Vinyl Floor
Vinyl Floor
A vinyl floor is an attractive surface that can come in various colors and design with about 50 to 70% less cost than ceramic tiles and other flooring materials. It is also one of the easiest and fastest to do. It requires low maintenance and has considerably high durability. With these characteristics, it is easy to see why vinyl is a material of choice in many homes.
Advantages
One of the best advantages of vinyl is its versatility - it is available in almost any color and has different prints and designs that you could easily find one to suit your taste and the part of the house that you plan to use it in. For instance, you can choose black vinyl flooring for the porch and lanai while light-colored printed vinyl could be laid on the living room and kitchen. You can then create colorful and vivacious rooms by using various vinyl floor materials in different rooms.
Another good advantage of a vinyl floor is that it is easy to install. Because it comes in self-adhesive sheets or tiles, you can choose which you prefer. Also, unlike wood or cement floor, it does not require waxing and polishing to retain its luster - regular sweeping plus occasional mopping or wiping keeps the floor good as new. Even spills are easy to manage as you only have to wipe the spill with a damp cloth.
How to Install
Cutting vinyl floor material is quite easy. You first have to make sure that you roll the sheet face up on a large area (not on top of an existing vinyl material!) and mark the dimensions using a non-permanent marker. Use a straightedge and sharp cutter or knife to cut the material. You could actually leave an inch or two inches as an allowance just to make sure that the material will fit.
The vinyl material does not smooth itself out; thus, you have to vacuum the floor to clear it of debris. Dry-fit the sheet first then do the necessary trimming for a perfect fit. If self-adhesive, carefully remove the backing from the vinyl and press the material in place. If not self-adhesive, apply floor epoxy or glue at the center and roll the vinyl sheet. Add more epoxy and works towards the edge to finish the vinyl sheet floor.
When done, walk on top of the newly installed vinyl floor and smooth out the areas from the center to the edges. If installed well and with normal traffic, the floor can last for years.