Vinyl Tile
If you love the look of ceramic or stone tile but want something more cost-effective (and easier to install!), vinyl tile is the answer. Whether you’re after a casual look, a luxurious feel, or something in between, there’s a vinyl tile for your project!
What Is Vinyl Tile?
Vinyl flooring is made of polyvinyl chloride plastic, better known as PVC. PVC is a strong and versatile plastic, and for flooring, it’s heated up and pressed into thin layers. These layers are then pressed together to form individual tiles.
But these tiles don’t have to be single-color and flat. Modern vinyl flooring can look impressively realistic. Tiles made to look like ceramic, stone, wood, and other natural materials have a colored layer that accurately mimics the material in question. They also have a textured layer, so they look and feel like natural materials.
What Are the Benefits of Vinyl Flooring?
Vinyl flooring, especially vinyl tile flooring, has many benefits for weekend warriors and professional contractors alike. Check out some of its main advantages:
It’s Budget-Friendly
Modern types of vinyl flooring can look like wood, stone, and other high-cost materials, but you can get them at a fraction of the price!
It’s Easy to Install
Installing vinyl is easier (and therefore less expensive) than installing most other flooring types. This is especially true of self-stick tiles.
It’s Extra Durable
All vinyl flooring has what’s called a “wear layer,” or a layer across the top that protects the tile from damage. Depending on the kind of foot traffic in your space, you can choose from three different durability levels: no-wax vinyl, urethane, and enhanced urethane.
It’s Comfortable
Vinyl is a type of “resilient” flooring, meaning it is somewhat elastic. That gives it a slight bounce or cushion as you walk. If you want to be as comfortable as possible in your home, it’s a great option!
It’s Easy to Maintain
Unlike more expensive floor materials, vinyl doesn’t need wax or polish. Its wear layer will protect it from most types of scratches and stains. All you need to do is sweep, vacuum, or mop on a regular basis to keep the floor clean and avoid scratches. There’s no need to buy a special floor cleaner, either!
Styles of Vinyl Tile Flooring
If you’re ready to finish an existing project with vinyl tile, you’ll need to select one of the many available styles. You can also select your flooring based on the type of installation it requires.
Type of Installation
If you’re installing vinyl tiles, there are two ways to do it – using adhesive or installing “floating” flooring. With adhesive installation, self-stick vinyl tile is probably the simplest. You just peel and stick tiles without having to worry about mixing and spreading adhesive.
Stick flooring like this is perfect for quick DIY projects. If one tile is damaged later, you can replace that single tile without pulling up the entire floor.
“Floating” floors use no adhesive at all. These tiles click together and are set directly over a subfloor or existing floor. Since they are connected, there’s no need to glue them to the floor.
Finish and Color
Choosing the right color and finish for your project is an important step you shouldn’t overlook. Here are some of the most popular colors and finishes available:
- Wood-like finish (anything from weathered wood to pale stains to dark stains)
- Stone-like finish (especially slate, travertine, quartz, and marble)
- Ceramic-like finish (including finishes that look like vintage-style patterned tiles)
When you look around our collection, you’ll likely spot a lifelike finish that’s perfect for your project!