Vinyl Plank Flooring

Wood flooring is the most sought after flooring type due to its unbeatable class, style and grace. Hardwood flooring creates a cozy and comfortable ambiance in any room. However, there are some disadvantages of wood flooring which include susceptibility to scratches, stains and other damage. This makes it very difficult to maintain. However, with the help of vinyl flooring, you can create the same effect as wood flooring and that too without worrying about the hassles associated with wood flooring. Moreover, vinyl plank flooring comes at dirt cheap prices, as against the real wood flooring, which is extremely costly. Thus, you might be more than willing to go for vinyl flooring.

Advantages
Apart from the fact that vinyl is extremely cheap, there are several other reasons why you would prefer vinyl plank flooring over wood flooring. Vinyl flooring is extremely durable and waterproof. Thus, you can install it in areas like bathroom, basement or kitchen. It is resistant to scratches and crack, thereby making it a long-lasting flooring option. Moreover, it is easier to clean with water, due to its impermeable properties, which prevent the water from seeping underneath the flooring. This inhibits the growth of mold and mildew, which is not the case with wood flooring.

Features
Vinyl plank flooring is available in various wood grain sizes, so that you can choose the grain size which resembles the real wood of your choice. It is also available in myriad natural shades of oak, maple, mahogany etc. Thus, it is very easy to replicate the look of real wood flooring. Often, the results are so convincing that you cannot tell the difference between real wood flooring and vinyl faux flooring. Vinyl planks are available in different widths and sizes. They come in two forms 'peel and stick' or floating flooring which is self adhesive vinyl strips and the other one is a roll form, which needs an adhesive. The cost of vinyl flooring is somewhere in the range of USD 1 to USD 4 per square foot. The peel and stick variety is cheaper, but it is not considered of very superior quality.

Disadvantages
Although, the prospects of installing vinyl plank flooring sound lucrative, you sure must be aware of certain disadvantages that come with this type of flooring. Since, vinyl planks are not as thick as real wood planks, you often need a separate sub flooring underneath. You can sure install vinyl flooring on the existing flooring, but then be prepared to compromise with the end results. Also, vinyl is hardly biodegradable, which can be an issue of major concern to some environmentally concerned home owners. Additionally, vinyl needs to be cleaned only with special cleaners that come with strict manufacturer's instruction. Other cleaners, solvents or wax can damage vinyl flooring. If you are attempting to install vinyl flooring yourself, make sure you follow the manufacturer's instructions to the word. Failing to do so, may void your warranty.

How to Install It
Installing vinyl plank flooring is very easy and takes much less time than wood flooring. If you are a dedicated 'do it yourselfer', you can consider doing the job yourself. Peel and stick vinyl planks are the easiest to install as you only have to peel the vinyl plank and stick it on the floor. Smoothen it out with hand or roller. The roll type vinyl flooring needs special adhesive which can be bought from hardware stores. Spread the adhesive with a roller or brush and unroll the vinyl roll, starting from the corner of the room. Trim the edges with a knife so as to get a perfect fit.

Choosing the correct floor type for your home is indeed a difficult task. Hence, before you go for vinyl plank flooring take into account the pros and cons of installing one.