Vinyl Flooring Buying Guide
If you want to give your property a new lease of life, investing in some brand new vinyl flooring can help give your house that contemporary feel it's been missing. With lots of different designs, including tile effect vinyl and stone effect vinyl, you can make any vision you have a reality.
Our guide to buying vinyl will help to inform you about the types of vinyl available, and some of the important things you need to know before taking the plunge - how easy is it to clean your vinyl flooring, how long will it last, and how do you lay it if you do decide to buy?
What is vinyl flooring?
Before we get into different aspects of vinyl flooring, it's good to get a brief idea of what makes it up. Vinyl flooring is actually comprised of several different layers of synthetic materials. Each layer fulfills a different purpose: the underside layers help keep the vinyl in place and stop it slipping around, the middle layers provide a strong centre with properties including insulation and comfort, and the topside layers exist for protection from the wear and tear of everyday life including dust, dirt, spillages and heavy foot traffic.
What are the different vinyl styles to choose from?
There are a few main styles and types of vinyl flooring you can choose from depending on the room you're fitting it in, your requirements and what you're looking for. Some are more suited for durability, whereas others have different benefits including moisture resistance, insulation and noise dampening.
Click vinyl and loose lay. These don't require adhesive and are made specifically to be installed without any extra assistance. They're often used if you want the benefit of easy removal and are often more affordable than sheet vinyl options. They are also easy to install as you don't have to worry about spreading adhesive on the subfloor first.
Sheet vinyl. Also affordable in many cases, and its enhanced durability makes it perfect for high-traffic areas including hallways and living rooms. Sheet vinyl is a popular choice for bathrooms and wet rooms as it features moisture-resistant properties, so water sits on top instead of soaking in between tiles or planks. These can be slightly more difficult to install as you may have to match up the pattern across sheets, but they're a great option if you want added insulation and comfort.
If you're interested in learning more about these styles, check out our guide to different types of vinyl flooring for more details.
How long does vinyl flooring last?
Good quality vinyl flooring typically lasts between 10 and 25 years in a domestic setting, depending on the format and specification.
Budget 2mm sheet vinyls tend to land at the lower end; mid-range 2.7-2.8mm vinyls with a 0.20mm+ wear layer routinely reach 15-20 years.
Entry-level 0.3mm wear layer tiles manage 15 years in normal use; 0.55mm wear layer LVT routinely clears 20 years.
The rigid core makes SPC the most dimensionally stable and longest-lived click vinyl format. Some premium ranges carry 30-year residential warranties.
Brands like Altro, Polyflor and Tarkett Safetred last 15-25 years in heavy commercial use, and 25+ years in a domestic setting.
What shortens vinyl flooring lifespan?
Three factors account for most premature vinyl failures:
- Poor subfloor preparation. Uneven or unclean subfloors telegraph through vinyl, creating wear hotspots that fail years ahead of the rest of the floor.
- Direct UV exposure. Sunlight through a south-facing window can fade vinyl visuals over 5-10 years. Light colours are more forgiving than dark.
- Thin wear layer for the traffic. A 0.15mm wear-layer vinyl in a family kitchen will wear through far quicker than the same product in a bedroom, where it could last well over a decade.
How can I make vinyl flooring last longer?
Three inexpensive habits add years to any vinyl floor: entrance matting at every external door to catch grit before it reaches the vinyl, felt pads or rubber glides on every movable piece of furniture, and pH-neutral cleaning products applied with a damp (not wet) mop. Avoid steam mops entirely - heat and moisture are a bad combination for vinyl. See our how to clean vinyl flooring guide for the full routine.
How easy is it to remove vinyl and upgrade in the future?
When people buy flooring, they often look ahead to the future in case they change their mind or want to improve it. Luckily, vinyl flooring is perfect for people who want the option to change things around. Click vinyl and loose lay are ideal for these situations as they don't require adhesive, making it much easier to remove and lay more flooring without ruining the subfloor underneath.
If you'd rather not have to remove your vinyl flooring at all but still want to give it a new lease of life, that's no problem either. When done properly, you can paint over your vinyl flooring if you take all of the necessary precautions beforehand and prepare your flooring accordingly. If you're interested, check out our guide on painting over vinyl floors.
Can I lay vinyl flooring myself?
In short, yes you can! Although fitting vinyl flooring yourself can seem like an intimidating task, it's not too difficult if you have all the necessary tools to hand and follow a step-by-step guide. Depending on the type of flooring you have, you might need to cut your vinyl to size, prepare the subfloor for installation and spread adhesive if necessary. Once you've laid your flooring it easily sticks or clicks into place, and stays looking great for years.
How easy is it to clean vinyl flooring?
Cleaning vinyl flooring isn't very different to cleaning any other type of flooring, with a few subtle but noticeable differences. For loose debris including dirt and dust, the process is simple - you can either hoover or sweep up, making sure to use non-abrasive brushes to avoid scratches. It's also recommended you treat your flooring with a specially designed vinyl cleaning product a few times a month to keep it looking its best.
If you encounter a stubborn stain, treat it as soon as possible. Check out our guide on how to clean vinyl flooring for the most effective methods.
Buying vinyl flooring is one of the best decisions many families make when giving their home a facelift. With hundreds of colour and design options available in a range of different styles, vinyl really lends itself to any household and any room. Most styles are easy to install too, giving anyone the chance to do it themselves.
FAQs
How long does vinyl flooring last?
Good quality vinyl flooring typically lasts 10-25 years in a domestic setting. Sheet vinyl lasts 10-20 years; click LVT lasts 15-25 years; SPC click vinyl reaches 20-25+ years (some premium ranges carry 30-year residential warranties); commercial-grade vinyl lasts 15-25 years in heavy use and 25+ years domestically.
What shortens vinyl flooring lifespan?
Three factors account for most premature vinyl failures: poor subfloor preparation (uneven or unclean subfloors telegraph through the vinyl), direct UV exposure (sunlight through south-facing windows fades visuals over 5-10 years), and too thin a wear layer for the traffic level.
How can I make vinyl flooring last longer?
Three inexpensive habits add years to any vinyl floor: entrance matting at every external door to catch grit, felt pads or rubber glides on every movable piece of furniture, and pH-neutral cleaning products applied with a damp (not wet) mop. Avoid steam mops entirely.
