Vinyl Plank Flooring
From LoveToKnow HomeImprovement
Vinyl plank flooring is an alternative to costly hardwood floors. This type of flooring gives you the look of hardwood without the cost or the hassles. If you need to replace old carpet in your home or are doing some type of other floor remodeling project, consider using vinyl flooring. This option could save you money and give you a stress free flooring option.
Vinyl Plank Flooring Basics
Part of the appeal of vinyl plank flooring is that it looks just like hardwood. While carpet used to be the most desirable flooring in homes across the country, today’s new homebuyers are looking for the convenience and stylish looks of hardwood floors. Installing hardwood can be a massive undertaking and can cost a lot of money. Vinyl flooring gives you the same look without the large price.
The cost of vinyl flooring can be almost half that of a hardwood floor of the same size. You’ll also save a lot on installation costs. While hardwood requires a lot of skill to install properly, vinyl flooring is meant to be easy to install. Most manufacturers offer easy planks that snap into place with one another. This means that you can handle the installation yourself in just a weekend.
Vinyl Flooring Benefits
In addition to the money savings, vinyl flooring is a good option for many other reasons. There are a wide variety of options available for your vinyl flooring. You can find a warm maple color that will make your entire house feel inviting and homey. You can choose a dark wood floor color that gives a modern feel to your home. You can choose classic pine for a country look. No matter what design style you want to use, you can be sure that there is a vinyl flooring option that matches your style.
Vinyl flooring is also a lot easier to take care of than standard hardwood floors. You can have an additional satin urethane coating added to most vinyl flooring to help protect your new floor from dirt and grime. It resists scuffs, which is very important if you have children or pets.
When there is a mess on your vinyl flooring, you can clean it up very easily. This flooring is completely waterproof. This makes it a good option for bathrooms and kitchens and also a great type of floor to have if you have a lot of spills. Liquids can be mopped up and you don’t have to worry about the wood warping or having stains on your floor.
Vinyl Flooring Drawbacks
There are a lot of benefits to vinyl floors, but they aren’t perfect. One of the major problems with vinyl plank flooring is that it isn’t very environmentally friendly. The planks are not biodegradable and they can’t be recycled. This means that once you or the next person to own your home removes the flooring it will be sitting in a landfill.
In addition, you may need to install a subflooring before placing the vinyl planks. Vinyl planks are not as thick as hardwood floors. In order to bridge the gap between your subfloor and your baseboards, you may need to add another installation step which can cost you time and money.
Choosing Vinyl Planks
Your best bet for deciding on vinyl planks for your home is to visit a major home improvement store. These stores have a variety of styles, colors and manufacturers for you to choose from. The staff should be able to answer your installation questions and help you find the right option for you. You’ll also have the benefit of seeing the samples in person so you can tell if the color will work in your home.
Learn More
This page has been accessed 1,199 times. This page was last modified 01:46, 16 March 2009.
© 2006-2009 LoveToKnow Corp.
Visit us on facebook