What Is Vinyl Tile Flooring?
You're finally at a point where you're ready to embark on a few home upgrades, and new flooring tops the list! You want something that adds more elegance and style to your current decor, is durable enough for your growing family, and won't drain your bank account. Your sister raves about her luxury vinyl tile flooring, but you've never looked into it. Until now!
Luxury vinyl tile offers a beautiful, strong, and water-resistant floor thanks to its impressive man-made layers. It starts with a backing layer, then a core, which serves as the thickest layer. There are two core options:
- Stone plastic composite (SPC) is a solid construction that's firm underfoot and more dent resistant.
- Wood plastic composite (WPC) offers a slightly softer cushion that also helps to absorb sound. It works well in homes with little kids and four-legged friends.
After the core layer comes the digital image layer. It's responsible for the realistic stone, marble, or hardwood look you end up with. Finally, a top wear layer protects the tile and can vary in thickness. You can find floor vinyl tiles in several sizes, including 9”, 12”, and 18” squares.
Vinyl Plank vs. Vinyl Tile
Maybe you’re ready to commit to the promise of durability with vinyl flooring, but how do you decide between planks and tiles of vinyl flooring? Are there differences beyond just the look?
- Vinyl planks realistically resemble solid hardwood flooring, from the shape down to the color pattern and texture. Even the width options —narrow, standard, and wide —align with hardwood planks.
- Vinyl floor tiles look like real wood, tile, or even elegant stone. They're available as squares and rectangles and in a range of sizes.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Vinyl Tile Flooring
What are the pros and cons that you should keep in mind as you make your flooring choice? Here's a breakdown of the pros:
- Luxury vinyl tiles won't break the bank, especially when compared to hardwood, stone, and other natural materials.
- Installation is a straightforward process, though it's best left to the pros, meaning you’ll be able to start living on your new floors quicker!
- Vinyl tile flooring can resist moisture, making it an awesome selection for all areas of your house, including high-humidity places like bathrooms, utility zones, and basements.
- One damaged tile can be replaced without affecting the surrounding area.
There are a couple of considerations to take into account when shopping for vinyl tile for your home:
- If your floor vinyl tiles are glued down, they can be difficult to remove.
- Consider your vinyl flooring options carefully, as their thickness and quality can vary. Thicker vinyl flooring will provide more cushioning and stability underfoot.
Appearance
You know you want a tile look, plus the extra benefits of resilience, water resistance, and easy installation. But what do you want your new luxury vinyl tile flooring to look like in your home? Are you hoping the luxury vinyl tiles will brighten your windowless basement? Add personality to the kids' playroom? Each homeowner could give a different answer because our visions are as unique as we are! Luckily, there's an enormous range of styles and designs, including these three common categories:
- Decorative vinyl - Get creative with bold colors, fun patterns, or classic designs that perfectly showcase your specific style.
- Stone-look vinyl - Fool your neighbors with elegant tiles that beautifully mimic luxury marble or granite. Thanks to today's technology, vinyl can realistically resemble all types of natural materials.
- Wood-look vinyl - Enjoy the exact hardwood look you've always wanted throughout your entire house with vinyl floor tiles. No worrying about warping floors in the humid bathroom or ruined entryway floors after a few snow seasons! Vinyl flooring can give you water-resistant protection.
Durability of Vinyl Floor Tiles
Whether you're shopping for vinyl bathroom tiles, kitchen vinyl floor tiles, or luxury floor tiles for your entire home, keep your family's lifestyle in mind as you make your decision. Busier homes with pets, people, and a constant buzz of traffic can benefit from vinyl that has a thicker wear layer, which will do a better job of resisting stains and dirt. Your local Flooring America expert can help ensure you find the right vinyl product with durability to meet your specific needs.
Regardless of your daily activity level indoors, you'll want to also think about how you can protect your floors from accidental scratches and scrapes. If your family gatherings are known to get rowdy, add rugs in the busiest spots and place your dining room chairs on protective pads. Thankfully, if the worst happens and a tile does get damaged, you can replace one without requiring replacement of the entire area.
How to Maintain Luxury Vinyl Tile
You can rest assured that the regular maintenance you'll need to give your new luxury tile flooring won't take too much time out of your week! Get in the habit of routinely sweeping your floors to remove any debris or dirt that's collected. An occasional mopping can provide a deeper cleaning, but be sure to follow the manufacturer's recommendations.
Installation and Lifespan
You've decided you like all that luxury vinyl tile flooring has to offer, but how long will it really hold up to your messy children and rambunctious dogs? That's a great question that doesn't have a definitive answer. The good news is that you've got years of good use on the horizon, plus the lifespan of your new floors is largely in your hands!
To get the most for your money, you’ll want to:
- Ensure a proper installation with high-quality materials
- Stay on top of routine sweeping or vacuuming
- Follow the manufacturer's instructions for spot treatments and deep cleaning
- Protect your floors from abnormally rough usage to avoid unnecessary damage
The first big decision you'll have to make that affects longevity is who you choose to install your floor vinyl tiles. Even though self-adhesive vinyl tiles seem easy, there are some unfortunate implications that can come from improper installation of any kind. Avoid the headache and ensure your warranty protection stands by hiring an expert. A professional installer will not only have the expertise and tools required but also provide the peace of mind that comes with an intact warranty.
Vinyl Tile Flooring FAQs
- What is luxury vinyl tile flooring? Luxury vinyl tile (also known as LVT) gives you the opportunity to have durable, affordable flooring with a realistic look that mimics natural materials. LVT includes layers of vinyl, a photographic layer, and a protective top layer.
- Is vinyl tile flooring waterproof? Yes, vinyl floor tiles are waterproof! If you go with vinyl tile, your best bet is to hire a professional installer to ensure high-quality work that doesn't put the floor's water resistance at risk.
- Is vinyl tile a good choice for flooring? Yes! Add vinyl tile flooring to your list if you're looking for extremely durable, waterproof flooring. It can be installed throughout your home, including hard-to-reach places like your bathrooms and basements.