When it comes to flooring, homeowners love the traditional appeal of wood, stone and ceramic. But let’s be honest: these materials can be expensive, not very comfortable and can often require more care than we have time or energy for. The smart money solution? Vinyl flooring. This durable flooring forgets pointy heels, street grit and sloppy spills while providing a slip-resistant and often cushiony footing that doesn’t break your bank. No wonder vinyl is becoming a common flooring option, especially for kitchens, baths and entryways.
What Is Vinyl Flooring?
Vinyl flooring is made with several layers of different materials pressed together to form a highly durable, practical and affordable floor covering. Popularized in the mid 20th century, it has evolved a lot since then. Modern vinyl floor is a lot more durable today (many companies offer lifetime warranties) and can be installed faster than earlier versions. Textures and patterns imitate their old-school competitors or fearlessly go in a more modern direction. And when it comes to health matters, some vinyl floor solutions are now certified to meet strict standards for indoor air quality. With a flooring offering this kind of versatility and with so many looks, why would you go with a historic pedigree?
Why Choose Vinyl Flooring?
There is a number of benefits for choosing vinyl flooring over any kind of material. Let’s take a look at the top reasons why vinyl is the right choice.
Affordable
Vinyl flooring is a lot more affordable than wood, stone and ceramic flooring. Plus, modern luxury vinyl flooring is so well-made that many swear they can’t even tell the difference between the two. This means, there is simply no reason for you to pay more when vinyl floors are just as good as pricier flooring materials.
Easy to Install
Who doesn’t love easy smart upgrades for home renovation projects? Consider Vinyl flooring one of them. Whether you are a DIY enthusiast or don’t have any experience with home improvement projects, you shouldn’t have a problem installing vinyl because of just how easy it is to install. And if you choose planks that lock and click together, you’ll save yourself hours of frustration.
Countless Design Options
Although wood flooring is beautiful, you can quickly start to feel like you’re limited in your design options. With vinyl flooring, you have myriad options to choose from. Besides models that imitate the look of numerous strains of wood flooring, you also have choices that imitate the look of ceramic. Choose from whites, greys, browns, blacks and much more.
Comfortable
We all want to feel comfortable in our home. However, especially in the wintertime, it can be a bit chilly to walk on the floors in your home barefoot. Vinyl floors won’t leave you feeling freezing. In fact, many vinyl planks come with an extra padded underlayer that allows you to be especially comfortable when walking. This can be difficult to achieve with ceramic and wooden flooring. This softness can also make a world of difference if you have younger ones that are prone to slips and falls.
Stain Resistant
If you have a messy furry friend at home, you might be wondering is vinyl flooring good for pets? After all, the last thing you want to do is spend too much time cleaning your new floors. Don’t worry, with vinyl floors you won’t have to. Vinyl is naturally resistant to stains and if you act quickly, all you’ll need to do is wipe them up. You won’t have to worry about scratches either. For extra protection, look for planks that have an extra layer of polyurethane, which helps prevent scratches.
Durable
Probably the best benefit of vinyl flooring is its overall durability. Because it does not scratch as easily as natural wood or stone and it’s waterproof, it can be installed in areas where natural materials cannot, like kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms. This durability also makes vinyl a good flooring choice for homes with pets and children.
How to Maintain Vinyl Flooring
Thanks to its durability and resistance to water, vinyls flooring doesn’t require intense maintenance, and it isn’t likely to need serious repairs. However, there are a few things you should do to increase the lifespan of your floor, such as wiping up water spills as quickly as possible and putting felt pads on the bottoms of your furniture legs to prevent scratches.
To maintain your floors, you simply need a mop and a vacuum cleaner. Avoid waxing your vinyl floors to prevent damaging them. Surprisingly or not, apple cider vinegar is a safe and effective cleaning agent for your vinyl floors. The acidity present in the vinegar can cut through dirt. If you decide to go with something you can buy at the store, just make sure you use only gentle cleaning agents on your floor.