Materials and Supplies

Cheapest Vinyl Flooring: A Quick Style Fix For Your House

Filed Under: Design

Successful home remodelling on a budget often involves searching around for the best prices on materials, and choosing styles and elements that don’t carry hefty installation costs. Vinyl flooring gets high marks on both regards: the cheapest vinyl floor tiles can cost as low as $1 per square foot, and it can easily be installed by yourself without the need of paying a specialist. Vinyl flooring also offers the benefit of an endless variety of colours and styles that fit any home décor style. If you are looking for the cheapest vinyl flooring, the Internet is often the place to find the best deals.

Vinyl Flooring For Bathrooms

Vinyl has become a popular choice when talking about bathroom flooring for many reasons. Bathroom vinyl flooring is resistant to water and warm to the touch, and comes in many finishes including non-slip or rubber bathroom flooring, which is an added benefit, particularly for the elderly or people with children. Most people prefer to use bathroom flooring vinyl tiles because they are easier to install than rolls, and often can be made to match the ceramic tiles on the walls. Vinyl is also comfortable to walk on, which means it’s nicer than porcelain tile when you need to walk on it barefoot, so this makes it perfect for a bathroom.

When installing vinyl tile in bathrooms it is extremely important to make sure the base surface is perfectly dry, which can be an issue if your bathroom is not very well ventilated or somebody has used it to take a bath just a few hours before you start working. Either do it first thing in the morning, or make sure everybody knows that the bathroom is off limits until you have finished installing your new vinyl floor. Some people opt to put heaters to dry the room before starting work.

Vinyl Bathroom Flooring Ideas

The sky is the limit when talking about the range of colours and textures of bathroom vinyl floor tiles. From ultra-modern, glossy finishes in primary colours to marble imitation, vinyl caters to all tastes. If you love the look of ceramic tile, remember that you can install groutable vinyl tile that looks very similar, but it’s much easier to install.

Light coloured, glossy vinyl tiles can make a small bathroom look much bigger, particularly if you combine them with bright colours on your towels, and light wood textures on cabinets and furniture. While vinyl can imitate natural stone, the cheapest vinyl tiles are not going to trick anybody so it’s better to embrace the natural texture of this material and play the bright colours and glossy textures to your advantage, instead of trying to get a bad imitation of granite or marble that won’t fool anybody.

Vinyl Flooring That Looks Like Hardwood

Love the look of wood, but can’t afford it or are worried that your dog will make a mess of it? Wood vinyl tiles are a popular and affordable option for homeowners looking for pet friendly flooring on a budget. While is true that really cheap vinyl floor tiles won’t fool anybody, vinyl wood planks (particularly hard-wear floating models) imitate wood much better and are easy to clean or even replace if an accident happens.

Wood Vinyl Tiles

You can find vinyl flooring that looks like hardwood, bamboo or even exotic woods that wouldn’t normally be used for flooring. Most people choose to install this kind of flooring instead of laminate wood, as it’s easier to install and cheaper. Keep in mind that it’s very difficult to imitate the natural grain of real wood, where each plank is different, but you can accomplish a similar effect by making sure the tiles are distributed in random patterns, or mixing tiles from different packages.

Classic Styles on Vinyl Flooring

Many people choose vinyl flooring tiles because they can be made to look like stone or ceramic tiles but are cheaper and easier to maintain, as well as more comfortable to walk on barefoot and less slippery when wet. If you are looking for a floor that won’t compete for attention with the rest of the room and will give your home a classic elegance, black and checkerboard vinyl floor tile are two very popular options, as they go with any wall colour.

Black Vinyl Floor Tile

Black floors are a classic, and black vinyl flooring tiles are probably some of the most popular ones on sale. Black vinyl tile flooring comes in different patterns and styles, from dark imitation marble and granite to deep black surfaces or modernist patterns. Even using cheap tiles can make your kitchen go from blah to wow! In a weekend.

Checkerboard Vinyl Flooring

Another classic, black and white vinyl floor tiles can be bought separately or as a pack to accomplish a perfect checked vinyl floor. If the size of the tiles is too big and you are looking for a busier checkerboard effect you can also buy black and white vinyl tile patterns which have two white and two black squares on each tile. Cheap black and white checkerboard vinyl flooring is perfect if you are looking to create a retro or minimalist effect on your home décor, with minimal expense.

How to Remove Vinyl Floor Tile Adhesive

Filed Under: DIY Installation

If you have turned to the Internet to learn how to remove vinyl floor tile adhesive, chances are you have all but given up and are ready to call a contractor to do the work for you. Sore knees, blistered hands and hours scrubbing the floor and trying to get rid of those vinyl tires, and they still don’t go away.

The right way to remove vinyl tile glue depends on the kind of glue used to install the tiles, and its age. Vinyl tile adhesive that is really old and dry will require the use of harsher chemical solvents, whereas removing the tiles you installed last winter will be much easier. There are many different ways to remove vinyl tile adhesive, once you have removed the vinyl tiles using a knife and pulling them off the floor, and you may need to use some of them combined.

Scrapping

The first thing you should do when removing vinyl floor tile adhesive is using a scrapper to manually remove as much glue as possible by purely physical means. This is hard work in an uncomfortable position, so don’t try to get it all done in an evening and make sure you rest your back and even wear a supportive waistband to prevent damage. This should get rid of the bulk of the vinyl glue and the flooring itself.

Solvents

No matter how much you scrap, there will be some resistant vinyl adhesive that refuses to go. In order to soften old glue for vinyl flooring you may need to use solvents. Vinyl solvents come in a variety of types and strengths, from easy to use citrus or soy based ones to highly toxic harsh chemicals, so choose the milder one that still does the job. Chemical solvents can be dangerous, and it’s extremely important to follow all the safety measures provided by the manufacturer. At the bare minimum, make sure you wear protective clothing and work on a well-ventilated area, and take frequent breaks. The solvent will soften the adhesive, and you can then scrap it off easily.

Using a Heat Gun

You can use a heat gun to remove vinyl floor tile adhesive effectively, but this method is not without risks. To start with, you could start a fire or get burn, or even suffer from poisoning from inhaling the noxious fumes that will result. So using a heat gun should be your last resort choice, used only when all else has failed.

Dry Ice Method

A nice industry trick to remove vinyl floor adhesive is to use dry ice. Using protective gloves, place a block of dry ice on a tile for 5 minutes. The tile will become brittle and pop out, and you can remove it easily. Place another dry ice block on the remaining adhesive to make it shatter, and another block on the next tile so it starts freezing. This way you can remove vinyl flooring glue with the least possible back pain.

Health Warning: Vinyl Tiles and Asbestos

If your tiles are old, there is a chance that they contain asbestos. Vinyl tiles containing asbestos were used until the mid-80s, and if your house is older or has vintage tiles it could be a health hazard to try and remove those tiles yourself, as a shattered tile will release asbestos in the air. If you suspect your flooring contains asbestos, contact a specialised removal company that will seal the room and vacuum away any asbestos dust released when removing the tiles.

Choosing the Perfect Flooring for Your Home

Filed Under: Buying

Choosing flooring for your home is a task that the majority of people take very lightly. It is an extremely important part of the design of the house and is fundamental in representing its appearance. With a range of factors such as price, style and location to consider which dictate your decision, it can become hard to choose the right flooring for you. This guide will help you evaluate the different factors that influence your choice, helping you decide on the flooring that is perfect for you.

Budget

Probably the single most influential factor to consider is the amount you are willing to spend. Get an idea in your head of how much you are willing to spend, and it will allow you to fine tune your options to specific flooring within your budget. As a result, you will save the time and hassle of choosing flooring way out of your budget, which you then have to return or struggle to pay off. Ask yourself questions such as; how many rooms am I buying flooring for? Or what is the most I am willing to spend in total? This will be very helpful in making your decision.

Type

Another very important thing to consider is the type of flooring that you are interested in. Even if you have particularly high standards or taste, having pets, kids or just clumsy family members is going to influence your decision. Wooden flooring might be more appropriate because it is easier to clean up after spills. On the other hand, wooden flooring can be quite cold and that is unappealing for many people. Carpets are a good choice if this is an issue for you, however obviously you will not want to spill anything on a brand new carpet, as it won’t clean up as easily! These types of things you will need to take into consideration when choosing the perfect flooring for your home. It is all about weighing up the pros and cons of each and making a decision based on that.

Here is a list of the types of flooring you might be interested in:

Wooden
Carpet
Laminate
Ceramic Tiles
Hardwood
Marble

Choosing the flooring most suited to your home is going to be all about personal preference and the amount you are willing to spend. Flooring is a big investment so make sure that you plan well and make sure you are not making a mistake you will later regret.

Daniel blinman recently chose N and S Flooring when choosing his flooring for his new home. He highly recommend them!

Garage Vinyl Tile Flooring

Filed Under: Information

When thinking about garage flooring options, the main requirements are for a material that is water, flame and stain resistant, slip-proof and durable even in the semi-outdoor conditions of a garage. Vinyl garage floor tiles are a cheap and easy way to fulfil all those requirements, and they also allow the homeowner to be creative and give the garage its own personal twist. Garage vinyl flooring is not your delicate domestic vinyl, though. To be able to endure the heavy usage expected of garage use, industrial vinyl flooring that is manufacturer to be extra resilient is the best alternative.

Domestic Vinyl Flooring tiles are made of three layers: a felt or fiberglass backing that can be glued to the substrate, a vinyl filler and a texture or pattern layer which gives vinyl its looks. On top of the design layer, which is very thin, there is often a protective layer of clear acrylic sealant, which makes vinyl resistant to stains and water and can be treated to be resilient to scratches. However, this treatment is not enough for the features required of garage vinyl flooring.

Vinyl garage floor tiles don’t have a pretty design layer. Instead, they are made from a single thick sheet of polyvinyl, treated to be slip resistant and extremely durable. Garage vinyl flooring can be purchased as a sheet that can be rolled over the existing concrete floor, or interlocking tiles that are more difficult to install but often provide a better visual appeal.

Benefits of Vinyl Garage Floor Tiles

The main benefit of installing vinyl tile flooring on your garage is that is non-porous and as such it won’t be affected by anti-freeze fluids, battery acid or even road salt brought in by the car wheels. Vinyl tile flooring for garages is also designed to be easy to install, and doesn’t require glue. Instead, it is simply laid over the existing garage floor and can be removed as necessary to either replace broken tiles or to clean it using a hose. There are many different finishes available, of which anti-slip is probably the most popular one. Industrial vinyl flooring doesn’t come with a decorative layer, so the patterns available are limited, however you can buy it in many different colours.

Disadvantages of Garage Vinyl Tile

The main disadvantage of garage vinyl tile flooring is the chemicals involved to make it resilient, fire-resistant and slip-proof. Some of them, such as cadmium and lead, are known toxics and associated with a higher risk of cancer. Paraffin, also in garage vinyl tile as fire retardant, is also a known toxic and there have been accusations that the chemicals used to make PVC flexible and suitable as garage flooring have caused asthma, obesity or even insulin resistant diabetes. While this is probably not a major concern for somebody who only uses the garage to store items and vehicles, it may be an issue if you expect to spend more time there, such as those using the garage as a workshop. Research your garage vinyl tile flooring options thoroughly and look for those with an acceptable level of potential toxic chemicals even if they are marginally more expensive.

Pros and Cons of Wood Plank Vinyl Flooring

Filed Under: Information

Vinyl wood planks are a hybrid between vinyl sheet flooring and pell and stick vinyl square tiles. Resilient as the first, but as easy to install as the second, it also avoid the checkerboard effect vinyl tiles can produce. Wood plank vinyl flooring has a similar format to hardwood laminate flooring, and comes as planks joined together with a tongue and groove cut. Each vinyl flooring wood plank is joined to the others using a click mechanism, and so the surface is much smoother and you don’t need to use vinyl glue to install, making it perfect for quick jobs.

One of the major benefits of wood plank vinyl flooring is the ease of installation and removal. The installation system is also very similar: vinyl wood planks are backed with a rubberized material that extends past the long edge on one side of the plank. This extension is treated with vinyl plank glue so it’s sticky. When you install vinyl plank flooring each plank is laid down overlapping that sticky bit of rubber, creating a staggered texture and a smoother surface. Unlike vinyl tiles, vinyl planks aren’t glued to the subfloor, removal is also easy and doesn’t require the use of glue solvents or other toxic substances to remove the leftover adhesive residue.

Wood vinyl flooring planks get that name because they look like hardwood, and have a similar texture but finding vinyl wood floor planks that can fool somebody into thinking they are real thing can be an expensive challenge. While the pattern may look like hardwood, it still has a plastic sheen to it that is difficult to hide. It comes in a large variety of colours and patterns, resembling all styles of wood, from oak and beech to exotic woods. But it also can be made to look like stone, marble or any other material imaginable. That makes it extremely versatile and suitable for a variety of home decoration projects.

Floating vinyl plank flooring is very durable. Is water resistant, and it won’t chip or warp when properly installed, which makes it extremely valuable for households that have pets or small children. However, the acrylic coating will scratch with normal foot traffic, and after a few months you may start noticing a fine web of scratch marks. You can solve this by using suitable products designed to restore vinyl coating but if you are after a long lasting floor that can endure heavy usage you may prefer to install laminate or hardwood flooring instead. You can reduce the damage by avoiding using outdoor shoes indoors, and sweeping regularly.

Vinyl wood flooring planks are perfect for children’s rooms and task oriented rooms, as the feeling under the feet is much softer than laminate or hardwood and it also has good sound-reduction capabilities. Unlike stone, it has a warm feel to it, which makes bathroom vinyl flooring a very sought after offer as it is a room where you want a floor that is warm and comfortable on naked feet, but wouldn’t install wood due to the risk of water damage. They are also easy to install and remove, and cheap enough that remodelling the floor as your need change over the years is affordable. However, it is not hardwood, and it shows.

The primary disadvantage of wood plank vinyl flooring is just that, the fact that is vinyl and not hardwood. It looks like vinyl, though some luxury versions have their own beauty and can pass for laminate flooring easily. Vinyl is also not suitable for high traffic areas, because it will soon get noticeably scratched, unless you invest on extra-durable vinyl that is coated with a hard wearing protective layer, usually designed for commercial spaces and schools.

Before installing floating vinyl plank flooring, weigh the pros and cons and consider the usage you want to give that new room. Ask for samples and shop around until you find the right texture and pattern that suits your home decoration at a price you are happy to pay. While wood plank vinyl flooring is durable and has its own style of beauty, if you are after a floor that closely imitates hardwood you may feel disappointed after you install it.