Sheet Vinyl Facts

• Sheet vinyl flooring is offered in 6-, 9- or 12-foot widths. Have the flooring dealer cut your vinyl to length or purchase prepackaged rolls. The backing is made of a moisture- and mildew-resistant material, which also provides a level of cushioning, depending on the vinyl you choose. For the longest-lasting vinyl flooring, the wear layer must be as thick as possible, since it will hide any dents, gouges and worn areas the longest.
  
  

Sheet Vinyl Types

• With inlaid vinyl, vinyl material and the pattern extends throughout the sheet, resulting in a heavier and more expensive product than printed vinyl. Because the colors are embedded, scratches and gouges are barely noticeable. These solid vinyl sheets are difficult for many homeowners to handle, so manufacturers recommend professional installation. For printed vinyl, a colored image is printed onto the backing material. Layers of clear vinyl or urethane are applied over the printed surface to protect it from wear.
  
  

Tile Vinyl Facts

• Vinyl tiles are available in 12-inch or 18-inch squares of either composition or solid construction. Many varieties are available with peel-and-stick adhesive backings, making it a straight forward installation for most homeowners. Available in a vast array of patterns, all tiles are covered with a protective surface coating to prevent marks and stains. This wear layer is either vinyl no-wax, for light traffic; urethane, for normal traffic; or enhanced urethane, for heavy traffic.
  
  

Tile Vinyl Types: Comosition, Solid

• Vinyl composition tiles consist of several different materials mixed together, including fillers, followed by added color. Once the tiles are formed, additional texture and color is often added to the top surface. A wear layer is added as the final layer to protect the tile from foot traffic. Unlike composition tiles, solid vinyl tiles do not contain fillers, containing more vinyl instead. Some have the identical color pattern on both sides, where color extends through the entire thickness of the tile. More common are tiles with a printed film attached to a backing, with a clear vinyl wear layer on top. Many of these are photographic prints with very good representation of the real thing.