Luxury vinyl flooring can look like it’s made from real wood when in actuality it is not. This low density, but very strong vinyl flooring material can look like genuine wood material and can actually be quite decorative if treated properly. It is available in a wide variety of color and designs, so you’re sure to find something that will fit into any room of your home. If you need some guidance in determining the best flooring for your particular situation, read on. There are a number of considerations that you need to keep in mind before investing in luxury vinyl flooring.
The main difference between luxury vinyl flooring and standard sheet vinyl is the type of sub-flooring you have installed. Standard sheet vinyl is simply laid over an existing floor, without any kind of preparation. You simply cannot install luxury vinyl flooring directly on your own, as it requires a sub-floor prep including adhesives, nailing, and bracing. This is because the vinyl planks are glued to pre-made trims and edges of a standard sheet vinyl floor. In order to install your own vinyl floor, you must remove the top layer of flooring, cut and remove the original adhesive backing, and then install your new vinyl planks. This is almost impossible to do yourself.
Another thing to think about is that luxury vinyl flooring is not going to be as durable as standard vinyl flooring. As mentioned above, it is glued to pre-made trims and edges. This means that it is more susceptible to scratching, dents, and dings. As long as you use a strong sealer on your new vinyl floor, you won’t have to worry about having your floors damaged due to constant movement – even with kids running around. Vinyl is also more likely to chip over time.
However, despite these concerns, there are still many people who opt for luxury vinyl flooring. If you do choose this floor covering, then there are a few things that you need to keep in mind. For instance, you will need to buy special edging strips so that you can mark the seams. When you install luxury vinyl flooring, you should also follow the instructions that come with your floor. These will usually advise you to sand the floor, seal it, and then install your vinyl planks. Make sure to follow the instructions, especially if you’re installing your own floor.
Finally, another thing to consider when choosing luxury vinyl flooring is whether you’d prefer your floorboards to be flat or have some raised seams. Most people opt for flat luxury vinyl flooring so that it matches their granite countertops perfectly. However, if you would like your floors to have some texture to them, then you may want to go with the raised seams that are often seen on high end floors in high end homes.
As you can see, there are some pros and cons of luxury vinyl flooring that you need to consider. The biggest pro of course is that it’s a lot cheaper than standard vinyl. Another pro is that it is easy to install, even for a beginner. There is no need to buy specialty tiles or a professional underlayment. The biggest con is that it doesn’t look as good as regular flooring because it is not laminated, although this can easily be done by adding in a vinyl overlay if you don’t like the look of it on its own. For more details on luxury vinyl Flooring visit Dunn-Rite Hardwood Floors.