Questions to ask about vinyl flooring

Floors for paws at Rigsby holiday cottage

Customers always have lots of questions – these are the ones we are asked the most at Floors For Paws.

When making the decision to invest in new vinyl flooring for your home or business premises, it is only natural to ask lots of questions before making such a considered purchase. Here, we have put together some of the most frequently asked questions to help you.

What is vinyl flooring?

Vinyl flooring is a synthetic flooring solution made up of several layers with the uppermost surface giving the flooring its final look. Vinyl flooring can be manufactured to resemble natural stone, real wood and ceramic tiles. It can have a textured surface, and is often backed with plastic or felt.

How do you buy vinyl flooring?

Vinyl flooring can be bought by length (usually in metres) off the roll, exactly like carpet. Alternatively, it can be supplied as tiles or planks which can be pieced together to create patterns, some of which can replicate the traditional patterns found in solid wood flooring.

How to lay vinyl flooring

This is not something we would recommend, especially for the novice DIY-er to attempt, as vinyl flooring requires experienced fitters. At Floor For Paws, we work with a network or professional fitters who can install your new floor for you. When you have a Floors For Paws vinyl floor installed by one of our approved contractors, we offer a 30-year domestic guarantee or a 10-year commercial guarantee. However, for those who would like to lay their flooring themselves, it is important to know how to prepare your sub-floor correctly.

What to put under vinyl flooring

Sheet vinyl and vinyl flooring that is installed using the glue down method, require no underlay, as the flooring is bonded directly onto the sub-floor. However, in these cases it is imperative that the sub-floor is correctly prepared with flooring grade plywood or smoothing compound.

Is vinyl flooring waterproof?

Vinyl flooring is waterproof. However, where vinyl flooring is installed as planks or tiles with numerous joins, it may be less waterproof than vinyl sheet flooring, if it has not been installed by a qualified contractor. Our guide to the best waterproof flooring for pets examines the difference between waterproof and water resistance. 

How to clean vinyl flooring

Vinyl flooring is relatively low maintenance, requiring little more than regular sweeping and mopping, although all spillages should be dealt with immediately. For areas of heavy traffic, a deeper clean can be carried out to maintain the appearance of the vinyl and to prevent it from becoming dull and tired.

What’s the difference between vinyl flooring and luxury vinyl flooring?

Vinyl flooring is supplied by length in rolls and can be laid with the minimum of seams or joins, depending on the area to be covered. Available in a choice of colours, patterns and designs, vinyl flooring should be professionally installed. Any repairs that become necessary might lead to the whole floor being replaced.

Luxury vinyl flooring, often referred to as LVT (luxury vinyl tiles) is available in tile or plank shapes, allowing the creation of different patterns and designs. LVT flooring is often finished in a choice of hardwood-, stone-, or ceramic-effects. Repairs can be carried out by simply replacing the affected sections.

Is vinyl flooring pet friendly?

Vinyl flooring from Floor For Paws is extremely pet-friendly and all our ranges have been endorsed by CAM (Canine Arthritis Management). Non-slip, and therefore kinder on older joints and young, under-developed bones, our vinyl flooring features a soft upper layer that is more comfortable for our four legged friends to lie on.

Vinyl flooring from Floors For Paws

At Floors For Paws, we offer three ranges of vinyl flooring. Our luxury vinyl range is available as planks or tiles and is perfect for anywhere in the home, our Pawsafe Domestic range is ideal for creating the look of a traditional herringbone solid wood floor in any room, and our Pawsafe Commercial range, available as vinyl sheeting is hardwearing enough for high traffic commercial premises such as veterinary clinics and doggy day care.

If you have any other questions not covered here, our friendly sales team is waiting to help. Simply call us on 01522 300218 or email us at info@floorsforpaws.com