Why You Should Consider Vinyl Plank Flooring for Your Home

Everyone needs a good floor that’s durable, soft under our feet, offers stability and goes with the style of the rest of the room. When choosing one, there are many available options like hardwood, tiles, linoleum, laminate flooring and others. It’s important to choose the right type of flooring for each room because each one has specific requirements that one type may not be able to fulfil.

Out of all the options available, vinyl planks are the most versatile solution which can easily fit in any room of the home. 

What Are Vinyl Planks?

Vinyl flooring is one of the most popular options nowadays. It comes in sheets, planks, and tiles. It’s made from synthetic materials like polyvinyl chloride and has the most versatile look.

Vinyl planks and the other types are made by mixing the polyvinyl chloride resins with different plasticisers, stabilisers, and pigments. Newer technologies make them more and more resilient and durable. All of the materials are pressed together and the flooring has multiple layers.

The backing layer is water-resistant which means it prevents moisture and mould. Then comes the core of the plank which is the main part and is waterproof as well. On top of that, the desired digital image is added. It’s what the plank will look like and it’s adhered to the core. In the end, a transparent wear layer is applied. It protects the planks from any kind of damage.

Unlike vinyl sheets that come in a continuous roll or vinyl tiles that are cut into smaller pieces that look like tiles, vinyl planks are cut into planks. They are closer to the vinyl tiles because they’re both stiffer and harder than the sheet.

How Do Vinyl Planks Look?

This type of flooring has the most versatile looks, which is one of the reasons why you’ll be able to find a suitable vinyl plank flooring for your home. The fact that it’s manufactured enables it to have the look that you want. Especially luxury vinyl flooring is constructed in a way that looks very similar to other materials. 

Luxury vinyl planks are much thicker than standard planks because they contain more layers. They are designed to mimic the look of natural wood and luxury vinyl tiles look like ceramic or stone tiles. They are even more convincing because they have the shape of hardwood and tiles as well and they are rigid which makes them feel like real floor.

You can find vinyl plank flooring that looks like any type of natural wood. Dark wood, light wood, oak, walnut, and any other variation and texture is available.

If you want a floor that looks like stone, vinyl planks got you covered. You can choose from all of the different shades of planks that imitate the look of cement, slate, and travertine.

If you don’t fancy the look of any of these, you can pick a design of your choice. No matter if it’s some kind of a pattern, picture, or painting that you like, anything can be made into vinyl planks.

Why Do You Need Vinyl Planks in Your Home?

Besides the versatile design that makes them one of the most desired types of flooring, vinyl planks have many other benefits as well.

They’re Affordable 

Vinyl planks are much cheaper than other types of flooring, especially natural wood or stone. For all of their advantages, they’re a cost-effective solution that everyone can afford.

They’re Durable 

They’re manufactured from many layers that aren’t easily damaged. The top surface is finished off with polyurethane which makes them not easily susceptible to scratches or stains. Even if more serious damage occurs, they can be taken out and replaced.

They’re Anti-slip 

Due to the non-slip coatings, most vinyl plank floors aren’t slippery. This makes them suitable for any kind of shoes, small children, and elderly people. Moreover, you don’t have to use carpets on the floor to prevent slipping.

They’re Comfortable

The many layers provide padding that makes the planks soft to walk on. This is especially true for luxury vinyl flooring because it’s thicker. Depending on the underlayment of the planks, they can also have pretty solid sound-blocking properties.

They’re Waterproof

There are different types of vinyl plank flooring and some of them may be water-resistant but not entirely waterproof. So, depending on the room where you’re going to install it, you might want to ask the store if the type you want is 100% waterproof. This is especially important for the bathroom, kitchen, or laundry room. Although, for easier cleaning, any room can benefit from having waterproof vinyl flooring.

They’re Easy to Clean 

You don’t have to be extra careful not to leave water on the floor for too long because it won’t do any damage. Although, of course, even though it’s a long-lasting floor, it doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be careful at all. You can use soft brooms for sweeping any kind of dirt or dust mops. It’s safe to use a vacuum cleaner as well.

The floor can be mopped and gentle cleaners can be used. To preserve it in its best shape, it’s a good idea to get specialised cleaners or you can make one at home with natural ingredients. Also, stains and marks are easily removed but don’t use very hard brushes.

They’re Easy to Install 

There are several ways to install vinyl planks but they’re all very simple and you can even do it yourself. This means that there won’t be any additional costs for hiring professionals to do it. Even if you do hire other people for the job, it’s quickly installed, so the cost will be much lower.

They can be installed over any other surface, it just needs to be flat. The planks can be interlocking, which means they’re locked together and create a kind of floating floor.

They can be self-adhesive or peel and stick, so you just need to peel the protective film on the back and press them to stick to the surface. They can be glued down with a special glue for a better hold or high-traffic areas.

The planks can also be loose lay, which means that they don’t need any glue to hold them down. These planks have a material with high friction on the back that keeps them tightly to the surface.