The New Vinyl Flooring

Many people think of vinyl flooring as that plastic-looking roll-out flooring.  Cheap but durable, at best.  They have a lot of catching up to do!  The new generation is attractive, durable, and easy to install.  You can choose from plank, tile, or sheet vinyl.  Luxury vinyl plank flooring looks better than all but the most premium of laminate flooring product lines.  Besides geometric patterns you can choose realistic wood, tile,or stone that looks great at a small fraction of the cost of the real thing.

Vinyl flooring materials are highly water resistant, making them ideal for the bathroom and kitchen with styles ranging from modern to traditional and everything in between.  Carpet Corral has the lowest prices around.  But nothing’s a bargain if you don’t like the looks — today’s vinyl floors can be best bargain around.  Small wonder it’s the fastest growing type of flooring for homes.

Vinyl Floors

Vinyl flooring materials win hands-down when it comes to a combination of economy, style, durability, and water resistance.  Requiring little care and maintenance, vinyl flooring comes in sheets, tiles, and planks.

• Sheet vinyl has been around for generations.  It’s difficult to install but with no seams it’s 100% impervious to water, making it a top choice for commercial restrooms and children’s bathrooms.  Today’s products look better than ever, and some lines incorporate felt backing for a bit of cushioning.
• Vinyl tiles are typically 1 foot square, and are very easy to install with the right adhesives.  You can choose from wood, stone, or geometric styles.  But the seams can let water through.  The vinyl will be fine, but there could be problems with the underlying sub-floor.
• Plank vinyl mimic the appearance of various types of wood and install by gluing or snapping together.  They’re waterproof through and through, but a vapor-barrier underneath is still recommended.

Economy lines usually have their colors only at the surface (going by the fancy name “rotogravure”) and may show wear.  Mid- and premium-lines typically have “inlaid color” that goes all the way through.  Other options include an under-layer for extra cushioning and a wear layer for even greater stain and scratch resistance.

Vinyl vs Laminate

Which is best?  There’s no longer much difference in appearance and quality, and the price ranges per square foot are nearly identical.  So both are budget-friendly, foot-friendly, and eye-friendly.  So the choice is often that of a very specific look and style you’re after.

There is one big difference.   Even waterproof laminate flooring is mostly wood products, susceptible to damage such as swelling with  prolonged exposure to water or dampness.  So vinyl is the clear winner in bathrooms.

Luxury Vinyl Flooring

With a realistic raised texture luxury vinyl plank flooring and luxury vinyl tile can be nearly indistinguishable from real wood or stone floors.  Premium lines can be as much as 1/4 inch thick for a click-together floating floor.  Even luxury vinyl flooring at the low end of the price range is around 1/6 inch thick for durability and comfort.  Leading brands include Armstrong, Karndean, Mannington, and Shaw.