Want a floor that’s cheap, attractive, easy to fit, wipe-clean and perfect for a busy household? Julia Gray has the answer, and the answer is vinyl.
Sometimes, the oldies are the best. Vinyl might sound like it’s a bit dated, but it has a lot more to offer than you think.
Sheet vinyl is a practical choice for kitchens and bathrooms, being straightforward to fit.
It’s also affordable, coming in a big range of styles, colours, and designs that look like ceramic tiles, wood and stone, but often costs less per square metre than the real thing.
With practicality and price ticked – vinyl is water resistant, hard to stain, and durable.
Unlike a tiled floor, it’s comfortable and “warm” underfoot.
If you have kids or pets, vinyl comes into its own too, because it’s softer, quieter and safer than a hard floor and (generally) stands up to heavy foot traffic well.
Perhaps best of all, vinyl is a doddle to clean.
There are some inevitable downsides too. Vinyl can get scuffed and scratched and it will deteriorate eventually, especially at the edges, where it tends to curl up over time. You have to be careful not to tear a vinyl floor – dragging a fridge across it, for example, is a recipe for disaster.
Vinyl can also be damaged by extreme temperatures, and faded by sunlight.
That said though, vinyl is clearly still a good choice for many homes; and if you agree, here’s how to go about it.
Before you fit the vinyl, it’s important to ensure that the sub-floor is as clean, dry and flat as possible – vinyl will show up lumps, bumps and other imperfections.
To prepare a floorboard sub-floor, begin by knocking down any protruding nails with a hammer and nail punch. Screw down any loose boards, checking first that there aren’t any cables or pipes underneath.
Fix hardboard on top to provide a good surface on which to lay the vinyl.
As a final tip, having a warm room makes vinyl easier to fit – so what better time is there to get started than the upcoming summer months?
