What Are The Different Types Of Floors, And Their Resistance? How Is The Vinyl Floor Installed In Different Ways?
If you need to renovate or change the floor of your home, office or any particular space, on this occasion, let us recommend vinyl, a type of continuous plastic coating made from polyvinyl chloride, better known as PVC.
You have to learn everything about vinyl flooring; in addition to being an affordable solution, it is durable, resistant to moisture, and easy to install without requiring any work and to maintain. For the most part, they are anti-allergic, antistatic and non-slip.
QUALITIES
One of their main characteristics is that they come in various designs, patterns, colours, textures and finishes, thus adjusting to every taste and need. They are so aesthetic that they perfectly imitate any material. In terms of their presentation, they can be obtained in rolls or square or rectangular tiles of different thicknesses.
You should know that you can place this type of floor on top of the existing base; it is not necessary to remove it. What supposes to be a great comfort added to the saving of time and money. They can also be installed on various surfaces, such as concrete, ceramic or wood slabs, as long as the installation procedures for each of these materials are followed.
We recommend that the choice of your vinyl floors be based on more than its aesthetic side. Although it will be an essential factor, it is necessary to evaluate the types that exist (homogeneous and heterogeneous) and their resistance.
TYPES OF FLOORS
Homogeneous:
These are the ones that are made up of a single layer, whose composition is found in vinyl or PVC in different proportions. It should be noted that while there is more presence of vinyl, the material will be lighter, of better quality, more flexible and more resistant to abrasion.
Heterogeneous:
These are characterised by being composed of at least two layers of materials. Thanks to this, better finishes are achieved since each layer fulfils a different function, resulting in more excellent benefits.
RESISTANCE ACCORDING TO THE TYPE OF USE
Vinyl floors can also be classified depending on the use you are going to give them. It is necessary to consider the area and the number of people who will commonly pass through the room where they will be placed. These are divided into very intense and moderate use.
Moderate use: it is ideal for families with little traffic, that is, homes where one person or couple lives.
Intense use: it is intended for families of at least three people or with children. This is used in busier home areas such as hallways or living rooms.
Very intense: it is perfect for more numerous and even that have animals.
There is another international classification according to the type of traffic under the EN685 (ISO 10874) standard.
According to this, the most common are:
- 21: Moderate home use.
- 22/31: General home use / moderate commercial use.
- 23/32: High domestic use / general commercial use.
- 33/42: High commercial use / general light industrial use.
- 34/43: Weighty commercial use / heavy light industrial use.
At this point, the categorisation is according to its application. These are grouped into:
Residential: These are generally the products with the least resistance to traffic.
Commercial: These are generally the flooring groups that provide more excellent resistance to abrasion and, therefore, more significant traffic.
Industrial: They have the most significant resistance to weight and forklift traffic.
INSTALLATION OPTIONS
As we mentioned, vinyl flooring is easy to install. We will describe the different ways to do it.
Floating with the “click” system
For this type of installation, no adhesive will be required. Tiles can be installed over surfaces with imperfections or joints, such as porcelain or tile floors.
with adhesive
As its name implies, these floors are glued to the surface with adhesive. In general, they are flexible and thin. However, they are pretty resistant.
loose installation
For these cases, the floors can be installed without adhesive and do not have a click-type assembly system. They have an underlayment that provides suction, and the tiles are installed close together.
ESTHETIC
In this type of flooring, there is no shortage of colour options. In fact, in some cases, they are inspired by natural materials such as wood or stone, and their shades are endless. It is worth mentioning that the level of realism on particular floors is genuinely excellent. But if what you are looking for is a little more classic, geometric patterns and simple and neutral designs will not be lacking.
MAINTENANCE
Once you have decided on which vinyl floor is the one that best suits your tastes and needs, do not forget that maintenance is an aspect that you should not ignore. As we have mentioned, cleaning is straightforward, and you can do it with a slightly damp cloth.
Likewise, there are cleaning products specially designed for vinyl flooring, do not hesitate to use them to ensure a long life for your floor, which with good maintenance, can last up to two decades.