Pros and Cons of Adding Vinyl Floors

by Allison E. Beatty
KitchensAndCabinets.com Columnist
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If your vinyl flooring has seen better days, you may be debating whether to replace them with vinyl or another material. This type of project can make a big difference when combined with cabinet refacing. Here's how to decide.


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Vinyl Flooring Adds Value

If you are looking for a cost effective kitchen floor, then vinyl flooring could be the answer. Vinyl often is 50 to 70 percent less expensive than natural wood or some ceramic tile. Vinyl manufacturers also have greatly expanded their offerings in the last 10 years to include:

Earth toned vinyl flooring colors that blend with current kitchen design trends.
Patterns that resemble natural stone.
Textured vinyl flooring patterns that add interesting dimension.

Consider Type of Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl flooring is sold in sheets or tiles. Here's the difference:

Sheets are 6 or 12-foot wide and are rolled out to cover the entire floor.
Vinyl floor tiles typically are 12-feet by 12-feet or 18-feet by 18-feet and are fit together like ceramic tile, but without the grout. One advantage to vinyl floor tiles is the ability to replace one area if needed.

Vinyl Flooring Is Low Maintenance Alternative

Vinyl flooring also is durable and easy to clean. If you are debating between vinyl flooring and natural wood, for example, consider that wood requires more maintenance. With vinyl flooring, you just sweep, vacuum and occasionally wet mop the floor. Vinyl typically does not require waxing or polishing.

Other Vinyl Flooring Factors

There is a downside to vinyl flooring, however. Vinyl is not as durable as wood, which can last for 100 year or more. Some people prefer the more natural look of wood as part of their kitchen design. Vinyl also can scratch or dent, depending on how it's used. Also be careful of:

Using colorful throw rugs that can bleed onto the vinyl when water soaks in them.
Tracking in petroleum products on your shoes, as these can turn vinyl yellow.

Vinyl flooring is a stylish, economical material that can add value to your kitchen design. As you plan a kitchen cabinet refacing project, consider whether this material also will suit your needs.

About the Author
Allison E. Beatty is a syndicated real estate writer who has been writing home improvement columns for 15 years.

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