Vinyl flooring is a made from (PVC) polyvinyl chloride, a hydrocarbon based product that requires processing of petroleum, natural gas or coal. The resins that make up vinyl utilize a purely natural element - chlorine (salt) in addition to hydrocarbons. Essentially this makes vinyl a little “green”. Vinyl flooring is not just another piece of plastic. Construction consists of a series of layers laid over each other; base layer, pattern layer, a clear vinyl layer, and a top urethane layer.

The base backing layer is made from felt or fiberglass that ensures the flooring will lay flat and doesn’t require gluing. If the finish vinyl has a pattern the pattern layer is either printed on the base layer or an integral part of the felt backing material layer. The top clear vinyl layer provides protection against rips and tears as well as adding durability. The thickness of this layer determines how well the flooring will retain its new look.

When selecting vinyl flooring you have a choice of different grades to suit your needs. In general, higher priced flooring is thicker than lower price flooring and should last longer. The higher price flooring is usually inlaid rather than printed to ensure the pattern never wears away and will also have a more durable wear layer on top for longer life. If you’re comparing vinyl flooring you should understand the common vinyl flooring terminology.

Vinyl ‘No wax” flooring is designed for areas where it will get minimal exposure to dirt and only light traffic. It is not recommended for a hallway or home entry point.
Urethane layer protection is targeted at areas with normal to heavy traffic, and it will resist most scratches and scuff marks as well as clean easily.
Heavy traffic areas have an enhanced urethane layer that provides the most scratch and stain resistance and helps the floor keep its shine and luster in spite of heavy traffic.

Vinyl flooring is easy to install, especially tiles that are either 9-by-9 inches or 12-by-12 inches. Vinyl tile is laid similar to ceramic tile but is much easier because there is no messy cement. Most vinyl tile is self sticking, meaning the tile comes pre-glued. Installing the tile simply entails removing the back paper and pressing the tile in place. There is no oozing of glue to worry about and no annoying fumes in the house. Care should be taken in the layout to insure that the tile is laid in a square pattern. Laying sheet vinyl flooring is not necessarily a DIY task as any minor mistake can be devastating. It should be left for professionals to install. See my article on installation of vinyl flooring.

See: Vinyl Flooring Installation | Vinyl Flooring