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Vinyl Kitchen Flooring .... What to Look For

Vinyl kitchen flooring has been around since the 1950s and continues to be the favorite choice in kitchen flooring in many homes even today. In fact, vinyl has evolved to become more environmentally friendly over the years, with manufacturers making a conscious effort to use recycled materials. In terms of performance, vinyl gets full marks.

Added to this, its durability and economic pricing make it very attractive to those who are working within a budget.

Vinyl comes in a huge variety of colors and patterns. You get them in inlaid patterns and rotogravure or surface patterns. The inlaid patterns are longer lasting since the design runs all the way into the material unlike the surface patterns that wear off over time.

The inlaid vinyl costs more and is made by getting color granules into a sheet of vinyl resulting in the entire sheet of vinyl getting color. This looks fresh for years to come. The surface design costs less and usually wears faster than the inlaid design.

The different kinds of vinyl kitchen floor material come based on what the top layer is made of. This layer comes in a variety of thicknesses, so the tougher it is, the more resilient it will be. Nowadays we get vinyl with the top layer infused with nylon and aluminum oxide for higher durability. Vinyl can be completely water resistant when it is sealed in the right manner.

The latest vinyl kitchen flooring sheets come in 12 feet width, unlike the original vinyl sheets that where 6 feet wide. Finishes can be made to look just like stone, concrete, tiles and other finishes that may match the look you want to achieve. In fact vinyl can be made to look like anything you wish, in any color you want.

Pros and Cons of Vinyl Kitchen Flooring

Vinyl is highly flexible, feels good under your feet, comes in huge variety and is very durable. Add to it the low investment when you compare it with other types of kitchen floors. Easy to maintain, vinyl kitchen floors come with a good warranty. Vinyl is resistant to heat and water.

Some vinyl sheets can fade. The lower end vinyl’s pattern can fade away. If not installed properly, the ends can lift and look ugly.

Associated Cost of Vinyl Flooring

The price of vinyl ranges from $ 1.20 to $ 5.50 per square foot of material alone.

The fact that it comes with a wide choice and easy maintenance combined with low cost makes vinyl a common choice in kitchen flooring. The higher end vinyl floornig can last you a lifetime when properly maintained. If you would like to learn more about vinyl flooring or if you are ready to purchase I recommend FastFloors.com both as a valuable learning aid as well as a great place to buy.