Tile Shop

Buying Tips for Vinyl Flooring

Inlaid sheet flooring vs. printed cushion vinyl
Inlaid products will resist the rips, tears and burns far better than printed cushion vinyl products. New innovations like ToughGuard backing from Armstrong help cushion vinyl floors resist tearing.

Residential inlaid products are generally 6 ft. wide and will require seams while most printed cushion vinyl products are available 12 ft wide and can offer seamless installation. However, most residential inlaid product patterns are designed so the seam falls in a grout line and therefore not obvious to the eye.

In recent years, backing materials have been affected by back staining. Ask for newer backings like Armstrong's ToughGuard, which are designed to resist back staining.

Most residential sheet flooring offer no-wax performance and a wide variety of colors and patterns--more than any other flooring product. Printed on products will offer the widest assortment. Some commercial rated inlaid products require waxing.

Generally speaking, cushion flooring is the most economical of all flooring choices.

Some products are designed to help you reduce subfloor preparation costs
Next to ceramic tile, vinyl flooring installation demands properly prepared subflooring. Many of the printed cushion vinyl products are very thin. When they are installed with a full spread of adhesive over a poorly prepared subfloor, irregularities can telegraph through. Products designed for perimeter installation will greatly reduce the effects of subfloor irregularities while lowering subfloor preparation costs. In fact, many of these products can be installed over you existing flooring.

Special Considerations when choosing sheet vinyl flooring
Asphalt staining or dragging heavy objects across the floor can result in permanent damage to vinyl surfaces.