Dan Simms is a contributing writer at USA TODAY Homefront specializing in home repair, renovation and renewable energy. While working as a property manager for one of the largest real estate management firms in New York, Dan worked alongside contractors and renovation specialists to prepare homes for sale. He is an avid DIYer and has completed a shed construction and a bathroom renovation in his own home and investment properties. He lives on Long Island, New York. Reach out to him on LinkedIn.
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Vinyl flooring is a versatile building material and a relatively inexpensive addition to almost any room. There are three main vinyl flooring types: vinyl sheet flooring, luxury vinyl planks or tiles, and composite vinyl.
Each vinyl flooring type is suitable for different purposes. Some vinyl flooring is waterproof and ideal for bathrooms and kitchens; other types create a convincing wood- or tile-like look and are less expensive and easier to install.
Understanding your vinyl flooring options and each one’s costs and limitations will help you choose the best type and either connect with a pro or tackle DIY installation.
The average total cost ranges from $9 to $20 per square foot.
The average total cost for carpet ranges from $5.67 to over $21 per square foot, depending on the quality.
The average total cost for laminate flooring is between $3 to $13 per square foot.
We discuss vinyl sheet flooring, luxury vinyl planks or tiles, and composite vinyl in detail below.
As the name suggests, vinyl sheet flooring comes in large sheets. Depending on the size of the vinyl roll, you can spread it out over an entire room or large sections at a time.
Vinyl sheets are relatively simple to install, but most large-scale applications require a professional. Flooring pros can create a waterproof flooring system without gaps using a large, single sheet or by welding the seams between smaller sheets. The installer will use acrylic-based adhesive to keep the sheets in place.
Vinyl sheets are available in various prints, such as wood, tile and other common flooring materials. However, the printed patterns don’t have texture, making them less convincing than vinyl planks or tiles.
Since they’re soft and pliable, vinyl sheets can’t withstand heavy foot traffic or impacts and wear more quickly than other vinyl flooring options. But with proper care and maintenance, vinyl sheet flooring can last 10 to 20 years, said Rotem Eylor, CEO and founder of Republic Floor, a vinyl flooring manufacturer in Montebello, California.
While foot traffic will affect its longevity, Eylor said vinyl sheet flooring is an effective option due to its moisture resistance and easy cleaning.
It’s also the least expensive type of vinyl flooring, sitting between $2 and $8 per square foot for labor and materials, according to Eylor and Robert Trujillo, owner of Built By Design, a full-service home renovation company based in Arvada, Colorado. But since it’s the least resilient flooring in the vinyl category, you’ll have to replace it more often.
Luxury vinyl planks (LVP) and luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) come in small pieces that connect with click-lock patterns cut into the sides or grout. They’re more challenging to install than vinyl sheets — all seams must be locked or grouted together with no gaps. Because of this, labor costs for LVP/LVT installation are higher.
According to Eylor and Trujillo, the labor costs for luxury vinyl plank and tile floors sit between $3 and $13, which is about double what other types of vinyl flooring cost.
Luxury vinyl planks and tiles are printed using high-resolution images of the flooring material you want to replicate. The high-quality aesthetic and seams that mimic what you’d see on a real wood or tile floor make these appealing flooring options for many homeowners.
It comes down to preference, but Eylor thinks LVP and LVT are the best-looking of the vinyl flooring options “because of their ability to look like real material, like hardwood or stone,” he said.
“The evolution of vinyl plank flooring has increased its popularity,” Trujillo added. “Customers like the luxury look of [vinyl planks,] which makes them a perfect alternative to wood flooring.”
LVP and LVT floors often come with built-in underlayment or padding, which can reduce shock, increase comfort, reduce sound reverberations and ensure a smooth, level floor, especially if you’re installing it over an uneven surface.
Composite vinyl comprises multiple materials, including a wear- and scratch-resistant top layer, a waterproof layer, a design layer that mimics stone; wood or another flooring material, and a rigid core composed of limestone or wood fibers encased in resin. The final layer is usually a padding or built-in underlayment that helps create a level flooring installation, even over an unlevel subfloor.
Composite vinyl flooring is waterproof and stands up better than sheet vinyl and LVP/LVT to physical wear, making it a good option for high-traffic areas, including kitchens and living rooms.
According to Eylor, stone composite flooring is the most durable type of vinyl flooring available. It also has a more luxurious appearance than vinyl sheet flooring. According to Eylor and Trujillo, it’s the most expensive vinyl flooring option, but it’s a common choice due to its look and resilience.
There are two main variants of composite vinyl: wood-plastic composite (WPC) and stone-plastic composite (SPC).
“WPC is a hybrid material made of wood and plastic,” Eylor explained. The wood fibers add durability and rigidity to the flooring, improving its resistance to physical wear and damage. It also makes it look more like real hardwood.
“WPC flooring is available in higher thickness [than SPC flooring] and is more appealing to the foot,” Trujillo said. The flooring feels softer when you walk on it, so it might be better for homes with aging occupants who want to put less stress on their joints.
“SPC is made of limestone [and] is more durable and more dense [than WPC flooring],” Eylor said. The vinyl is embedded with stone rather than wood fibers, increasing its durability and physical strength and providing a convincing stone look.
To choose the best vinyl flooring, consider where in your home you plan to install it, how much foot traffic it will see and how likely it is to come in contact with water or moisture. Aesthetics and other factors also come into play.
Some vinyl flooring is more water-resistant than other types. Floors in kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms are likely to get wet and are best suited for waterproof vinyl flooring.
“Both SPC and WPC vinyl are 100% waterproof, moisture-resistant and fire-retardant,” Trujillo said. “This makes them a better alternative to wood flooring in kitchens and bathrooms.”
“Luxury vinyl tiles are not fully waterproof,” Eylor added.
If you choose vinyl sheet flooring, you’ll need a professional to install a single sheet or heat-weld the seams between individual sheets to create a waterproof floor. Vinyl planks and tiles are usually water-resistant but have seams, which means they aren’t waterproof, as water can leak into the small cracks. Composite vinyl flooring is always waterproof, so it’s a suitable option for areas that see lots of moisture.
Many vinyl flooring options include a wear layer made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or urethane. This layer protects the decorative layers underneath from scratches, fading and physical damage. Choose vinyl flooring with a durable wear layer if you install it in a high-traffic area.
Composite vinyl is the most wear-resistant option, according to Eylor and Trujillo, as it’s made with an extra-thick protective layer. Pliable vinyl sheet flooring is the least resistant to wear, so you may want to avoid installing it in areas with a lot of foot traffic.
Securing a warranty for your vinyl floor can help protect your investment and save you money over time on early flooring replacement. Warranties are especially helpful for flooring placed in high-traffic areas.
Vinyl sheet flooring tends to come with shorter warranties than vinyl planks, vinyl tiles and composite vinyl.
Looking at two popular brands of vinyl flooring — Armstrong and Shaw — the warranties for vinyl sheet flooring last between 5 and 25 years for Armstong floors and between 5 and 30 years for Shaw vinyl sheet flooring. For rigid core vinyl floors, Armstrong’s warranty is a minimum of 35 years and often lasts a lifetime, and Shaw’s warranty lasts a lifetime.
“Vinyl plank flooring is typically warrantied from the manufacturer for 20 to 25 years and is 100% water-resistant,” explained Trujillo. He maintains that this is the most popular option for the price, appearance, durability and warranty.
FloorScore certification for flooring products is issued by SCS Global Services. The company tests different flooring materials, including adhesives and underlayments, to see what, if any, emissions are present.
Some vinyl floors can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as formaldehyde and 2‐ethylhexanol (2‐EH) into the air as they age and are exposed to heat and sunlight. VOCs can harm indoor air quality and your health, according to the Berkeley Lab. Choosing a vinyl flooring product certified by FloorScore can reduce your risk of exposure to VOCs.
Phthalates, also called plasticizers, make flooring and other surfaces more durable, and they used to be more common in vinyl flooring materials. According to research, these chemicals were discovered to have adverse health effects on humans’ endocrine, respiratory and nervous systems.
You can choose a phthalate-free vinyl floor if you’re concerned about exposure to plasticizers. Manufacturers will often market phthalate-free vinyl flooring as such, but you can also ask your professional vinyl flooring installer to use a phthalate-free product for your flooring project.
Finally, consider the aesthetic you want in your living space. For areas guests won’t often see, you could choose a less expensive vinyl sheet flooring. However, a high-quality, visually appealing LVP or LVT floor is a more common option in areas where you’ll spend time and entertain guests, such as your kitchen and living room.
“[The appearance], like all design elements, comes down to a customer’s personal preference or the look they are trying to achieve,” said Trujillo. “However, after being in the construction trade for over 20 years, we install more luxury vinyl planks than any other products.”
Eylor agreed that “natural-colored luxury vinyl plank flooring in white, beige and brown” are the most common options.
Vinyl flooring costs between $2 and $23 per square foot, depending on the type you choose and the labor costs your installer charges. The table below includes price ranges indicated by Eylor and Trujillo, broken down into material and labor costs for each type of vinyl flooring.
Many vinyl floor materials are suitable for a DIY installation, including vinyl planks, vinyl tiles and WPC composite vinyl. There are some considerations to make before tackling vinyl flooring installation yourself, though.
One major benefit of vinyl flooring is how easy it is to clean. You can vacuum, sweep or mop the surface to clear away debris, and the wear layer should resist scratches and denting reasonably well.
Here are some tips to keep your vinyl floor clean and damage-free:
Vinyl flooring is less expensive than tiling, wood flooring and carpeting, so it’s an affordable option that can last for decades. Speak with a vinyl flooring installer near you about your options. Discuss whether your flooring could be exposed to water or moisture, how much foot traffic it will see and whether you’d prefer to prioritize upfront affordability or durability and appearance.
Ask your installer about phthalate-free vinyl flooring and products with FloorScore certification if you’re concerned about exposure to VOCs and other chemicals.
Once you choose the right vinyl flooring for your home, discuss warranty coverage for materials and labor to ensure you get the most out of your new floors.
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
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