A Tale of Two Vinyls

Once upon a time, before I worked in the flooring business, my knowledge of vinyl was based purely on experience. I grew up in a home with three active children who ran in and out the door at top speed. Our German Shepherd Butch, hardly a lap dog, shared the space with us. His claws and our tennis shoes never phased our heavy vinyl inlaid floor. It was still in the house—looking good to boot—when my mother sold it 20 years later.

On the other hand, there was my college apartment. The thin vinyl there was thrown down for a quick, cheap fix. It was torn, gouged, dented and stained. The wear layer was long gone, so it wouldn’t clean. Not cute.

So, what am I getting at? The old “you get what you pay for” adage truly applies to this flooring. The cheap stuff has given vinyl a bad name. For many years, new homebuilders used it to keep prices down, but never explained that the floor would only last 3 to 5 years under normal use. The race to the lowest price made the entire vinyl flooring category disliked by customers.

By thinking short term, the vinyl industry almost destroyed itself. It had to have a new introduction to survive.

For us, that came in the form of Earthscapes. I’m hesitant to even call Earthscapes “vinyl” because it’s made from fiberglass. I’m beyond impressed with the product. I’m seeing some big advantages from this new class of vinyl. I’ll call them…

The seven wonders of Earthscapes vinyl

• Maintenance. The wear layer resists stains and scuffs better than any other floor. Bold statement, but it’s true. (Hardwood dents, tile chips, etc.) An occasional sweep with water and a mild detergent is enough to keep your floor beautiful.
• Durability. It’s guaranteed not to contract, expand, crack or curl. It’s also wear resistant.
• Water-resistance. Vinyl is the most hygienic and non-allergenic floor. There are no grout lines and fewer seams where moisture and dirt can hide. Bacteria, mold, mildew and house-mites are virtually eliminated.
• Design possibilities. There are a plethora of vinyl styles, colors and patterns.
• Acoustics. Vinyl dampens sounds effectively.
• Ease of installation. Vinyl can be installed over pretty much anything with limited extra efforts and costs.
• Affordability. Long durability and low maintenance costs mean excellent value in the long run. Add in the no rip, tear, gouge or indent warranty, and you’ve got even more built in value.
  

The moral of my tale? Don’t let vinyl scare you! From resilience to cleanliness, it’s got a lot to offer. Take a look with an open mind and you just might find a match made in heaven.

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.