Everything You Need To Know About Vinyl Floors
You've seen the photos, maybe even seen the product in person, and are convinced you want vinyl floors. Congratulations! Vinyl is the fastest growing flooring category, so you are not alone. Vinyl's popularity is fueled by a long list of benefits—it's waterproof, anti-bacterial, slip-resistant, and extremely durable.
The appeal isn't all just in hidden features either. The rapid advances in print-film technology and texture embossing mean vinyl flooring now comes in a wide range of colors and patterns, for a wood look that is real to the touch and eye. Flooring brands have not turned a blind eye to this trend; to the contrary there are more vinyl lines available on the market now than there have ever been. Much in the same way the popularity of laminate floors 10 years ago brought many low-priced options to the market, the same has started to happen with vinyl. Consumers can now find peel-and-stick vinyl for as low as $0.69 / sq ft, a price point once reserved for the cheapest laminates and carpet. Like with most building materials, however, you get what you pay for. Unlike many other products, vinyl flooring brands and suppliers have been surprisingly coy about explaining what specifications matter when comparing vinyl flooring. We decided to write this guide to help you get a grasp on some of the specifications you should consider when comparing products.

Most modern vinyl is technically composite; vinyl, meaning it is a combination of PVC (polyvinyl chloride, the scientific name for vinyl), plasticizers, and print films. The product typically comes with a backing material, which is a mix of vinyl and plasticiser or fiberglass. That material is then covered with a paper print-film, which has the desired color pattern. On top of the print-film, a clear layer of virgin or recycled PVC (vinyl) is layered as the main protection to the floor.
This top layer of pure vinyl is called the wear-layer, and is the most expensive part of the flooring, since it is the only thing protecting the paper print film. Typically the wear-layer is given some level of texture, or embossing, to better compliment the look of the print film being used. Finally, a coating of urethane is applied to the wear-layer, to further protect wear and provide the desired sheen for the pattern. The whole product is then cut up into smaller planks or tiles, depending on the pattern.

Vinyl flooring brands will often make a big deal about how durable their products are. They will mention their fancy coatings, their lifetime warranties, their patent-pending constructions. At the end of the day, once you understand how vinyl is constructed, it becomes clear there is only one spec that really matters: the wear-layer.
Once the wear-layer wears through, the paper pattern will damage, and the floor will need to be replaced. To reiterate, the thicker the wear-layer, the longer your floors will last and look great. If durability is crucial (and if you are opting for vinyl over laminate or wood then it probably is), then you now already have enough information to make an informed decision. But if a thick wear-layer equates to a longer lasting floor, what is considered thick? 0.1 mm? 0.3 mm? 0.5 mm? 12 mil? 20 mil? These numbers are so microscopic that it is hard for most people to comprehend the differences. After all, how can something that is a tiny fraction of an inch provide any substantial protection at all?
Flooret has burst onto the scene with a new standard in wear-layer: Our Modin Signature Collection boasts a 40 mil wear-layer and our Modin Base Collection has a 20 mil wear-layer.
What are more differences between Modin Signature and Modin Base? Check out this article to learn more.

One topic that is worth considering is whether your vinyl floor is made of pure virgin material, or is recycled. Although the word recycled would imply a more ecological and sustainable alternative, the story is more complicated. It is important to understand what recycled means with PVC. The standards for vinyl recycling are not the same as other recycled products.
Recycled vinyl is in reality a mix of vinyl and any other materials that might have been mixed with it as part of the previous waste stream. That is to say, no standard says only pure PVC can be recycled. Examples of waste that is often used in recycled vinyl are old tires, power lines, and even copper wires.
The result can have numerous negative effects, both on performance and health safety. As soon as other materials are mixed with PVC, many of the major advantages of vinyl (durability, waterproofness, dimensional stability) are compromised. Because there is no standard specifying what waste-stream sources can be used in recycled vinyl, there is no way for the consumer to know what percentage of heavy metals or other materials are in their floor.
The issue of safety is equally concerning. Because the waste-stream mix can change from batch to batch, even independently tested recycled vinyl can be risky. Everything from lead to phthalates are found in recycled vinyl, and over time as the wear-layer wears down these dangerous materials are released.
The good news is that PVC is extremely recyclable, and loses very little of its dimensional stability when recycled. As the industry develops, the hope is for more rigorous standards for what waste inputs are allowed. So long as 100% pure vinyl is recycled, it can result in a great post-consumer product.
For now, however, we feel strongly that investing in pure virgin PVC is the best way to build a strong foundation for the future of recycled vinyl flooring, without risking the quality of your floor or your health. Since in all cases the future inputs for recycled vinyl will be virgin PVC, by getting 100% pure vinyl you are ensuring your floor will be recyclable, and not have to end up in a landfill.
Related Reading: Vinyl's toughest question: Pure or recycled content?


Allow our knowledgeable team to bring clarity to the seemingly complicated world of flooring. We are focused on simplifying the process of learning about, and buying, floors. Call us direct at 1-800-700-8122, engage with us via live chat, or send us an email at support@flooret.com.
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