Manufacturers
Armstrong | Beauflor | Mannington | Tarkett
SHEET VINYL FLOORING BUYING GUIDE
There’s a lot of confusion out there about what exactly sheet vinyl flooring is. After all, isn’t that the cheap flooring your grandma had in their kitchen? You know the stuff. The yellowing thin sheet flooring with fake grout lines and all.
Fortunately, that’s not what we’re talking about. You’re thinking of linoleum.
Vinyl sheet flooring is a lot different than the linoleum and vinyl sheet flooring of yesteryear. It’s actually a highly durable, multi-layer flooring that’s great for high traffic and commercial areas. It also looks a lot different than the vinyl sheet flooring from the old days.
These days, sheet vinyl comes in a variety of different looks: wood, stone, tile, and even more decorative looks. There’s a ton to choose from. With all the misconceptions, I sometimes wonder if it would be easier to describe what it’s not first. Sheet vinyl flooring is not linoleum. It’s also not the sheet vinyl from the 1950s. It’s a lot different than that!
Now, let’s talk about what vinyl sheet flooring is.
It’s a multi-layer, durable flooring that’s highly inexpensive. It’s easy to clean, modern, and a higher quality than the old stuff. It can also be installed on any level of the home, depending on the installation type.
Sheet vinyl flooring also contains both a wear layer and a top coat to protect it from scuffs and scratches, much like vinyl planks and tiles.
Why is the wear layer important? Well, it’s what protects your vinyl sheet flooring from surface scratches. Think of the wear layer like a bodyguard. You probably want a pretty beefy bodyguard to protect you, right? The same goes for a wear layer; the thicker the wear layer, the more protection for your vinyl sheet flooring.
If you’re using sheet vinyl flooring in a low-traffic area, you might not need the thickest wear layer. However, if you’re installing sheet vinyl in a high traffic or commercial setting, you probably want an extra thick wear layer.
Vinyl sheet backing is the backbone of your flooring and provides a strong foundation. Backing helps to keep your floor strong and resistant to cracking or curling. Some backing layers available are fiberglass, felt, foam, and vinyl.
Vinyl flooring with a fiberglass core or backing will lay flat and won’t curl up at the edges. That means it can be installed with the loose lay or modified loose lay method.
With a flexible backing like foam, there’s an extra level of comfort that makes it easier on your joints. There is also felt backed vinyl, which is very soft and comfortable. Both foam-back and felt-back vinyl will curl on the ends unless it is glued down permanently.
A vinyl sheet with vinyl backing means the entire sheet is homogeneous vinyl, which ensures high performance and durability. This kind of vinyl is typically found in high-traffic commercial spaces. Homogeneous vinyl typically needs to be glued down.
If you’re ready to buy your sheet vinyl flooring browse through our available manufacturers selections.
