Design trends have changed a lot in the past few decades alone. One of the biggest debates is surrounding the question of flooring. Is one type better than the others based on functionality? What about aesthetics and durability?
In all truth, there is not exactly one that is “above all of the others.” However, each certainly has its own unique pros and cons. If you are curious about that and would like to learn more, this may just be the article for you!
Let us think about the four most common types of flooring today. For our purposes, we will consider these to be carpet, hard wood, tile, and vinyl. As the name of this article implies, I will be focusing largely on the latter. However, I did want to briefly mention those! You can even check out blogs like this one to get an idea of how to care for them all.
What is Vinyl?
Seeing as it has only recently become popular again, there is no shame in not fully knowing what vinyl flooring is. The purpose of it, most of the time, is to mimic more expensive types of flooring while remaining durable and aesthetically pleasing. Typically, it is made up of a few different layers of material which allow it to remain strong and not wear out.
Under this umbrella, though, we can think of two different categories. These are the luxury variety or rolled vinyl. The difference between them is mostly in how they are installed and constructed during manufacturing. Within the installation process, they can produce different effects.
If you are not sure what you would prefer, it may not be a bad idea to ask your retailer to see some samples. Pictures online will do the trick as well! Based upon where you shop, you might find other types as well. To some extent, that will be personalized amongst the sellers.
Different Styles
Let us get into a bit more detail here. Many of you may already be aware of this type and simply call it artificial wood flooring instead of what I have been referring to it as! Lining up with that name, this kind usually is made to mimic the appearance of hard wood without that high price tag. Why would people do that, though?
Well, let us be honest: a lot of families are struggling financially at the moment here in the United States. Despite this, we still want to keep up with the times and have our homes or properties fit into a modern look. It is rather hard to do that with dated carpet or linoleum tiles! Unfortunately, hard wood is not exactly cheap.
That is where vinyl comes into play. As you can see above, it can mimic that appearance with relative ease. It certainly looks authentic! There are just a few things to keep in mind if you do decide to go with this route, so stay tuned to find those out.
Maintaining Them
One of the very few “downsides” to having this type of flooring is that you will have to put some special effort into maintaining it. While it is quite durable, if it is used too much, there is a chance that it could wear away too quickly. Keep that in mind as you choose a spot to install it – the foyer, for example, may not be the best choice.
In addition to that, you will need to keep it clean. Make sure to get any spills as soon as possible, so that sticky liquid does not seep into the layers underneath the top one. Thankfully, there are websites such as this, https://wfca.org/page/care-cleaning-guide, which can offer you some insights if you are not sure about how to proceed.
Now, for most of us, this does sound terrible. After all, I certainly hope that you are already keeping them clean! I simply think it is worth pointing out, especially with the spills. Sometimes with hard wood we can get away with utilizing what I like to call the “sock mop,” but with vinyl I would not recommend it.
Whether you are trying to update the appearance of your property or simply want some spaces in your home that have durable and attractive floors without the huge price tag, what I have discussed with you here today may be of value to you! Hopefully, it has at least given you the necessary information to proceed with your decision (be that a yes or a no).
I know how hard it can be to take that first step. While that stage is a tentative time, once you do decide to get it, you won’t regret it! Millions of families across the United States have it, and there is good reason for that.