It's not enough for your flooring to look good — it needs to continue looking good for years to come. Durability, functionality and ease of maintenance all matter, especially in high-traffic areas of the house. Many homeowners turn to vinyl as a resilient choice, and with the options available on today's market, you don't need to sacrifice visual appeal in choosing this flooring type. Luxury vinyl floor planking is one of the top picks for functional and fashionable flooring, and many other varieties exist to fit your style and budget. Here are some of the main reasons to choose vinyl.
Resistant to Moisture Buildup
Moisture represents one of the most common concerns for homes, potentially threatening both the building and its occupants' health. Excess moisture creates an ideal environment for mold and mildew to grow. Once present, the spores mold and mildew release spread through the air in your home. These spores are associated with a variety of health problems, including coughing, sneezing, itchy eyes and nausea. People prone to allergies or asthma are especially vulnerable.
The buildup of moisture also compromises flooring materials — porous materials swell and warp as they absorb water, then deform as they dry out and contract. Vinyl flooring comprises multiple layers of resilient materials, creating a non-permeable surface that won't soak up spills or airborne moisture. While severe cases like flooding are still a concern, waterproof flooring withstands everyday activity and prevents mold growth.
Easy to Maintain
Maintenance is important for any flooring, but it also costs time and money. Higher-end floors like hardwood can be prone to wear and tear, making what was once an attractive setpiece far less appealing. Vinyl flooring, however, is simpler to maintain. Because it's impermeable, messes can't settle into the material, preventing lasting stains. Dirt, fluids and sticky residue are wiped away or mopped up easily. Waterproof flooring also makes maintenance less of a hassle because you don't have to worry about mopping or steam cleaning causing water damage.
Vinyl floors are suitable for just about any residential space. Kitchens and bathrooms, both prone to spills or messes, benefit the most from waterproof flooring. Vinyl is a good option for high-traffic areas in the home as well.
Simple Installation, Long Life
Replacing flooring is a costly endeavor, and constant wear and tear makes some types of flooring especially prone to needing replacement. Many hard floors, from ceramic to wood, suffer from scratches and cracks; wood, in particular, is susceptible to aging, often becoming discolored or swollen over time. Meanwhile, carpets become matted, frayed or torn around the edges. If you have pets or children in the household, your floors likely have to endure extra wear and more than a few accidents.
Vinyl floors, fortunately, can last much longer before needing replacement — up to 20 years if well-maintained, versus five to 10 years for carpet and wood. Most vinyl doesn't mark as easily as hardwood or stone and doesn't visibly age like wood. Waterproof flooring's resistance to stains and warping contributes to this. Additionally, the urethane finish enhances scratch and scuff resistance, and some vinyl products are treated for UV resistance as well.
Installing vinyl flooring in the first place is relatively straightforward. The flooring can come in the form of a sheet that is unrolled in the desired space or as planks or tiles that lock together. Many forms of sheet or plank vinyl can be laid out in a "floating" fashion over most subfloors without the need for adhesive, unlike traditional vinyl products.
Variety of Styles
Though many of the benefits of waterproof vinyl flooring come from the ease of installation and care, it doesn't have to be a purely functional choice. Compared to earlier vinyl floors, modern products show off improved printing and embossing techniques that can mimic the appearance and texture of other types of flooring. Luxury vinyl plank flooring is well-suited to emulating hardwood, and vinyl tiles can be styled to resemble stonework or ceramics. Vinyl can also provide its own distinctive look apart from other flooring types, with colorful patterns and gloss or matte finishes. You can even mix and match vinyl tiles to create new patterns.
If you're in need of new flooring, whether as a replacement or for a newly built home, waterproof vinyl flooring remains a practical, economic choice that provides lasting appeal to any interior space.