Update with vinyl flooring

Whether you opt for luxury vinyl flooring or inexpensive vinyl tiles, vinyl offers a durable flooring option that is easy to maintain, long lasting and an easy DIY option.

 

 

For many years, vinyl flooring has been considered an affordable and durable flooring option, and there are still homes today that feature vinyl floors that were installed over 40 years ago - proof that vinyl floors are tough. Today's vinyl is more elegant than it's predecessor. The manufacturing process and finishing techniques offer anyone looking a vinyl as a flooring choice a wide range of options. From luxury vinyl flooring to inexpensive peel-and-stick vinyl tiles, if you are looking for an easy way to give any room an update, consider vinyl in your list of options.

Bathrooms and kitchens are the most popular rooms for vinyl floors. These rooms not only take a lot of daily floor traffic, in these rooms tiles also need to be waterproof and easy to maintain.

 

 

 

Now, you have the option to choose a vinyl flooring product that fits in with your budget and the style of your home. For a stylish flooring option for any room in a room, luxury vinyl tile is available in plank or tile designs that are professionally installed, or bought for DIY installation. There is even a vinyl plank that can be directly installed over tiled floors, which is good news for the homeowner that doesn't want to go through the hassle or ripping up old tiles. And then there's the self-adhesive or self-stick vinyl tile that has been around for many years. While you will find a limited selection of vinyl tile styles at your local Builders Warehouse, there are many other local suppliers to choose from.

 

 

ABOVE: Take a look at the before and after pics of this bathroom floor, where vinyl sheet flooring was replaced with an elegant vinyl tile.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rather than simply sticking down the tiles to butt against each other, the vinyl tiles were laid as you would a conventional ceramic tile - with the use of tile spacers and grout lines. Using this method you can replicate the look of ceramic tiles with the affordability and easy of installation of vinyl tiles.

 

 

The vinyl tiles are cut to fit (where necessary) and glued to the substrate using contact adhesive. A tile spacer between the tiles creates a gap that is later filled with grout to mimic to look of conventional ceramic tiles - without the cost.

GOOD TO KNOW: Unless using a product such as Podium Clic that is designed for installation over an existing tiled floor,  for this method you need to apply over a smooth substrate. If the floor it tiled, you will need to lay a plywood layer over the top of the tiles for a smooth finish.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While more expensive than vinyl tiles, luxury vinyl tile planks is a tough flooring option to consider for rooms that need a durable and easy to maintain flooring. Vinyl flooring is not fussy when it comes to wear and water, making it the perfect flooring choice for a playroom, work space, home office or family room.

Laminate plank floors, with the exception of bamboo, are easily scratched and can be damaged by moisture. Over time the laminate coating on these floors soon wears away and scratches. This is not the case with vinyl tile planks.

 

 

Most vinyl plank floors are easily installed, with the individual planks being clicked together to form a solid flooring. After measuring up and cutting to size, the DIY enthusiast can install a medium-sized room in a day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ABOVE and BELOW: Easy to lay and easy install - use a sharp utility knife to cut vinyl tiles to fit.

 

 

Whether you install tiles or planks, you have a choice of trim and moulding for finishing off around the edges after installation.