Vinyl Flooing - yay or nay?
Posted May 12, 2023
Without even noticing it, we’ve likely all walked across vinyl flooring somewhere, at some time in our lives. Perhaps sheet vinyl in the bathroom, kitchen or laundry of the family home we grew up in, or the commercial vinyl planks at our favourite café or restaurant. It’s pretty hard not to come across vinyl in one form or another!
Made from polyvinyl chloride, vinyl flooring is most often manufactured in sheet or plank form and has a reputation for being hard wearing and resilient. This is mainly due to the protective wear layer and most vinyl flooring will last between 10 to 20 years if properly installed and maintained.
Sheet vinyl is available in 2.0 metre, 3.0 metre and 4.0 metre wide and has an incredible array of colours, patterns and styles designed to imitate timber, concrete, stone, tiles and numerous other designs. Vinyl planks are mostly made to replicate natural timber flooring and are often so authentic that it is difficult to tell them apart from the real thing.
A concern sometimes raised about vinyl flooring is that the raw material from which PVC flooring is produced along with the manufacturing processes, are not seen as environmentally friendly. Although a lot of gains have been made to ensure that the processes are better for the environment, the biggest challenge lies in the fact that vinyl flooring cannot be recycled and therefore contributes to landfill.
Now that we’ve broadly covered vinyl, let’s specifically look a bit further into sheet vinyl and vinyl planks.
Sheet vinyl, where it all began! As its name implies is installed in sheets that are cut off large rolls, as mentioned above typically 2, 3, or 4 metres wide. It is relatively easy to install and tends to have very few seams but as it needs to be cut to fit the space there is wastage, just how much depends on the specific space and its size and shape. Also, if dented, sheet vinyl is near impossible to repair and because it is installed using strong adhesives, removing it can be a difficult and time consuming process. Residentially, sheet vinyl is most commonly used in bathrooms, laundries and kitchens and has been a popular choice for NZ homes for decades. Under the changes to E3/AS1 in the NZ Building Code, sheet vinyl with sealed joints and sealed or coved edges is considered an acceptable solution, this is important to know if you are building or undertaking renovations that require council consent.
Sheet vinyl is available in a range of designs, from neutral timber and concrete looks to bold geometrics and fun patterns, this allows for creativity to flow!
With the advent of better technology in manufacturing of vinyl planks, embossing of the surface to create will not only create an authentic look, but will also gibe texture that is often mistaken for a rough sawn or textured wood. This means that you can create a high end aesthetic in your home, even on a restricted budget. Vinyl planks and tiles tend to have very little waste, making them a cost effective and economical choice.
To ensure that vinyl planks meet all requirements under the new E3 section of the Building Code, The Flooring Centre team are able to assist with the documentation for submission to Council as an alternative acceptable solution.
Vinyl planks can look just like timber, especially with recent developments in embossing technology which allows texture to be added to the planks.
So, now that we know the ins and outs of vinyl flooring, is it a yay or nay? Well, like many things in life, it’s unfortunately not quite that simple! Vinyl flooring, in sheet or plank form can be a great option depending on your space and budget but it is always a matter of getting the right advice to ensure the selection is the right fit for your space.
In summary, sheet vinyl or vinyl planks offer many features and benefits that should be considered when selecting your flooring and weighed against those of other hard flooring types. Every person has different needs when it comes to flooring, based on their home, family and lifestyle. Our team of experts are here to help guide you through your flooring journey and decide which products are best for you, if you’re feeling a little lost or have questions, get in touch, we’d love to help!