The Different Vinyl Flooring Types You Need To Be Aware Of

by Nancy

There are two main different vinyl floor types and before you actually buy your next vinyl material for installing on your brand you (or remodeled) floor, you should be aware of the main difference. If you have a good understanding of what all the definitions means and which term means what, you can get the right type for your floor needs.

While people know the two different types of vinyl flooring: sheet vinyl and vinyl tile, there are also other classifications to be know, so here are all types that I personally am aware of.

By Style

Vinyl Tiles

Vinyl tiles are available in many colors and various patterns. If ease of installation is your prime concern, then this type is the one for you. Also repairing vinyl tiles is extremely easy as often all you need is simply replace a small damaged tile with another one, while the rest of the tiles are unharmed.

You can find vinyl tiles called vinyl wood flooring that look just like real pieces of wood on your floor. Only a real close examination reveals the fact that they are, indeed, not made of hardwood.

You can currently find 3 vinyl tile types:

• Solid vinyl tiles which are basically homogeneous vinyl
• Inlaid vinyl tiles which are made of inlaid vinyl
• Vinyl composition tiles which are made of composite vinyl

Sheet Vinyl

Sheet vinyl is different from vinyl tiles in that they are sold in longer sheets, usually in 6 to 12 feet rolls and they are the most common vinyl flooring installations. While vinyl tiles are perfect when it comes to repairing and replacing, sheet vinyl shines at fast installation and covering of larger areas without a hitch. They are quite durable, moisture resistant and they are usually gllued with a chemical glue or bonding or heat weldoing.

You can nowadays find 3 sheet vinyl types for installation:

• Layered composite sheet vinyl which is currently the most commonly used vinyl when it comes to installation in homes. It is made of 4 layers which are: a backing layer that is made of vinyl or felt, a PVC layer, a filler layer on top of the PVC and finally the decorative layer that is on the surface made of clear vinyl.
• Homogeneous sheet vinyl - it is quite uniform both in composition and structure
• Inlaid sheet vinyl is quite a durable type resistant to fading due to the way it's constructed. Sevaral particles of vinyl are stenciled on a vinyl backing on which comes the wear layer. This gives also a nice type of pattern and color to the material.

By Construction

You can currently find two types of vinyl flooring depending on their type of construction.

• Rotogravure which also goes by the name of rotovinyl. The pattern is printed on the top layer which is then covered by the clean vinyl coating.
• Inlaid creates a flooring that is quite durable and doesn't fade easily due to the vinyl particles laid on the vinyl backing.

By Wear Layers

The wear layer is the actual top, decorative layer that we are all stepping on. This is the layer that protects the flooring from wear and tear, from cracks, stains and moisture. You can find nowadays 3 types of vinyl by wear layers.

• Urethane is well known by the name of PVC. This is quite durable, stain resistant and rather easy to clean. It doesn't need any polishing and it keeps the flooring looking like new for a long time.
• Vinyl no-wax is a layer that is extremely easy to clean and it also protects the shine, color and pattern of the vinyl flooring. This type needs no waxing to keep its shine.
• Enhanced Urethane is really the most durable of all types which outlasts and outperforms both previous ones being much more durable and resistant to everyday wear and tear, to moisture, stain and other elements that would damage the previous two types. Of course this is also a bit more expensive due to this extra wear qualities.