Vinyl Flooring -- Good Looks and Great
Value
No single element of your home gets
quite as much use as the floor. Take the kitchen floor for example;
everyone walks on it, the kids play on it, the dog tracks dirt on
it, and liquids spill on it. What are your choices for these high-traffic
areas? Price consideration alone used to make vinyl the number one
choice. It's still a popular flooring today; but it's not only
price that makes vinyl flooring attractive, it's the almost
limitless range of colors, styles, and textures that are now
available.
Selecting your choices of patterns could
be your biggest problem as they are almost endless. Do you want a
floral design to complement your furniture? Are you looking for a
geometric design to match your cabinets? How about a pastel or
bold color to coordinate with your paint? You're sure to find the
vinyl flooring pattern that fits perfectly with any decor in your
home. And don't think that vinyl flooring only belongs in the
kitchen. With all the beautiful choices, vinyl has moved out of
the kitchen and you're just as likely to find it in the familyroom
or the foyer.
Tiles or sheet vinyl? After
deciding on vinyl, you next decision is which type of vinyl
flooring you want to go with -- individual tiles or continuous
sheet.
Vinyl tiles
There are two types of vinyl tiles -- the self-stick kind or the
plain backing. Self-sticking tiles are quick and easy to install
which makes it a good do-it-yourself project. Just peel of the
protective backing, position the tile and press in place. Vinyl
tiles are available in several thicknesses. The thicker the tile,
the better the tile. If you decide to go with vinyl tiles that
require an adhesive, primarily used in commercial situations, you
need a level and clean subfloor for the best installation.
Sheet vinyl
Vinyl flooring also comes in continuous lengths of 6 or 12 foot
widths allowing seams to be kept to a minimum. The vinyl is bonded
to the subfloor with an adhesive that is spread on the entire
floor. The seams are treated with a seam coater so they are almost
invisible. You'll also have a choice of finishes -- either
urethane or no-wax finish. Urethane sheet vinyl flooring costs a
little more but resists scuffing better and lasts longer with less
maintenance.
Some of today's sheet vinyl flooring is
manufactured with the color or pattern going right through the
material. Called "through-chip construction," or "base-to-surface
color," this type of vinyl flooring gives the color more depth and
makes nicks or cuts less noticeable. Installing sheet vinyl
requires careful preparation of the subfloor and is probably best
left to a professional.
Regardless of which vinyl flooring you
choose for your home, you'll find that today's product is durable
and designed to resist stains, scuffs and dents. It needs only
minimal vacuuming and an occasional wash to keep it looking like
new.
 
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