Vinyl planks, unlike wood planks, are 100% water and moisture resistant. You are never alone when you choose BuildDirect as your supplier of premium high-quality building materials. This is perhaps the biggest downside of vinyl plank flooring. Luxury Vinyl Tile or Plank floors are designed to withstand high foot traffic and are perhaps the most resilient flooring option that is also easy to install. Harsh detergents can strip away the protective layer of your vinyl, exposing it to scratches, dents, and stains that could cause the flooring to wear out prematurely. These gasses are dangerous to the environment and can be hazardous to many people who have respiratory problems. There is no doubt that ceramic tile flooring comes in beautiful color and pattern selections and like high quality vinyl plank tiles, ceramic is waterproof. However, if vinyl planks are installed properly and given the appropriate care and maintenance, they can last up to thirty years. BuildDirect truly is your one-stop-shop for all your flooring needs. 3. Check us out today and see how we can help you complete your next flooring project. To sign in to your account, login using your social media account below, or enter your email address and password. Chipped edges are usually a result of improper installation. Sign up to receive exclusive offers, product inspiration and home design ideas. However, as with all floors, vinyl planks have some drawbacks that homeowners need to familiarize themselves with before making a purchase, so they can know exactly what to expect. We know your home is an expression of your sense of style, and were here to make sure youll be proud of it for years to come. Can Vinyl Plank Flooring Be Installed In a Garage? However,the downside is in the cost of installation. Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) Flooring Pros & Cons, Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) Flooring Pros & Cons, 11 Tips For Using Self-Leveling Compound on Wood Subfloors, What Screws to Use on Plywood & OSB Subfloors: Complete Guide, Can Plywood Subfloor be Painted (Used as Finished Flooring), 6 Carpet Brands to Avoid (& 5 Most Durable), 5 Laminate Flooring Brands To Avoid & 6 Brands Worth the Money, 8 Signs You Should Replace Subfloor & Costs (Water Damage Included), What Causes Moisture Under Hardwood Floors? Here are some pro tips for you to use to ensure the longevity of its lifespan. Our design consultants are equipped with the knowledge to guide you through the wide selection of products we offer, and our expert installation team is professionally trained to make sure everything gets installed the way you envision. So what exactly does this mean? Especially if exposed to sunlight. Will Cricut Vinyl Stick to Wood? While glued vinyl planks are sturdier than their floating counterparts, the floors can be hard to pull off. Most top coatings of LVT flooring is not UV protected which can cause the wood look to fade or have discoloration over time. When the flooring is just new, it is recommended that you wait for a few days before bringing in heavy objects like furniture or walking on it. Vinyl plank floors generally mimic various species of hardwood or distressed wood planks. 2. Get the wood look for a fraction of what real hardwood costs. Wide assortment of colors, shapes, sizes and patterns. Most vinyl plank flooring can be installed for about $4.50 to $5.50 a square foot, while hardwood flooring can be priced at two to three times that amount. Vinyl Plank Flooring vs. Vinyl Sheet Flooring: Whats the Difference? All of the negatives associated with the old vinyl tile have been overcome with the introduction of todays luxury vinyl plank flooring. Thickness has more to do with how much weight the flooring can bear. October 09, 2020 | 4 min read | BuildDirect, TAGS Design Trends Flooring Products and Benefits Trends. Certain rubber material, such as a rubber backing from a floor mat, can also cause vinyl to discolor. Light commercial starts at 12 mil and goes up to 30 mil for commercial grade / industrial strength. To use such planks again, you will need to sand the back side to even it out before reapplying the adhesive, and this can be really time-consuming. You can add rubbing alcohol to the cleaning solution to help the floor dry faster. So, how can you increase the lifespan of your vinyl plank flooring? With the exception of any occasional damp mopping to remove everyday stains, todays modern vinyl flooring will maintain its beauty for years. The flooring is made by a pressure-heat process, combining 3 different layers together: a vinyl backing, a film, and a wear layer. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Can You Paint Vinyl Flooring? To help even further, stop by one of our locations to see the beneficial vinyl plank flooring in person! In the final process, a polyurethane coating is added for durability and protection before being cut to size, edged-prepared, and shipped. In recent years, we have been better at recycling more often worldwide, especially in America. With wood, you cannot lay it in a place that will get wet. Vinyl flooring is not an environmentally friendly option and is hard to recycle, but you can do it. Ensure the entire floor is clean with soap and water, then allow it to dry before anything else. Thanks to advanced photographic imaging technology for the design layer, vinyl plank flooring can look exactly like any particular look youre interested in. But this will depend on the quality of the vinyl and other materials the flooring is made of. The reason is entirely dependent on which brand you choose and how many material layers each one has. The top protective wear layer thickness is what determines how durable the flooring will be. On the contrary, vinyl flooring is known to last longer when your floors are installed correctly, with limited foot traffic, and given the appropriate care. First you have to understand the purpose of LVT also known as LVP Flooring. Luxury vinyl plank flooring is an install once and done flooring option. The best way to prevent sunlight from entering your indoor space is to keep blinds and curtains closed. (Prepare & Painting Tips). Keep your curtains closed during the daytime. We also offer free shipping on some flooring options. Vinyl planks are softer on the surface than regular wood planks, making them more comfortable to walk on. Vinyl planks have some shortcomings that may make them appear somewhat lower-quality compared to high-end floorings like natural hardwood. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. However, the extent of the damage will depend on numerous factors including the amount of the VOCs in the air and the length of time you were exposed. This view goes back to days of thin peel and stick tiles that had ugly patterns and colors and never seemed to have enough glue on them to keep the tile in place. Vinyl plank flooring offers many colors and designs that natural stone and wood do not. So, lets take a look at the pros and cons to help you make the right decision. Luxury vinyl plank flooring is appealing due to its durability, easy installation, and water-resistant qualities. This is especially true for glue-down planks; it will give the adhesive enough time to firmly attach the planks to the floor. Before you consider the pros and cons of vinyl plank flooring. Although vinyl plank flooring has exceptional qualities, there are some disadvantages. Spills will not damage it and they are very easy to clean. (5 Vinyl-Safe Rugs), How to Stagger Vinyl Plank Flooring? Keep large furniture near windows or where the sun will be exposed the most. Vinyl plank flooring is considered a luxury vinyl tile option because of its thickness,durability, ease of installation, and beautiful design patterns that replicate real wood and stone flooring. Although vinyl planks are waterproof, it is still important to wipe off spills quickly whenever they happen so your floor stays dry. Unfortunately, vinyl planks are not biodegradable. Vinyl planks are among the most popular flooring materials today and for good reason they are affordable, reliable, and easy to install and maintain. One of the things that vinyl floor companies can do a better job is to where homeowners can recycle their floors once their lifespan is complete to protect our environment more. When looking at the cost of real wood flooring you can easily be fooled by advertised square foot material pricing. The problem comes when the planks are glued down. This is one of the biggest advantages of vinyl flooring, making it ideal for any environment where the floor may be exposed to water. In most instances, warm water would be sufficient to get rid of dirt and stains from your vinyl. Vinyl plank flooring has come a long way over the last several years and has really grown in popularity. Simply explained, it is vinyl flooring that has been cut into easy to handle strips. And when looking at the pros and cons of this material, you can see that the pros outweigh the cons. While vinyl will hold up for many years, you can damage it. Installing laminate has higher labor costs and requires a saw to cut material. At Avalon Flooring, we want to make sure youre happy from your first step in our showroom to your first step on your new flooringand as your partner in home design, well be there every step along the way. Though, as with any material you use in your home, vinyl comes with its own set of benefits and frustrations. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. If you are a builder/remodeler, you may be able to take advantage of BuildDirects Pro Rewards program that can save you time and money on your next project. If your vinyl flooring is constantly being exposed to direct sunlight, it will slowly start to discolor, and eventually, the pattern on the vinyl will completely fade away. (8 Types). Vinyl flooring often meets those three requirements, which is why its such a popular choice for homeowners. Vinyl plank flooring, also known as luxury vinyl tile, is by far the most popular choice among homeowners, business owners, and remodeling contractors when replacing an existing floor covering, for two reasons: it is durable and water-resistant. Unlike carpet and most hardwood and engineered flooring options, luxury vinyl plank floor tiles can be installed in wet areas. Contact, professional flooring contractor/installer. Today we will be covering every one of these issues that luxury vinyl flooring has and see what options we have available. Using excessive force when hitting the planks can leave marks, dents, and gouges around the edges of the boards, and this will not only make it more difficult for the planks to click and lock but also leave the flooring looking and feeling uneven. These cookies do not store any personal information. Vinyl planks arent biodegradable, and depending on the materials used, they can also be very difficult to recycle. In addition to being installation-friendly, vinyl plank flooring wont break the budget compared with other types of upscale floor coverings. Be sure to avoid mops with built-in scrub brushes, however, as this can damage your floor. 2022 Avalon Flooring, All rights reserved. Also, one of the things that vinyl floors dont get the credit it deserves for is how its able to stay at room temperature. New Year, New Trends Part Three: Flooring in 2018, Why You Should Add Wood-Look Tiles to Your Bathroom. For example, LVT (luxury vinyl tile) or LVP (luxury vinyl plank) flooring realistically mimics the beauty of natural materials at a fraction of the cost. Wood-look flooring looks stunning in any room of the house and is versatile to many different interior design styles. A professionally installed ceramic tile floor can cost as much as $15-20 dollars per square foot. Vinyl vs. Laminate vs. Linoleum Flooring: Which is Better? Window Treatment Summer Savings Event - Now thru Sept 18! With a few simple cleaning techniques, you can keep your vinyl plank floor clean and healthy with minimal effort or investment. However, there are some cons to vinyl plank flooring. On the other hand, many people wind up gluing their flooring down to ensure they do not accidentally come out of place while moving furniture or something. The big difference is installation. LVP flooring if glued down can be very hard to remove if you ever want to replace. While vinyl planks can handle a little bit of misuse for some time, dropping sharp objects, pulling and pushing furniture, and walking on it in pointed heels will scratch or scuff your flooring. You will need to carefully pry them to make sure they are coming out intact. This is an especially important benefit for those who need to stand for long periods of time, as vinyl planks are easier and more comfortable to stand on than traditional wood alternatives. With tile, you do not want to lay it where it can get damaged. These flooring types make an excellent option within your home, especially if you are a family with small children or pets running around. Most glued-down vinyl flooring products had a paper backing and were not waterproof. Still, if the cons outweigh the pros, it will be best to get different floorings to suit your needs and the environment better. It's best to order 5-10% over for waste and future repairs. Even a small amount of water could ruin the floor and result in costly repairs. Vinyl wood plank floors are not able to be refinished. EVP Vs. LVP: 10 Main Differences Between Luxury Vinyl and Engineered Vinyl Plank Flooring, Can You Put Rugs on Vinyl Plank Flooring? Watch this video on how to properly clean vinyl plank floors and the best products to use. COREtec Plus Enhanced Herringbone Vinyl Plank in Pompeii Oak, Public House 7 1/8 Vinyl Plank in Old Fashioned, PerforMax 7 Vinyl Plank in Feather Grass, COREtec Everyday 5.91 Chestnut Vinyl Plank in Newton, PerforMax 7 Vinyl Plank in Southside Park. This means you can have the benefits of vinyl that are missing in cheaper flooring options without the high cost of solid wood flooring. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Sweeping or vacuuming is all thats needed for daily maintenance. Looking for daily home design inspiration? You dont want moisture going through the seams or grooves and getting stack between the vinyl and the subfloor, as this will provide the perfect environment for mold to grow. Laminate is a bit cheaper than vinyl, but you still need to buy a vapor barrier pad to go under the laminate. Sunlight Is Not Vinyl Floors Best Friend, 7. But doing a replacement is not an easy task either, as you will have to disassemble the floor from the wall up to the damaged plank, install a new plank, then assemble the flooring again back to the wall. It is important to note that if you are going to be buying vinyl floors within your home, it is something to consider, as a home that brings in a lot of sunlight may not be the best house to put this kind of floor since your goal is to make them last a while. If you wish to recycle your floors once finished, check within your region to see any recyclers available near you. And How to Get Rid of It. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. The Best Electric Riding Lawn Mowers in 2022, Sewer Clean Out for Residential Homes 101. The BuildDirect Product Expert Team is here to support any questions you may have regarding your home improvement project. It's recommended to. Next Post . These floors are hard to recycle because the material used is out of a product called polyvinyl chloride, or PVC for short, which is used in various objects within your home, such as siding and window frames, pipes, etc. There is easy locking / interlocking options that make this easier but if your putting in a commercial space. Easy to install glueless floating options and fullspread gluedown. Both flooring solutions have similar lifespans. Repair a plank or section of floor is much easier than traditional wood. The benefits of vinyl plank flooring over out-dated peel-and-stick tile is a much-improved, thicker wear layer, with a water-resistant core, and engineered edge design that allows for quick professional installation, and it is a winning project for the do-it-yourselfer. Dropping a glass or moving heavy furniture can result in scuffs and gouges that are difficult to remove. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[728,90],'homeinspectioninsider_com-box-3','ezslot_2',800,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position!='undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-homeinspectioninsider_com-box-3-0')};Vinyl plank flooring is a popular option for many homes because it is affordable and durable. While vinyl planks are relatively easy to install, you need to take utmost care when handling a plank especially if you are using a hammer and tapping block to properly fit the planks into their appropriate grooves. To learn more, please consult BuildDirect's, This Earth Day, Explore Sustainable Floors to Perfect Your Home, How to Choose a Style of Stair Tread Nosing, Find Your Style: 4 Iconic Looks and How to Make Them Your Own, Retro Pattern Vinyl Flooring Can Create a Stunning Blast From the Past Look, The Best Flooring Options for Texas Homes, Marble Look Porcelain Tile That Will Take Your Countertops to the Next Level. Recycling companies need a steady flow of material to profit, so it is only available in certain areas. When installing new flooring, its best to open doors and windows to keep the room well ventilated. I'm a licensed Home Inspector, Certified Master Inspector (CMI), and FHA 203k Consultant. However, vinyl is waterproof and better suited for wet areas like a bathroom, kitchen, or laundry room. wall coverings. Vinyl planks are softer than wood or tile and can dent under the weight of heavy furniture. Use a sponge for deep cleaning. Concrete Pool: Which is Better? Thickness is important in click-lock flooring because it helps to hold the planks together and reduce movement. Some hardwood flooring can last over a hundred years and are in good shape, given the proper care, whereas vinyl flooring only lasts anywhere between 10 to 20 years. Here are seven disadvantages of vinyl plank flooring. However, being made out of PVC would mean that our world will be overpopulated with many hazardous wastes in the coming years. Some vinyl plank floors have a very thin wear layer and can be scratched, scuffed, dented or scraped causing lasting damage. Please fill out this form and one of our sales associates will be in touch to discuss your project and more specific details of this product with you. Moving heavy items without furniture pads can tear plank boards. Mon Fri 8am 5pm, Enter your email address and we'll send you instructions on how to reset your password. Gently sand the scratched area with 320 grit sandpaper, then finish it off with 500 grit and 800 grit to ensure a smooth finish. We will be here with solid advice from an experienced staff to ensure that you get the best value for your dollar. (Step-by-Step Tutorial), Is Vinyl Plank Flooring Toxic? Todays vinyl plank flooring is far superior to older products in both material composition and design/color options. This blog has been saved, please check your email to see it, Please enter your email in the form before saving this blog. While its is important to know the flaws of this flooring, you ought to find out the things that still make it a preferred option by homeowners. If a vinyl plank gets damaged, the only way to get it back in shape is to replace it; you cannot repair it. But if you must use a cleaner, make sure to use a vinyl-friendly one like mild dishwashing liquid. If you are in the market for vinyl planks, this post highlights some of the disadvantages of vinyl plank flooring that most salespersons wont tell you about. Vinyl Plank Flooring has a Short Lifespan, 6. Theres no expensive equipment required for the average homeowner installation. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. When installed in homes, these compounds can be hazardous to people with respiratory allergies. I've been conducting home inspections for 17 years. But make no mistake; vinyl planks are still some of the most popular flooring options on the market today, as they are more affordable and much easier to install than real wood. However, this comes with a price with overexposure to sunlight. For the flooring professional, you may not have to add anything to your tool box except a tapping block. Vinyl vs. Laminate vs. Hardwood Flooring: Which is Better? If this is the case, the flooring material can be hard to remove, as you will have to carefully pry them out to make sure the plank is still intact. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Lets consider the pros and cons of vinyl plank flooring. Laminate flooring is harder and more scratch-resistant than vinyl planks. Many homeowners want to maintain the look of their flooring in the kitchen, bath and laundry areas but until recently, that wasnt an option. Both can be DIY, but vinyl planking is easier and only needs a utility knife to cut material. So, if you are looking for flooring that is environmental-friendly, you may want to consider other options like natural hardwood. A rubber mallet, utility knife, and tapping block are the main items needed as well as a few tools that most people will have in their tool box. Cleaning and maintenance of vinyl plank flooring is easy. Vinyl tiles can simulate ceramic tile or natural stone. Check out those simple cleaning tips in our other blog here. Keeping that in mind, if your flooring has a scratch or two, you can quickly fix it unless it is too deep. Its pretty crazy how much choice there is out there in the world of vinyl flooring. Your friend will not be added to our email list unless they personally choose to sign up. If you do arrange furniture, be sure to cover the feet with felt, or lift the piece off the ground before moving it. Vinyl plank flooring has a shorter lifespan than real hardwood floors, is not eco-friendly, is hard to recycle, emits VOC gasses (volatile organic compound), hard to repair, and has inconsistent qualities. Vinyl won't look as luxurious as natural hardwood. Vinyl vs. Fiberglass Windows: Which Is Better? Compared to the natural wood, vinyl plank flooring will not boost the value of your home. But, of course, its up to you to decide what works best for your home. If you want to avoid, go with a 20 mil wear layer or higher. So, if environmental consciousness is a critical factor in your decision-making process, this is a drawback to consider. However, one of the main disadvantages is that it doesnt last as long. On the contrary, if your home doesnotbring in much sun, putting these floors in your house will be one of the best options you can do, especially if you want to give off the look of having real wood within your home to save money. Engineered Hardwood vs. Vinyl Plank Flooring: Whats the Difference? This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Vinyl and laminate flooring materials are similar in cost. We hope it helps you make an informed decision. So, if youre looking for an affordable flooring for especially a high moisture space in your home, then choose vinyl plank flooring. If you were to get a brand with better reviews than a cheaper vinyl flooring company, it would be best to go with those floorings. So, its not a great option for outdoor use. Here is how to repair minor surface scratches: Vinyl plank flooring is intended to be a floating floor. Products made of vinyl are notorious for emitting harmful gases and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air, which has been found to have adverse effects on humans. (& How to Save it), Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Advertise. Luckily, vinyl planks only outgas for a short time after the installation. This is particularly because vinyl planks are much cheaper than hardwood. Planks made of high-quality materials will likely stop emitting toxins a week or two after the installation but low-quality floors will take longer, with some taking up to two months. While vinyl planks are generally very low in volatile organic compounds, some cheap brands may still contain materials that can expose you to these harmful chemicals. Vinyl floors are lovely in a multitude of aspects, as mentioned earlier. For sale details, design tips and more straight to your inbox. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. Redoing your flooring certainly offers a range of options, from hardwood to tile, to vinyl, to carpet. Glued Vinyl Planks Can Be Difficult to Remove and Reuse. Become a BD PRO rewards member today.. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. They can also be difficult to recycle depending on the brand and composition. (Pros & Cons). If mold grows under your vinyl planks, your flooring will not only start to emit an unpleasant odor; it will also begin to deteriorate, which will reduce its lifespan. If you have any questions, please email us. I started HomeInspectionInsider.com to help people better understand the home inspection process and answer questions about homeownership and home maintenance. If you did not glue your vinyl floors down, it is relatively easy to remove. You could also have the spots where the sun hits the most covered with a piece of cloth or some furniture. Vinyl Liner vs. Fiberglass vs. Consult with the manufacturer to see if the material is resistant against ultraviolet rays. There are many things to consider when choosing a high quality vinyl plank tile and BuildDirect offers expert advice on the phone as well as a website that is full of helpful articles and videos on installation. This means it can work great in the kitchen or bathroom. If you have pets and kids causing a ruckus in the house, vinyl does not scratch easily, chip or suffer any kind of major damage that is going to make it look bad. Using dish soap and warm water mixture, clean the floor thoroughly. If you have installed loose lay or click and lock vinyl planks, then removing them can be relatively easy. Whereas some high-quality hardwood floors will last over forty years, vinyl planks will last somewhere between ten and twenty years. Most vinyl planks can be installed right over your existing floor, saving you time and money on your project while providing a beautiful new look that will maintain its value for years to come. Some of the best companies for vinyl floors are: Pergo is a laminate flooring product. Some companies have up to 6 layers, whereas other businesses have only 4. Continued exposure can result in asthma, respiratory allergies, and other serious lung problems. Vinyl floors are so hard to recycle because PVC contains many harmful additives to maintain the material quality. A hardwood floor will require serious maintenance over the life of the floor: Ceramic tile floors may require you to replace cracked ceramic tiles when a coffee cup or bowl falls on the floor. This is especially important if your project covers more than a thousand square feet. Quality vinyl plank flooring will cost between $2.49 -$3.49 and many hardwood flooring patterns are in the same price range. So, if you have your central heating on in the winter, you do not have to worry about your floor sending chills through your body when you get out of bed! Consider us your One-Stop Shopping destination for all things flooring(and window treatments)! When it comes to cons of vinyl flooring, a disadvantage is that it can become discolored due to constant exposure to direct sunlight. For those looking for a competitively-priced floor that doesnt compromise on quality, vinyl plank flooring is a great choice. VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, are gases that can harm your health in the long run. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Here are a few tips. For deeper cleaning, a mop and warm water will work in most cases. If you have severe respiratory issues, consider wearing a mask during installation. In most applications, the overall thickness of your vinyl floor is a secondary specification because it has little bearing on durability.