Vinyl Tile Flooring: How does it work?

Vinyl- which is chemically a combination of polyvinyl chloride with plasticizers- is one of the most useful materials manufactured in recent times. It can be used for paint, for records (though of course we have CDs now), roofs- and flooring. Vinyl floors have, in fact, been among the most popular type for many years, and no wonder- they are easy to maintain, and they can last for many years. Compared to wood, vinyl is both stain- and scratch- resistant, easy to clean, and costs considerably less.

When it comes to pets, too, vinyl and laminate both have their advantages; wood is ruled out completely. (I have had seven cats who have repeatedly urinated and defecated on my wooden floor!) Of the two, vinyl resists pet stains and allergens, and scratching better, and is less likely to buckle (because moisture does not penetrate as easily), than lamination.

The cleaning of vinyl floors can be done with almost any cleaning product; it does not require any specially- designed cleaners the way laminate flooring does. Vinyl also withstands constant water, heat, and exposure better than laminate or wooden flooring. Installation is simpler. And while laminate flooring does have some advantages- such as…- it is better relegated to low- traffic areas of the house.

With such a large number and variety of benefits, vinyl tile flooring can be one of the easiest ways to modernize a kitchen or a house that would otherwise be outdated. In most cases, a professional installer is not required. The first thing to do is measure the area- in square yards- of the room in which you want to put the vinyl flooring, adding on a few inches to allow for cutting and trimming. Make a sketch of the room with the dimensions indicated, present it to the manufacturer, and purchase the required amount of tiling.

Once at home, prepare the room for flooring. Take out any furniture and also remove the floor trim molding. The surface of the floor must be clean, and the subfloor perfectly flat and smooth. If necessary, put in new underlayment. Do this by cutting a piece from the base of the door moldings. Nail down loose flooring, and seal all cracks and holes. Then attack the pieces of underlayment, leaving gaps for expansion of 1/32" between panels and ?" along the wall. Use floor leveler to smooth out any irregularities in the underlayment, and sand it down after it dries out. Clean the layer completely before putting down the vinyl tiles themselves.

Cut the tile according to the area of the room, allowing three extra inches all around. Cut with a utility knife and put on masking tape to protect the corners from tearing. Place the flooring in position, leaving excess around each wall. Cut a half circle on each inside corner until the tile lays flat, and make straight relief cuts for the outside corners. Pull the tile back from the wall to expose the underlayment and tape craft paper along the wall every two feet with small pieces of masking tape. Replace the wall molding and trim. After finishing the job- and you should avoid going into the room or washing it for at least three days- put back all the furniture.