Vinyl Plank Flooring: What Are the Pros and Cons?

Vinyl flooring is a popular choice for many homeowners. This type of flooring is not only popular among homeowners but also commercial building owners because it can be inexpensively installed in large spaces like restaurant dining rooms, restrooms and malls. With the wide variety of designs and styles available, many people choose to install this type of flooring in their kitchens and bathrooms so they can enjoy the beauty without worrying if it will withstand the constant humidity from baths.

Vinyl Flooring can install it on top of existing hardwood, laminate or concrete surface, and it’s affordable. But before you make the decision to install vinyl flooring, it’s essential to know the pros and cons of vinyl plank flooring. In this blog post, we will explore some of those pros and cons so that you can make your own informed decision about whether or not this type of flooring would be right for you.

Pros:

1) 100% Moisture Resistant:

Vinyl plank flooring is 100% moisture resistant, and it won’t swell or buckle when exposed to water, which makes it a perfect choice for bathrooms and kitchens. It is also resistant to stains and cleaners, which means it won’t fade or discolour in high traffic areas under regular household use and care.

2) Easy Maintenance:

Vinyl plank flooring requires very little maintenance because it’s so durable. All you have to do is clean with a mop or wet vac whenever the surface becomes dirty, periodically check for any damage, repair if necessary, and then re-seal. A floor of this type will withstand many years of foot traffic without being damaged by foot traffic. You can even install vinyl strip flooring on top of vinyl planks if you want to add some design elements like patterns that will enhance the look of your room while increasing durability at the same time.

3) Commercial Grade Wear Layer:

Commercial grade vinyl flooring is designed to withstand heavy traffic and abuse. It often has a wear layer, the vinyl itself, that will repel liquids and resist staining. This type of vinyl flooring offers a variety of benefits, including:

• The material is resistant to punctures and scratches.
• Resistant to scuffs from furniture and equipment wheels.
• Endlessly recycled vinyl wears 3 to 4 times before it needs replacement (unlike carpet).
• Won’t harbour dust mites, bacteria, or mould like solid surface materials can.

This type of vinyl wear layer is also commonly found in commercial spaces such as public restrooms, places of worship, airports, schools and cafes where people

4) DIY installation:

There are three types of vinyl flooring installation methods available to you when choosing vinyl plank flooring: glue down, the click lock system or the loose lay method. Glue down vinyl is installed with a vinyl underlayment that is glued to the floor, and then vinyl planks are glued on top and pressed into place. This type of installation will last a long time if done correctly. It also requires an uncarpeted floor surface to be glued to concrete, plywood or particleboard.

Click lock vinyl is installed by clicking the vinyl sheets together without any adhesive and then locking them in a steel laminate edging. Flooring AE can do this type of installation on any uncarpeted surface

5) Variety of decor options:

Custom vinyl plank flooring is an excellent way to make your home feel luxurious. Vinyl flooring comes in many different styles, colours and textures to create a one-of-a-kind appearance. In addition, vinyl floors are made of vinyl. Vinyl has been referred to as the new concrete because it can be moulded into various appearances. Vinyl floors come in many different patterns, from modern vinyl plank wood, vinyl plank stone and vinyl plank cement to name a few. The number of options vinyl planks give you is endless!

Cons:

1) Difficult to remove if glued down:

This is one of the most common vinyl flooring concerns that people have. One common vinyl plank installation method is glue-down vinyl, which can be glued to any uncarpeted surface. Suppose you are installing vinyl plank in an area that’s hard to reach or the adhesive has been applied in a way that will make it difficult to remove. In that case, we recommend using a vinyl floor runner or a vinyl strip for larger areas so that the vinyl installation will be easier to remove later on.

2) Not biodegradable:

Vinyl flooring is not biodegradable. This means vinyl will never decompose, rot, or erode over time. It also signifies that vinyl is constructed out of non-renewable materials like rubber, vinyl chloride and vinyl acetate. Vinyl plank flooring is often made without formaldehyde, cadmium and mercury; however, vinyl flooring still relies on fossil fuels to manufacture vinyl.

3) Not renewable:

Vinyl flooring is known as a non-renewable product, which means vinyl plank flooring does not easily break down to be reused as part of nature’s cycle. This also means that vinyl has an expiration date in which it starts to lose its flexibility and will eventually crack and break apart. Because vinyl is created from fossil fuels, there are limited supplies of vinyl, which makes vinyl’s lifespan relatively low.

Vinyl can last up to five years before needing replacement, but vinyl’s average life expectancy is only two years when used indoors with foot traffic. Vinyl plank flooring sold at big box stores often have warranties that only cover defects for one or two years. Vinyl Flooring is usually not covered under a warranty if it fails due to improper installation or mishandling of vinyl planks.

4) Not ecologically friendly:

Vinyl flooring does not contain any recycled material, so vinyl plank flooring cannot be considered an “eco-friendly” product. Vinyl flooring is also manufactured from fossil fuels which means vinyl has the same carbon footprint as oil, gas, coal and other non-renewable resources. Because vinyl flooring is known for emitting VOC’s (volatile organic compounds), vinyl plank flooring emits these harmful chemicals into the indoor air quality.

Vinyl contains high levels of phthalates which are toxic chemicals linked to congenital disabilities and cancer. Vinyl flooring includes dangers that can cause asthma in children and adults. Vinyl flooring is also a known allergen to many people, and vinyl’s chemical emissions can worsen allergies, asthma and other respiratory conditions. Vinyl flooring can emit the same dangerous chemicals as household items such as vinyl shower curtains, vinyl tablecloths, and vinyl blinds containing lead.