Vinyl Wood Plank Floors - The Easy Alternative to Solid Wood

If you're a do-it-yourself type homeowner who is thinking about the benefits of wood flooring for your home then you may want to consider installing vinyl wood plank floors. These floors are a great alternative to solid wood flooring due to their ease of installation, the look of real wood they provide, and the considerable cost savings they offer over solid wood floors.

There are numerous advantages to installing vinyl wood plank floors for your home. The cost savings of vinyl wood flooring compared to solid wood flooring happens to be one important factor you can't ignore. Today, companies are capable of producing incredibly realistic looking wood floors out of vinyl material. They've developed the ability to mimic numerous species in countless colors and stain variations. Another important aspect of vinyl wood flooring that makes it attractive to homeowners is the ease in maintaining it. Just a damp mop with some all-purpose cleaner is all that's required to clean these floors.

However, the one major drawback of vinyl wood plank floors are their inability to be re-finished and relatively short life-span compare to solid wood floors. Depending on the thickness, manufacturer, and foot traffic volume, vinyl wood plank floors last about an average of 5 to 8 years. After the floor has reached the end of its life, it will have to be removed and a new floor installed. Solid wood floors afford the homeowner the ability to re-finish them several times, even allowing for the ability to change stain variations and colors. Most homeowners would prefer to avoid the inconvenience associated with replacing any type of flooring in high traffic areas such as hallways and Kitchens.

But what really makes vinyl wood flooring so attractive to handy homeowners is the ease in which these floors are installed. All that is required to install theses floors is a utility knife with a sharp blade and a tape measure. When considering installing one of these floors it's important to know that they can be installed over both a concrete or wood sub-floor. However, the subfloor must be smooth before installing the vinyl flooring. This may require some dash patching or self leveling compounds for concrete subfloors that have noticeable depressions or cracks. It's also recommended to seal the concrete subfloor to protect against moisture before installing a vinyl floor. Over time, excessive moisture can lead to bubbles forming in the vinyl flooring.

To begin the installation it's crucial to determine the center point of the room as your starting point. That way, you're ensured even cuts on both sides of the room and a symmetrical overall layout. Some manufactures offer "peel-n-stick" vinyl flooring meaning the adhesive has already been applied to the back of the vinyl flooring piece. All that's required to install the vinyl plank is to peel off the protective paper and firmly press the plank in place. For vinyl flooring that does not have pre-applied adhesive backing there are several floor glues available on the market that can be substituted instead. Application of the glue requires a 1/16" trowel and usually takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour to set-up. A quick way to determine if the glue is ready is to touch it gently with your finger. If it's tacky to the touch without leaving any residue on your finger, then it's ready to go.

Unlike wood flooring, vinyl wood plank floors don't require a miter saw to complete the cuts around the room. The vinyl material allows planks to be cut to size with nothing more than a good utility knife and an accurate tape measure. For beginning handymen, installing one of these vinyl floors in an Entrance Hall, Kitchen, or even Bathroom could be great first project to tackle.

It's no wonder with installation aspects such as these, plus the overall low cost of vinyl flooring, why these floors are so attractive to the average homeowner. Now, consumers have countless options in styles and colors to choose from when it comes to vinyl wood plank floors. Because it's so easy to install and requires very little tools, even a novice do-it-yourself homeowner could install a vinyl wood plank floor with great results.

Vinylplankflooring is your one stop information resource for floor ideas At vinylplankflooring we know and understand the issues with different types of floors. These articles are written on experience. Let our knowledge help you in making the right floor decisions.

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Vinyl Wood Plank Flooring - It Really is a Great Choice

Vinyl wood plank flooring is today's hottest thing going in the floorcovering industry. You've probably seen it multiple times and didn't even realize it's not real hardwood! Companies such as Earthwerks, Karndean and Nafco all have vinyl wood plank options that simulate the look of various hardwood species. If you're looking to have a beautiful floor with the appearance of hardwood, but with the ease of maintenance of vinyl, this could be the choice you've been looking for! What are the benefits of vinyl wood planks compared to real hardwood?

Cleaning
Vinyl wood plank flooring is simple to clean. Damp mopping with manufacturer approved cleaners does the trick for standard cleaning.

Surface strength
Vinyl plank flooring that looks like hardwood has a very tough top layer. Most styles offered by the 4 major manufacturers have not only residential warranties, but are rated for commercial use as well. Luxury vinyl does excellent against scratches and dents due to the very thick upper layer manufactured from high quality, virgin PVC. If these vinyl planks are good enough to handle traffic for the nation's largest retailer, they should hold amazingly in your kitchen, living room or any other area in your home.

Softness
Ok, I know this one may puzzle you, but some consumers feel that hardwood (and ceramic) looks great but is cold and uncomfortable on bare feet. Vinyl plank floors will offer a softer, warmer feeling for walking on.

Installation time
Hardwood floors, especially unfinished, can take several days to install. Typically, luxury vinyl wood planks can be installed in much less time. Less time to install means less hassle for you the consumer.

Wide selection
The options for a specific wood look are similar between hardwood and vinyl planks. The difference is the cost point. An exotic hardwood species for a floor can be much more expensive that what is offered in vinyl.

The 3 major manufacturers of vinyl wood plank flooring are Karndean, Earthwerks and Nafco. Each of these has products to meet virtually any budget. When shopping for vinyl planks don't miss out on the deals at BecklersCarpet.com on all 3 of these brands of Vinyl Wood Plank flooring.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Eric_M_Dyer