What Is Vinyl Flooring? Here’s Everything You Need to Know

What is vinyl flooring? An excellent choice for homeowners on a budget, vinyl flooring is durable, low-maintenance, and comes in a variety of colors and finishes. Learn more about vinyl flooring and whether it’s right for your next project.

What Is Vinyl Flooring?

Vinyl is a popular and inexpensive flooring option made from synthetic materials like polyvinyl chloride (PVC). It’s durable, easy to clean, and water-resistant. It can mimic the look of tile, stone, or wood—truly, the options are seemingly endless—without the high price tag. Vinyl flooring is easy to install, especially peel-and-stick tiles, and can last up to 25 years with proper care.

Types of Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl flooring comes in three main types: luxury vinyl planks (LVP), vinyl rolls, and vinyl tiles. The choice you make depends mostly on your budget, but also on your ideal end result. 

• LVP: LVP flooring is the most common vinyl flooring option and is the best vinyl flooring for the kitchen or other high-traffic areas of your home. LVP has planks rather than one continuous sheet like a vinyl roll, which makes it easier to repair if there’s an issue down the road. But, the cost is higher upfront. 

• Vinyl rolls: Sheet vinyl is installed directly on your subfloor with an adhesive. Vinyl rolls are more waterproof than LVP, which have gaps between the boards. They’re also more affordable than LVP.

• Vinyl tiles: Peel-and-stick vinyl tiles are popular with DIY homeowners because they’re easy to use and add a pop of color without a huge renovation cost. They’re not particularly durable and should be reserved for small spaces with minimal foot traffic. 

When to Use Vinyl Flooring

If durability and affordability are your top concerns, vinyl flooring is likely a top contender. Whether you have children, pets, or a low renovation budget, vinyl flooring is definitely worth considering, especially for:  

• High-traffic areas, such as hallways or mudrooms

• Rooms that may flood, like basements or laundry rooms

• Small spaces where you want to make a big impact, like a bathroom

If you’re not sure whether vinyl flooring is the best choice for your project, ask a local vinyl flooring installation pro for guidance.

Vinyl Flooring Pros and Cons

Vinyl is popular and cost-effective, but that doesn’t mean it’s the right choice for your home. Explore the pros and cons of vinyl flooring to see if it’s the best fit.

Pros

• Very affordable: Compared to hardwood or tile, vinyl is a very affordable flooring option, averaging between $5 to $12 per square foot.

• Highly water resistant: With PVC as its main component, vinyl can withstand a lot of water damage before breaking down. This makes it very popular in flood-prone areas or rental properties. 

• Easy to maintain: Cleaning vinyl isn’t difficult, and it can withstand a decent amount of wear and tear before damage starts to show. 

• Simple installation: Vinyl is a popular choice for DIYers due to its easy installation. If you’re wary about installing your own flooring for the first time, consider vinyl.

Cons

• Lower resale value: Hardwood and even laminate offer higher resale value than vinyl flooring, so consider upgrading if you’re renovating a home for resale or don’t plan to stay in the home for long after the project is done.

• Not considered non-toxic: Vinyl is not biodegradable and can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This is especially the case if you choose a very cheap product. Look for low-VOC or FloorScore-certified vinyl flooring if this is a concern for you.

• Fades over time: Flooring located near windows or sliding glass doors will likely fade over time as the sun’s UV rays break down the pigments in the flooring. If your area has a lot of direct sunlight, opt for vinyl with UV protectant.

• Difficult to repair: Whether there was a mistake when installing vinyl plank flooring or you’re trying to fix one board, vinyl repairs aren’t as easy as some other flooring options (like hardwood). Some companies sell paint repair kits to avoid having to take out planks for a fix.