Home Flooring Guide

There are some key features to consider when shopping for a vinyl floor. As a consumer, it is important that quality and value play a role for selection and consideration of vinyl.

The surface of the vinyl is one of the key factors of quality. Most vinyl surfaces on the market today are non-wax surfaces which simply means the vinyl does not need to be waxed for it to have a shiny finish. This key feature presents the consumer with minimal need to wax the surface as it has a natural shiny finish. As with all flooring, some areas show wear earlier than others. These high traffic areas can lose their shine but with a vinyl floor these areas or sections can be easily restored through buffing. If the floor is showing significant wear, the non-wax finish can easily be recoated. This is an easy process as the entire floor does not need to be done, just the specific area, which can be done easily by the home owner. Whilst it is a simple process of applying a thin coat to the dull areas, it is recommended to proceed under the advice of the manufacturer. Manufacturers actually recommend never to unnecessarily recoat as the flooring can become uneven due to material buildup on surface area.

Vinyl sheets have varying degrees of gloss. Surface textures usually determine the level of gloss and you’ll need to factor in the amount of traffic that the floor will be subjected to when comparing high gloss finishes to low gloss finishes. Floors in high traffic areas should have some surface texture in the vinyl finish so that wear is unnoticeable. Likewise, high gloss finishes in traffic areas will show visible signs of wear and will have to be maintained more so than textured vinyl with low gloss finishes.

When choosing the colour of your vinyl floor, be sure to consider the amount of sunlight that will strike the floor. As with most flooring, exposure to direct sunlight will have noticeable effect on vinyl products. This key feature considers that neutral colors work best against showing fading, such as greys, browns. It can be said that block colours of colours such a reds, yellows and greens will be the poor performers in holding full colour against sunlight. Manufacturers usually provide a warranty against fading so be sure to consider this key feature of vinyl when choosing colour schemes.

Vinyl recovery refers to the level of indentation after impact and how long it takes for the vinyl to return to its original form. Some vinyl may not recover well from high impact forces, such as scratches or from intense load placement such as furniture. As a purchaser, your expectations will need to consider concentration of heavy masses. Vinyl flooring comes with varying degrees of load limits and can be quickly recommended by the manufacturer depending on needs. Loads such as appliances and furniture that remain in place over long periods of time will in turn affect indentation values of a vinyl floor, but floor protectors will prevent these indentations of being permanent. As a rule of thumb, press into the vinyl sample and if it recovers to its original form then it should also recover if objects are placed onto it in the home.

Cushioning should also be a key feature to consider when choosing vinyl for vinyl flooring. A floor that has comfortable padding will be much appreciated if prolonged standing or walking will take place. Some simple tests such as standing barefoot on the vinyl sample placed on a hard under surface for a few minutes will let you know if the cushioning is suffice. Be sure to select appropriate comfort for the use of the vinyl floor, be it either fiberglass backing or foam cushion backing. Both have their key features and qualities for appropriate vinyl floor uses. While the fiberglass backing provides high resistance to vinyl tearing and will hold fast to the floor, foam cushion backing is available in various sizes and provides a for softer comfort.