Vinyl is to flooring as New Kids on the Block is to music. It got a bad rap in its formative years, but it’s grown up a little and now it’s staging a comeback. The difference is we want vinyl around. It’s got some good stuff to offer. (My apologies to Danny, Donnie, Joe, Jordan and John.)

I’ve got so much to spill about vinyl that it’s going to take two blogs. Here, I’ll give you some background so you’ll know what to look for when you shop. In the next post, I’ll tell you about the latest and the greatest generation of vinyl.

Before we get started, you need to know about the category vinyl falls in. It’s a “resilient floor,” meaning that it has some “give” or elasticity when you walk. This category includes linoleum, cork, rubber and specialty resilient.

Now, let’s go shopping! When you get ready to buy a vinyl floor, you need to ask three questions:

• What is the wear surface?
• What type of structure is it?
• How will it be installed?

Wear Surfaces
I’m talking about clean-ability. You’re looking for how well a floor resists scuffs, scrapes, black heel marks, stains and retains its original luster. It makes very little difference how thick the wear layer is—composition and technology are far more important.

There are three basic types of vinyl wear surfaces:

1) No-Wax - The original no-wax wear surface will still require regular washing and occasional floor polishing to restore the gloss, especially in heavy traffic areas.

2) Urethane (PVC) – Urethane wear surfaces do a much better job of resisting scuffs, scrapes, stains and black heel marks and retain a like new look far longer than basic floors.

3) Enhanced Urethane – There are several levels of “enhanced urethane” floors, and all of them are even more resilient than their predecessors. The best will not stain from normal household elements and will not become soiled. All that is required to clean these floors is a broom and an occasional mopping with an approved floor cleaner.

Structures
The way a floor is constructed determines its durability. By that I mean how your floor will stand up to normal household use. Most floors are constructed by one of two processes: Rotogravure/printed floor or inlaid. Both start with a backing upon which foam or vinyl granules are placed.

1) Roto floors are created by placing a foam layer on the backing, then putting a picture on top. A wear layer is then applied over the image. Durability can be enhanced by placing a tough vinyl inner layer between the foam and the picture.

2) Inlaid Floors are manufactured by placement of tiny vinyl granules from the backing all the way up to the wear surface. This creates an extremely durable floor.

Installation
Take the time to read the installation and maintenance guide as it varies greatly from floor to floor. Look for things such as:

• How long is the floor guaranteed?
• What does the warranty include?
• Are there requirements on your end to keep the warranty up to date?

If the wear surface is only guaranteed for three years, the lower price may not be worth it.

Renee LeCroy is the Flooring Expert at Don’s Carpet One in Birmingham, AL. For 17 years, she’s been the consumer’s in-store advocate, decoding the flooring industry and offering insider advice. Contact Renee via email.