What Is PVC Flooring?
PVC flooring or PVC Vinyl flooring is nothing but an alternative term used for vinyl flooring. PVC refers to polyvinyl chloride, which is the material used to make vinyl flooring. Thus, it is often called polyvinyl flooring or simply, vinyl flooring, the most common term for this particular floor covering.
What Is Vinyl Flooring?
Vinyl flooring is a synthetic flooring material that is durable, inexpensive, and easy to install.
Types Of Flooring
There are many types of flooring nowadays. Some of these are listed down below
- PVC Vinyl flooring
- Mud flooring
- Murram flooring
- Brick flooring
- Flagstone flooring
- Hardwood flooring
- Timber flooring
- Linoleum flooring
- Granolithic flooring
- Cork flooring
- Laminate flooring
- Asphalt flooring
- Stone flooring
- Cement Concrete Flooring
- Natural tiled flooring
- Artificial tiled flooring (Vitrified Tile Flooring)
- Terrazzo flooring
- Mosaic flooring
- Marble flooring
Read More: Granite Flooring & How to Install Granite Flooring
Types Of PVC Flooring
Following are the types of PVC Vinyl flooring,
- Sheet PVC Vinyl Flooring
- PVC Vinyl Composition Tile
1. Sheet PVC Vinyl Flooring
Sheet PVC Vinyl Flooring usually comes in large, continuous, flexible sheets. Varying from vinyl floor tiles, vinyl sheet flooring is well impermeable to water, coming in hard tiles and vinyl planks, along with interlocking strips.
Vinyl flooring is used extensively as it is water-impermeable, quite durable, flexible to accommodate and insulating, easy to install, available with a variety of looks, and inexpensive.
Custom-print vinyl sheet flooring may cost more than an order of magnitude if commercially ordered.
Structure Of Sheet PVC Vinyl Flooring
- The three basic categories of vinyl sheet flooring are homogeneous, inlay, and layered composite.
- Vinyl flooring varies in the manufacturing process and has polyvinyl chloride content. Composite manufacturing begins with a fibrous backing sheet.
- Vinyl and plasticizers are used for coating the sheet. After that sheet is printed and possibly embossed (print layer).
- Further re-coating is done with one or more protective wear layers, whose top can be polyurethane to avoid waxing.
Functions Of Sheet PVC Vinyl Flooring
- As it does not allow water to pass through, sheet flooring is suitable for kitchens and bathrooms. Some types can be used in wet rooms.
- As its closed-cell foam backing can be reversed, the flexibility profile of a sprung performance floor can be given which is suitable for sports or dance floors.
- This can create a permanent or portable dance floor that can be placed on problematic surfaces such as concrete.
2. PVC Vinyl Composition Tile
PVC Vinyl composition tile (VCT) is a finished flooring material that is mainly used in commercial and institutional applications.
Modern vinyl floor tiles and sheet flooring sold since the early 1980s and versions of products made of colored polyvinyl chloride (PVC) chips manufactured in solid sheets of varying thicknesses (1/8 “) The most common are heat and pressure.)
Such 12 “x 12” squares or 12 “x 24” are cut into rectangular shapes. The installation involves floor tiles or sheet flooring applied to a smooth, flat subfloor using a specially formulated vinyl adhesive or tile mastic that remains durable.
In commercial applications, some tiles are usually waxed and buffered using special materials and equipment.
Modern vinyl floor tile is often chosen for high-traffic areas because of its low cost, durability, and ease of maintenance.
Vinyl tiles have high resilience to friction and impact damage and can be refined repeatedly with chemical strippers and mechanical buffing equipment.
Once the proper installation is carried out, tiles are easily removable if damaged and replaceable. These tiles are available in various colors and designs to ensure an aesthetic view.
Some manufacturers have made vinyl tiles that closely resemble wood, stone, terrazzo, and concrete, and hundreds of different patterns.
A. Luxury PVC Vinyl Tile
Luxury PVC Vinyl Tile (LVT) is an industry term for vinyl, not a standard that mimics the appearance of natural materials with an added layer to realistically improve wear and performance.
The extra layer of protection is usually a heavy film covered with a UV-curated urethane that makes it scratch, stain, and scratch-resistant.
Sometimes the term “luxury vinyl tile” is reserved for products that mimic stone and ceramic ducts that mimic wood.
B. PVC Tiles
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) Tiles are a commonly used floor finish made of polyvinyl chloride. Due to the small size of the tiles, typically 150 mm, 225 mm, and 305 mm, any damage can soon be repaired by replacing individual tiles (as long as some spares are placed).
The tiles are made of a combination of PVC and fiber, forming a thin and fairly rigid tile. PVC tiles suffer from some issues.
The gloss used on self-adhesive tiles sometimes gives way, allowing the edges to be lifted and the foot broken by traffic.
The surface wears off, difficulty cleaning on time, then the loss of a colored pattern layer.
Finally, a very smooth sub-floor is required for laying them, otherwise, they are gradually cut by foot pressure above and shallow edges below.
The main advantages of PVC tiles are low cost, ease of replacing individual tiles, and the fact that tiles can only be kept for brief periods.
In fact, on otherwise busy days a dyer with a ten-minute slot will have enough time to get a slowly laid floor, and thus avoid commercial installation costs.
Read More: 5 Types of Resilient Flooring & Its Types With Benefits
Advantages Of PVC Flooring
The following are the Vinyl Flooring advantages,
Easy to install: vinyl flooring is really easy to install because it is simply affixed to the floor. It can be fixed on concrete, wood, or any other base floor with the help of rubber-based adhesives and is also available in peel-and-stick types.
Versatile: Be it size, shape, pattern, or print, vinyl is extremely versatile and can be personalized according to the design of your choice.
Cost-effective: As vinyl is versatile in the range of available patterns and designs, it is much cheaper than other flooring types which is especially advantageous if you want it to mimic expensive flooring materials.
Low maintenance: vinyl flooring is easy to maintain and regular extensive and moist mopping is essential to keep all vinyl floors clean and in good condition.
Durable: Vinyl, once polished or laminated with liquid emulsion, is well protected and resistant to wear due to normal traffic or any chemicals such as mild acids, alkalis, soaps, detergents, etc.
Moisture resistance: vinyl flooring has a non-porous surface making it completely waterproof. For this reason, it can be used anywhere in the house.
Comfort: Its soft and flexible nature makes it a good working floor to stand on and move about. It also provides sufficient friction which makes it accident-free.
Disadvantages Of PVC Flooring
The following are the PVC Vinyl Flooring Disadvantages,
- Environmental Impact: Vinyl is made from petroleum which is a non-renewable source, and is not considered environmentally friendly due to the chemicals and pollutants produced in its manufacture.
- Wears over time: While the floor is very protected due to laminate, signs of overtime wear begin to appear as folds in corners, faded colors due to exposure to sunlight and scratches, etc. Unlike wood, vinyl flooring cannot occur. A new finish was applied.
- Difficulty in repair: If the vinyl is durable, if it is damaged then it is difficult to fix as the entire sheet will have to be replaced. A vinyl tile or plank can be removed and a new one installed, but a sheet will have to be patched or replaced.
PVC Vinyl Flooring Price
The PVC Vinyl Flooring price is between Rs. 35 per square foot to 278 Rs. per square in India,
| Plastic | Rs 35/Square Feet | Rs 220/Square Feet |
| Rubber | Rs 55/Square Feet | Rs 278/Square Feet |
| Teak Wood | Rs 35/Square Feet | Rs 50/Square Feet |
Conclusion:
In conclusion, PVC flooring, is also known as plastic flooring or vinyl flooring and it is a synthetic flooring material made from PVC resin, it offers durability, water resistance, affordability and easy to maintenance, also the PVC flooring comes in different types such as PVC Tiles, Luxury Vinyl tiles, PVC sheet Flooring and homogeneous PVC flooring.
While it provides versatility and aesthetic appeal, there are some drawbacks, PVC Flooring is vulnerable to high temperatures and have limited environmental sustainability.
The PVC flooring remains popular due to its affordability, ease of installation and durability, considering the advantages and disadvantages and it is important to make an informed decision based on your specific needs and priorities.
FAQs
What is PVC flooring?
PVC flooring, also known as vinyl flooring, is a type of synthetic flooring material made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin. It is a durable and versatile flooring option that is commonly used in residential and commercial spaces.
What are PVC tiles?
PVC tiles are individual flooring tiles made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resin. They come in different sizes, designs, and thicknesses. PVC tiles are easy to install, replace, and maintain, making them a popular choice for both residential and commercial spaces.
Is PVC flooring suitable for all areas of the home?
Yes, PVC flooring is suitable for various areas of the home, including living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms, and even basements. It can withstand high foot traffic and moisture-prone environments.
How long does PVC flooring typically last?
The lifespan of PVC flooring depends on factors like quality, maintenance, and usage. Generally, high-quality PVC flooring can last anywhere from 10 to 20 years or more with proper care.
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