There are a lot of things to consider when choosing flooring options – foot traffic, durability, cost, style and a lot more. Vinyl flooring has been a popular flooring option among homeowners over the year. Just because it’s a popular choice, doesn’t always mean it’s the best. Of course, it pays to do research and consider the pros and cons of this flooring option before making a decision.
Here are some important things to consider when shopping for vinyl flooring products.
Pros
Affordability
Vinyl flooring is cheaper than many other types of flooring. This is because it can easily be mass produced using low cost materials. And if you’re handy, you can even install it yourself.
Low maintenance
As far as cleaning and maintenance goes, vinyl is hard to beat. It is very easy to clean and is water resistant. Regular sweeping and occasional mopping is all you need to keep your floor clean and sparking. Plus, you have the option to replace an individual tile if it gets damaged.
Wide variety of design options
Vinyl flooring has gained a ton of attention lately as it offers many choices in patterns, colors and textures. It is available in just about any color and pattern that you can think of. Some designs even mimic the look of wood planks or stone tiles.
Cons
Gets damaged easily
Vinyl floors do not stand up well against heavy loads. Furniture pads need to be installed on the feet of all furniture to prevent damage. Sharp objects can gouge the surface if dropped.
May fade overtime
Low quality vinyl flooring may fade overtime. Vinyl can’t stand up to ultraviolet rays and may start to fade under prolonged exposure to sunlight. If the budget allows, opt for high quality vinyl floors since they don’t fade.
Not environmental friendly
Vinyl flooring is manufactured using polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The process can emit VOC’s in the air overtime, and therefore not an environmentally friendly choice.
