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What is Sheet Vinyl?

Harriette Halepis
Harriette Halepis

Sheet vinyl is a type of flooring that is durable and easy to install. Vinyl is a kind of organic material that is derived from ethene, and it is a popular choice amongst homeowners seeking a sturdy cost-effective floor. Sheet vinyl comes in two basic forms including perimeter-bond and full-bond.

Perimeter-bond sheet vinyl is adhered to a flat surface by placing glue around the outer edges of the sheet. Contrastingly, in order to install full-bonded vinyl, glue must be placed across the entire backside of the sheet. Both types of vinyl are durable, though full-bonded vinyl may last longer. Sheet vinyl can be easily installed without the help of professional contractors, though the surface area must be properly prepared prior to installation.

Woman with a flower
Woman with a flower

Newer floors should be fitted with plywood prior to laying vinyl. If older vinyl flooring already exists, there is no need to remove this flooring prior to installing a new floor. All base flooring must be properly washed and dried before installing new sheet vinyl. In addition, any gaps or holes should be filled in before new floors are installed.

Prior to installing new vinyl, make sure to create a template. This can be done by tracing the area to be fitted with the new vinyl. Simply remove any obstacles that might be in the way, and use a pencil to create a blueprint. This way, fitting the new vinyl to the old floor will be easy to do.

Once the vinyl has been installed, it is important to store any remaining material properly. Since vinyl can expand and shrink with fluctuating temperatures, it is best to store this material in an area that is not prone to extreme temperatures. Also, this material should be kept out of direct sunlight at all times, since vinyl can easily fade.

Modern vinyl often mimics wood, stone, and tile. In fact, many homeowners choose sheet vinyl over other kinds of flooring due to its strength and aesthetic appeal. In addition, vinyl is a cost-effective alternative to these other materials. The one drawback to this type of flooring is that it may not last as long as stone, wood, or tile.

Vinyl is highly susceptible to sunlight, cuts, and peeling, which means that it is not a good material for high traffic areas. Then again, sheet vinyl is a great alternative to other materials, since it is hypo-allergenic and inexpensive. This versatile material can be purchased online or in most home flooring stores.

Discussion Comments

anon128318

normally how many years is the life span of a vinyl floor?

we used the product bu smargard vinyl.

anon77152

perimeter bond and full bond are just installation methods. the different types are actually layer-composite, inlaid, and homogeneous. it isn't always hypo-allergenic either.

there is a process of off-gassing that occurs for a while after it has been installed. this off-gassing is usually more because of the adhesive than the vinyl, but the vinyl has it's own gases to contribute and it is actually not very ecologically friendly, as there is no way to recycle the sheet vinyl after it has been bonded to the felt.

it can be incinerated, and it will break down to a degree, but the part you actually see when you are walking on it is actually the same as the material your drains are made of: PVC. It is not by itself ecologically damaging, but the stuff isn't really made to break down.

Ceramic is just rocks that you mortar to your floor, and carpet actually can be recycled (though there aren't widely available carpet recycling centers).

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