide you with all the information you need. Many times, the products they sell are of lesser quality.
- Vinyl flooring does nothing to a home's resale value, and it can prove very difficult to remove once it is installed.
- When people hear the word vinyl, it has long been associated with inexpensive. Luxury Vinyl Tile can cost as much as some standard hardwood or ceramic tile. So, if you're thinking that LVT will be as cheap, or cost just a little more than your standard vinyl "peel and stick" tiles, you will be shocked by the price difference.
- When researching the cons for LVT, one topic that kept popping up was that there was a lack of nice transition pieces. It was recommended to use the old, metal pieces (Yuck! That would cheapen the look of a beautifully laid floor.) Or, you could get unfinished wood pieces and have them stained to match. Obviously this is an area for the manufacturers to address.
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