Resilient Vinyl flooring has become especially popular in the last few years. The catalog contains models that accurately mimic tiles, marble, stone, fabric, and other patterns.
With various dimensions and a wide range of textures, it is easy to choose resilient vinyl flooring that best fits into the interior.
This article will explain in detail what are the pros and cons of resilient vinyl flooring.
Table of Contents
Pros of Resilient Vinyl Flooring
Resilient Vinyl flooring today is considered as popular as linoleum. Its cost is low, and vinyl is not afraid of exposure to water.
At the same time, thanks to the large selection, you can choose flooring in various colors and textures. Vinyl flooring plank has many advantages that make resilient vinyl flooring so popular.
1. Large Selection
The first advantage of vinyl floors is the selection of various colors and patterns. Vinyl tiles can also be of different colors, with a pattern or plain.
At the same time, floor coverings of different structures are on sale, and individual elements can have very different sizes.
Interestingly, vinyl allows you to print any drawings on its surface. As practice shows, you can imitate various natural materials using a vinyl floor.
2. Security
Vinyl floors from proven brands are made following all the requirements of international standards. It guarantees complete safety for humans.
This vinyl layer is made from recycled raw materials and does not emit toxins. The manufacturer provides environmental certificates to confirm the safety of the coating.
The coating is considered no less practical and resistant than a wooden board. Proper installation will extend the service life, reaching 10-20 years.
Therefore, the main determining qualities and duration of the life of the coating are the perfect installation and the choice of products from a well-known manufacturer.
Customer reviews, videos with tips, and information about manufacturers will help you choose a good product at an affordable cost.
3. Ease in maintenance
The great advantage of this vinyl flooring is that it is effortless to care for and maintain. Dirt or sand does not stick to its surface.
It is excellent for people with children or in whose house animals live. You can clean this flooring with a damp mop using a small amount of a special cleaner intended for vinyl.
It is enough to sweep the floors regularly and clean up any stains with a damp mop. You can apply a commercial product to restore the floor’s shine if necessary.
However, this does not mean that you should ignore the floor. There are still some safeguard measures you have to take for vinyl flooring.
Do not drop sharp, pointed, or heavy objects on the floor, and be sure to clean up spills and stains immediately.
4. Resistance
Resistance to scratches, mechanical stress, chemicals, and grease are pluses in favor of vinyl.
The coating is not subject to deformation, does not burn out, and does not fade, representing uniform composite plates.
Additional reinforcement guarantees the strength of the floor against external influences.
Resilient sheet vinyl flooring elements are always simple and easy to replace, even if they have lost their shape or aesthetic indicators during operation.
5. Waterproof and hygiene
One of the main aspects that argue in favor of choosing a vinyl floor derives from the hygiene this material guarantees.
It is no coincidence that hospitals used it exclusively until a few years ago before entering domestic settings.
The luxury vinyl flooring has no joints and is not characterized by porosity, and this allows you to carry out a deep cleaning with specific detergents, obtaining excellent hygienic results.
Waterproof Vinyl floors can be easily installed in environments such as the kitchen or bathroom without any water penetration problems.
This water-resistant property allows you to possibly opt for this material instead of orienting yourself on the wooden floor, which is indeed more delicate.
6. Ease in installation
The vinyl floor for a house is about 182 cm wide, and the thickness can be seen from about 1.5 mm to about 6 mm, and there is also a thicker type with a sound insulation function.
The walking feel, shock absorption, and heat retention effect will differ depending on the thickness.
If you are positioning independently without professional installation skills, choose design options according to your space.
Since the vinyl floor is in the shape of a sheet, you can cut it freely according to the space used, unlike robust stone flooring.
Since resilient flooring can be installed relatively quickly, such as by attaching it with an adhesive.
There are many cases where it is used during remodeling, which has many restrictions.
It is easy to handle, such as being able to cut with scissors or a cutter, so it is a material that is also suitable for DIY installation re-covering.
7. Suitable for any room
It is worth noting that such a floor material is suitable for any room because it can be waterproof if the installation is done correctly.
The vinyl coating is especially relevant in the kitchen, bathroom, or other areas with high humidity.
8. High thermal insulation
Vinyl acts as floor insulation and retains heat inside the room. On the other hand, the floor does not allow cold from the screed into the room.
Therefore, you can walk barefoot without worrying about children playing on the floor. Although vinyl is an artificial material, the surface is warm and soft to the touch.
9. Durability
Depending on the manufacturer, Vinyl floors are lined with a thin layer of foam, providing a slightly softer surface than options such as tiles and wood.
The soft layer of synthetic material results in a floor with a little more flexibility, making it easier to stand for a long time, such as cooking and cleaning.
In addition, high-quality vinyl can last for 20 years, and if cleaned and maintained, it’s not easily damaged.
The vinyl is occasionally cleaned and does not need to be wiped to keep the floor clean. These properties make it perfect for every functional area of your home, including the kitchen.
10. Enhanced functionality
These days, resilient vinyl flooring comes with an antifouling treatment that is hard to get dirty and easy to remove.
The vinyl elements have been processed to prevent the growth of mold, bacteria, and fungi.
It is also suitable as a flooring material when raising pets indoors. There are also products developed for pets with features such as those that make it difficult for pet footsteps to reverberate, those that suppress odors, those that are not easily scratched, and those that are not slippery.
11. Noise insulation and comfortable walking feeling
Vinyl flooring is made from softer material and resilient floor covering. This makes the entire floor automatically quieter than laminate or tiles. Footsteps are muffled on the floor, and the overall room acoustics improve.
Many resilient-vinyl floors already have footfall sound insulation installed on the underside, which increases this effect.
The soft floor covering of the flooring is pleasant for the feet and does not feel cold as much as tiles; thus, it creates a comfortable feeling when walking.
12. Attractive design
The vinyl plank flooring is hardly distinguishable from a standard parquet due to its surface so realistic that it looks like pure wood.
Those who love wood will not have to worry about the high cost of quality wood because using wood-effect vinyl flooring is the best and equally effective solution.
The same goes for tiles and stone; vinyl faithfully reproduces these floors with excellent advantages, one of them being the weight of the stone and concrete.
13. Suitable for allergy sufferers
Vinyl flooring does not cause any problems for allergy sufferers. Unlike carpeting, vinyl flooring catches fewer house dust particles and pollen and can be regularly cleaned with a damp cloth.
14. Renovation perfect
Vinyl flooring is only 1 to 6 millimeters thick. A feature that becomes particularly important during renovation.
Because of the low construction height, you can also lay the covering on the old subfloor without getting stressed with the doors, skirting boards, or thresholds.
15. Inexpensive
Vinyl by the meter costs around 15 to 50 USD per square meter. Multi-layer design flooring is similar in price to laminate, maybe a little more expensive.
There is already good quality from about 2 to 5 USD per square foot.
16. Customizable Affordability
Vinyl floors are up to you. It is all based on how much you’re willing to expend and what look you want.
If you fancy some extra luxury and comfort, you can remove and stick DIY chessboard tiles or lush, photo-realistic LVT professionally installed by professionals.
The cost of vinyl can run from a few hundred to a few thousand and everything in between.
There are self-adhesive vinyl flooring rolls (sheets and tiles) available in the market that are a very economical option due to their price and simple installation. It makes them a very tempting alternative for limited budgets.
17. Pleasant to the touch
Unlike a laminate floor, which is cold to the touch, a vinyl floor is soft and warm to the touch due to its exact composition.
Cons of Resilient Vinyl Flooring
Of course, this flooring material has many advantages, but at the same time, it is not without its drawbacks. The cons of vinyl flooring include the following:
1. Toxic gas emission
It is customary to use volatile organic substances for vinyl manufacture, which can provoke the appearance of toxic gas immediately after installation.
Most resilient-vinyl floors emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the first few years after manufacture.
VOC gases can cause severe breathing problems and allergic reactions. FloorScore IAQ certification is an excellent way to avoid VOCs in vinyl.
The seal indicates that the products have been independently certified for compliance with the VOC emission criteria of the California Section 01350 standard by Scientific Certification Systems. California has some of the most unbending air quality standards in the United States.
2. Non-scratch resistant
Vinyl floors are not permanently scratch-resistant. Heavy furniture also often leaves visible bruises on the floor surface.
If a sharp knife or a heavy saucepan falls to the ground, there will be consequences.
However, some manufacturers have already made improvements and promised that their design floors are insensitive to pressure points.
3. Softer, easy to damage
Luxury Vinyl floors are durable but softer than most laminated hardwood or tile materials.
The vinyl floor can also be easily damaged, for example, by very sharp objects, dropping a kitchen knife, or even sliding a metal footstool on top of the vinyl surface.
In addition to the punctures, the rugged core-free rails also show signs of gearing with heavy objects on the surface.
4. Varied price
Vinyl flooring prices differ depending on the manufacturer, the usage class, and the design.
Vinyl can be more expensive than, for example, laminate and carpet. The material’s durability ensures that the price pays off in the long run.
5. Difficulty of Removal
One of the few negative aspects of vinyl floors is that the glues used for their installation may be challenging to remove.
For this reason, once this flooring has been laid, you may have difficulty if you decide to replace it later. The problem can be overcome by turning to professionals for this material.
Companies specializing in installing vinyl floors have special products that facilitate the removal of glues and make it easier to remove the vinyl floor.
6. Show dirt particles from the subfloor
While one of the advantages of vinyl flooring is its ease of installation, it is essential to ensure that the subfloor is flat, without debris, and free of dirt or blemishes when installing vinyl flooring.
Dirt on the subfloor can cause visible bubbles or bumps on the vinyl surface, making it look untidy. To avoid this, use the appropriate vinyl flooring underlay.
7. Repetitiveness of the drawings
By its very nature, vinyl flooring is mass-printed. As a result, the designs appear repeated on the surface on which they will be placed.
In other words, in the case of the vinyl floor that incorporates the parquet motifs, this will have the parquet veins repeated frequently.
To remedy this drawback, sometimes different production companies are used to reduce the repetitiveness of the motifs.
8. Unsustainable
Do you know why vinyl is a durable flooring option with water resistance? The waterproof vinyl planks are not made from a biodegradable material like a hardwood floor.
On top of that, vinyl products are not recyclable and worn floors will stay in the junkyard for a long period of time.
Another downside is that vinyl floors are made from nonrenewable resources such as oil and natural gas.
9. Impossibility of restoration
Unlike wood floors, vinyl is not renewable. In case of severe damage or after the expiration date, you must change the coating completely.
10. Possible formation of air bubbles
The vinyl floor is likely to have air bubbles if it is not installed correctly. This installation defect is then difficult to remove once the work is completed.
It is necessary to know that experts must lay the vinyl floor to remedy this problem because it requires a specific application procedure.
A professional knows the installation procedures well and guarantees work perfection, limiting the risk of forming anti-aesthetic air bubbles.
11. No use of rubber
Vinyl flooring is quite resistant to various substances. However, this does not apply to rubber. It is the rubber that can lead to discoloration of the material.
Thus, if you plan to cover the floor with vinyl, then forget about rubber mats and do not walk on the surface in rubber shoes.
12. Less durability with cheap material
If the vinyl coating is of good quality, they are pretty durable. Cheaper material may begin to crack over time, and, as a result, it is almost impossible to repair it.
You need to change the entire coating if there is any impairment. Slightly fewer problems occur with vinyl tiles. In this case, you can only change the damaged piece of tile.
13. Nonresistant to UV rays
Vinyl floors also have a different cover layer than laminate floors. This top coat is not UV-resistant and may show signs of fading or discoloration over time.
If you plan to place vinyl flooring in your living room or a very sunny room, you should limit the amount of sunlight during the day.
14. Chemical pigmentation
Despite its resistance to staining, it can change color. A similar disadvantage of vinyl flooring is found in the products of unscrupulous manufacturers.
Counterfeits or low-quality coatings fade or turn yellow over time. In addition, cheap versions of vinyl tiles emit toxins even at room temperature, leading to respiratory tract diseases and eyes.
15. Unsuitable for direct heating mats – electric underfloor heating
Few vinyl floors are suitable for electric underfloor heating with direct heating floors. Electric floor heating coils temporarily become over 35 degrees hot.
Viny is unsuitable in the long run. In addition, vinyl can expand a lot due to direct heat and then make waves.
16. Has no marginal effect on home value
Some types of high-quality flooring, such as hardwood and imported ceramic tile, can increase the home’s resale value.
Vinyl floors do not contribute significantly to this. A luxury vinyl tile (LVT) is a more expensive option.
Quick Glance (Pros and Cons of Resilient Vinyl Flooring)
| Pros |
|---|
| Withstand external influences |
| Pleasant to walk |
| Will not generate electric shocks |
| Does not slip, even if there is moisture |
| Absorbs noise and extraneous sounds perfectly |
| Resistance to temperature changes |
| Compatible with underfloor heating |
| Unfavorable for the reproduction of pathogenic microorganisms |
| Cons |
|---|
| Expiration and deterioration of the structure |
| Nonresistant to rubber, sunlight, and heavy objects |
| Must need Preliminary observation before installation |
| Change color in time due to chemical pigmentation |
| Difficult removal |
| No UV light resistance |
| Not applicable for all subfloors |
| Problematic disposal |
Vinyl flooring is an ideal alternative to laminate, linoleum, solid wood, or ceramic. Simple installation, varied texture, shape, color spectrum, ease of cleaning, and practicality are advantages.
There are also cons, so you should look at the reviews and the cost before choosing luxury vinyl plank flooring.
Good floors cannot be valued cheaply, and the minuses of vinyl floors are covered by a mass of pluses inherent only in this material, unique qualities.
The flooring choices should not be limited to one or two options. Check out the pros and cons of other types of flooring.
(Last Updated on September 2, 2022)
