The Pros and Cons of Vinyl

Pros:

• Softer than wood and tile: Most vinyl is backed with a thin layer of either felt or foam. This makes it have slightly more flexibility and easier to stand on for extended periods of time.

• Huge variety: Vinyl comes in a huge assortment of designs and colors. Some mimicking the look of stone or wood.

• Long life: Vinyl wears incredibly well. If installed properly it can last up to 20 years and are often backed by 15 year warranties.

• Resistant to moisture and dirt: In addition to it’s ability to resist water and debris, vinyl is also one of the few flooring options that can be installed directly over the subfloor.

• Maintenance and Cleaning: As far as taking care of maintenance goes Vinyl is hard to beat. It requires no attention after installation and just needs to be swept and mopped occasionally to keep the floor clean.
  
  Cons:

• Emissions: Made using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and will emit volatile organic compounds (VOC), especially when it is new.

• Installation Prep: Applying vinyl is simple enough but prepping and cleaning the floor under it can prove difficult. Any particles or dirt on the floor below the vinyl could appear as lumps after installation. Also not cleaning the subfloor well enough when using peel and stick vinyl can lead to the tiles pealing sooner than expected.

• Cuts and scrapes: The spongy quality on vinyl can prevent glass or other fragile objects from breaking if dropped in some cases but sharp objects can pierce the vinyl leaving cuts. Moving furniture without the proper protection can result in the same issue.

• Resale: Vinyl does not improve the resale value of a home and can be difficult to remove.

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