Vinyl Planks Flooring Reviews by Australian Consumers
The modern and versatile floor covering options for any home or commercial space. These types of flooring products are easy to maintain and easy to clean, yet highly durable.
5 products
Things to know about Vinyl Planks Flooring
When vinyl flooring first appeared on the market in the 1960s, it nearly eliminated all other types of flooring. The same phenomenon is happening now, with the floor being one of the most commonly placed in many homes and businesses.
According to statistics, the popularity of this type of flooring is increasing, particularly since the advent of Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring. This type of vinyl flooring is popular with many people because it looks more like real wood or stone.
If you've made the decision to purchase vinyl plank flooring, you're on the right road, and you're even farther ahead of the game for reading this vinyl plank flooring review.
As a result, we're going to go over every last nook and cranny of this floor. Continue reading to learn more about vinyl flooring, including its advantages, disadvantages, how to install it, and how to pick the best variety.
Pros of vinyl plank flooring
Maintenance
It's easy to keep vinyl plank flooring clean. It doesn't take long and doesn't need any skills. Sweeping it every day does the job, and damp-mopping it every few days keeps it clean and free of dirt and pests. You can clean it with mild cleaners, but stay away from aggressive ones.
Important Tip: Clean up spills as soon as possible. A piece of cloth is all that is needed before applying a light cleanser to the affected area. If irreparable damage occurs to your vinyl flooring, you can quickly rectify the situation by replacing the damaged area.
Vinyl floors are extremely versatile and may be used in any room of your home, including areas that are prone to moisture. As a result of its water resistance, the product is excellent for use in wet environments such as the kitchen, bathroom, or even the basement.
While vinyl flooring is resistant to moisture, extra care should be taken. Put a moisture barrier under vinyl planks that don't have one. If you are installing lower-quality flooring, a dehumidifier should be used to keep moisture levels at a minimum.
As a result, you can rest assured that your vinyl floor will look great for many years to come.
Comfortable
Being able to stand or walk on vinyl is a truly luxurious experience. With its "give," the floor creates a cushiony feeling underfoot.
This makes it ideal for locations like the kitchen, where you spend a lot of time standing up and moving your body. Additionally, the flooring is excellent for homes with children.
When kids knock their heads against the floor, you don't want them to get hurt, and vinyl flooring is cushiony enough to keep them safe.
Vinyl plank flooring comes in an almost infinite variety of designs, colours, and styles. Exotic woods, stone, and even marble replicas are available. In addition, the replicas will be nearly identical to the original. It takes a keen eye to discern that your hardwood-look-alike vinyl floor is not made of solid wood.
Vinyl flooring is available in a variety of formats and textures. The tile vinyl, larger sheets, and ordinary plank are all available. Hand-scraped, distressed, and wire-brushed textures are among the options.
Consider the texture of the floor before making a purchase to guarantee you can live with it.
You might also want to try out a few different colour combinations before deciding on one. This will guarantee that your selection is in keeping with the overall theme of your property. Take a few samples home with you and check how they look in context. It's the safest way to avoid post-installation regrets.
Durability
Even if your vinyl plank flooring is constantly used, it will last for years. This floor is highly durable, resistant to the majority of scratches and gouges that other floor types are prone to.
Even when heavy objects are dropped on it, the material doesn't chip, and dents will fade over time. Sharp objects are the only things to avoid, as they can easily puncture your vinyl floor and cause irreparable damage. Vinyl flooring also has the benefit of having a less noticeable damaged surface.
Scratches can be disguised by the floor's uniform colour. Vinyl is a fantastic floor covering for families with children or pets. You won't have to be concerned about them destroying your floor.
Vinyl plank flooring is a cost-effective alternative for both residential and commercial uses. At a significantly reduced price, you can have a high-quality reproduction of pricey flooring such as hardwood, stone, or marble. It's a great choice, especially if you're covering a large area.
A square foot of LVP can cost anything from $3 to $7. Other varieties of vinyl flooring are also available at a cheaper cost, but the selection of styles and colours available decreases as the price of vinyl flooring decreases. When purchasing vinyl flooring, it's a good idea to shop around for the best deals. This ensures that you receive a high-quality product without putting your cash at risk.
Insulation
Both heat and sound are insulated by this robust flooring. Even in the coldest months of the year, it maintains a constant temperature.
You won't have to avoid going barefoot on it with this flooring. For those who have kids or the elderly in their family, the warmth is a welcome addition. If you need more warmth, radiant heating systems can be installed beneath this floor.
If you're unsure whether a particular type or kind is compatible with your heating system, make sure to ask the manufacturer first. Radiant heating, when done correctly, adds to the cosiness of your vinyl flooring.
Installation
Installing vinyl plank flooring is simple. Whether or not you've done this before doesn't matter. For vinyl sheets and tiles, the glue-down approach is the most common, as well as it can be installed as a loose lay method. If you have vinyl flooring that looks like planks, the "click-lock" method is usually the best way to do it.
Several factors influence which installation method is best for your project. The glue-down method is preferable in high-traffic areas because it produces a more sturdy floor that can sustain pressure. Using the click-lock method may be a better option if you have a low volume of traffic.
The method you choose will also be determined by your budget. Installing a click-lock floating floor is less expensive. You may need to pay a professional installer to install vinyl sheets and tiles, which raises the overall cost of the project.
Important Note: Before deciding on a method, read the manufacturer's installation instructions. If you break the rules, the warranty on the flooring may be void. It could also lead to an unsteady floor that fails sooner than intended.
Cons of Vinyl Plank Flooring
Not helpful in increasing the value of a home
You won't see an increase in your home's value by installing vinyl plank flooring. It wouldn't matter if it did, because the figure would be so insignificant.
Yes, vinyl flooring is popular, but many people do not consider it to be a sound investment. Vinyl's only benefit when it comes to selling your property is making it more sellable. If the old floor is significantly damaged, you may be able to conduct restorations using vinyl because of its low cost.
People who want to buy a home will be interested in your new floor covering at a fraction of the price of other floor types. Furthermore, any buyer familiar with the advantages of vinyl flooring would be eager to purchase your vinyl-floored property.
Preparing the subfloor
Inconsistencies in the subfloor can seriously affect the durability of vinyl plank flooring. Any elevated patches, dips, dampness, and other irregularities can lead to difficulties in the future. Preparing the substrate for vinyl flooring may take a long time and a lot of effort, but it's worth it.
So, make sure your subfloor is level and dry before you start installing. When using the glue-down method, be sure to remove all dust and dirt.
If you're laying the vinyl on concrete, be sure it comes with a vapour barrier. If it doesn't, get one and install it before the vinyl flooring.
Despite the fact that vinyl is water resistant, you may wish to protect it from moisture. Furthermore, concrete is well-known for being a foundation that exposes this flooring to a lot of moisture.
Measurements that need a great deal of expertise
When installing vinyl flooring, some portions of a room can be difficult to cover. Corners and doorways are examples.
If you're not experienced with this type of flooring, you could end up losing a lot of supplies due to incorrect dimensions. You can also end up with a less-than-ideal floor. You can avoid this issue by hiring a professional installer.
This is especially true if it's your first time putting a floor or if you're using the glue-down approach. You might find it simple to install the click-lock flooring. However, for greater outcomes, you might want to hire an expert.
Not accessible by walking aids
If you need to use a wheelchair or walker, vinyl plank flooring isn't the best choice for your home. The floating type is typically unsteady, and using a wheelchair might cause the floor to shift. Alternatively, the boards may shatter when the wheels pass over them. Planks may also give way, causing wheelchair wheels to become stuck in gaps, causing problems for the wheelchair as well as damage to the floor.
However, this does not rule out the use of vinyl flooring. If a member of your family needs mobility aids, larger and more stable sheet vinyl flooring is an option. This sort of flooring is also resistant to shifting under pressure due to the adhesive used to secure the sheets.
Refinish
You can't sand down a vinyl floor like you can hardwood or bamboo. Your options are limited if the surface fades or becomes damaged in any manner. You have no choice but to replace it.
On the other hand, it's possible that this isn't a substantial disadvantage. Vinyl plank flooring is far less expensive, and changing it won't break the bank. Furthermore, if you take good care of your floor, you may not need to replace it very often. It's also possible to simply repair the sections that appear to be damaged.
It is not eco-friendly.
Vinyl does not disintegrate, and recycling it is also not an option. It will most likely wind up in a landfill for years when it reaches the end of its useful life.
One of the major drawbacks of this sort of flooring is that it is difficult to clean. Today, however, some producers use recycled fillers in the production of vinyl planks.
More environmentally friendly goods may be possible with these floors. The main issue is that they are of poor quality and are easily ruined.
There are, however, brands that produce vinyl flooring that is both environmentally friendly and high-quality.
Fading
When vinyl plank flooring is exposed to direct sunlight for an extended period of time, the colour fades. If you have a lot of natural light coming into your home, this type of flooring may not be the best choice for you. It would deteriorate and appear aged.
How to get high-quality vinyl flooring
You have a lot of choices when it comes to vinyl flooring. In terms of style and design, this floor comes in a variety of options. How do you sort through all of the options to select the best flooring? Here are some things to think about.
Wear layer
A wear layer is included with every vinyl floor, however not all wear layers are the same thickness. For added durability, quality flooring has a thicker layer.
This is commonly expressed in mils rather than millimetres, which is the unit of measurement for the full thickness of a floor.
Select brands with a higher mil figure. Heavy traffic regions benefit from a wear layer of 20 mil or more, whereas low traffic areas benefit from a wear layer of 12 mil or more.
Safety
You want a floor that is safe for you and your family to walk on and play on. Health-conscious consumers can rest assured that vinyl flooring from reputable producers will be safe for their families' health.
Keep an eye out for FloorScore certification labels on the floor's packaging.
Also, look for CARB2 compliant flooring. Not only will these products be of high quality and safe for your home, but they will also be environmentally beneficial.
Material for the topcoat
Floors with "diamond toughened" or "titanium" coatings are almost always of high grade. They are more resistant to wear and have a longer lifespan. The coat should appear to be a firm and clear covering from the outside.
Warranty
It's crucial to know how long the warranty lasts. Shorter warranties are frequently offered by companies that do not believe in the quality of their products. Make sure the warranty covers surface wear for at least ten years.
Your Next Step
Contact local stores for free measuring and quotes
Learn the differences between vinyl planks and laminate flooring
Check general vinyl flooring prices for different brands