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Everything You Should Know About Vinyl Plank Flooring

Ashwini Kulkarni Sule
Do you wish to imitate the class and elegance of wood flooring without spending a fortune? Vinyl plank flooring could be your best option. Read on to know more...
Wood flooring is one of the most sought-after flooring types due to its unbeatable class, style, and grace. Hardwood flooring creates a cozy and comfortable ambiance in any room. However, there are some disadvantages to wood flooring, which include susceptibility to scratches, stains, and other damages. This makes it very difficult to maintain it.
However, with the help of vinyl flooring, you can achieve the same effect as wood flooring and that too without worrying about the hassles associated with its wooden counterpart. Moreover, it comes at dirt cheap prices as against hardwood, which can be extremely costly.
Vinyl plank flooring gives an aesthetic appeal to your homes and is easy to clean and maintain as well. Let us take a closer look at its features along with its advantages and disadvantages.

Features

Vinyl plank flooring is available in various wood grain sizes so that you can choose the grain size that resembles the real wood of your choice. It is also available in myriad natural shades of oak, maple, mahogany, etc. 
Thus, it is very easy to replicate the look of real wood flooring. Often, the results are so convincing that you cannot tell the difference between real wood and vinyl plank.
They are available in various widths and sizes. They come in two forms, 'peel and stick' or 'floating flooring', with the first one being self-adhesive vinyl strips, and the latter being a roll form, which needs an adhesive. The peel and stick variety is cheaper, but it is not considered a very superior quality.

Advantages

Apart from the fact that vinyl is extremely inexpensive, there are several other reasons why you would prefer vinyl plank over wood.
  • Vinyl plank is extremely durable and waterproof. Thus, you can install it in areas like bathroom, basement, or kitchen.
  • It is resistant to scratches and cracks, thereby making it a long-lasting flooring option.
  • Moreover, it is easier to clean with water due to its impermeable properties, which prevent water from seeping underneath the flooring. This inhibits the growth of mold and mildew, which is not the case with wood flooring.

Disadvantages

Although the prospects of installing vinyl plank sound lucrative, you must be aware of certain disadvantages of this type of flooring.
  • Since vinyl planks are not as thick as real wood planks, they need a separate sub-flooring underneath. You can install vinyl flooring on the existing flooring, but then be prepared to compromise with the end results.
  • Also, vinyl is hardly biodegradable, which can be an issue of major concern to some environmentally concerned homeowners.
  • Additionally, vinyl needs to be cleaned only with special cleaners that come with strict manufacturer's instructions. Other cleaners, solvents, or wax can damage vinyl flooring.
  • If you are attempting to install vinyl flooring yourself, make sure you follow the manufacturer's instructions to the word. Failing to do so, may void your warranty.

How to Install

Installing vinyl plank flooring is very easy and takes much less time than wood flooring. If you are a dedicated 'DIY-er', you can consider doing the job yourself.
  • Peel and stick vinyl planks are the easiest to install as you only have to peel the vinyl plank and stick it on the floor.
  • Smoothen it out with the hand or a roller.
  • The roll type vinyl flooring needs special adhesive, which can be bought from hardware stores.
  • Spread the adhesive with a roller or brush, and unroll the vinyl roll, starting from the corner of the room.
  • Trim the edges with a knife so as to get a perfect fit.
Choosing the correct floor type for your home can be tricky task. Hence, before you go for vinyl plank flooring, take into account all the pros and cons of installing one.