Worried about planning, cost and design for new flooring for your HDB flat or condominium floor? Vinyl is most definitely one of the most sought after flooring material in Singapore and for a very good reason; it is very cheap, hard-wearing and very easy to clean. Vinyl now has many upgraded printing methods which make it possible to replicate the wood and tile looks to the interior design of one’s choice.
If you are looking for the best vinyl flooring that will suit the areas with high traffic in your home in Singapore, click on this link for more information.
Elements to Look at When Selecting Vinyl Flooring
1. Durability
Vinyl is one of the most durable flooring solutions, mostly due to the fact that it is a multi-layer material. This part of the vinyl comprises of the thickest wear layer which shields the floor from scratching, staining and deterioration due to the effects of light and heat. General traffic area such as hallways, entrances, and common or living areas require a thicker wear layer of vinyl that is 0. 55mm and above. The more dense it is, the longer it will hold on to its appearance and not show signs of scratches.
2. Underfoot Comfort
Among them, cushioned vinyl is the most comfortable underfoot and recommended for such areas as the kitchen since you are likely to spend long hours standing on it. It has an extra layer of foam along the back of the seat that provides support in the ergonomically correct area. For the best results when it comes to indoor air quality, choose vinyl flooring with a low VOC, or volatile organic compound, rating.
3. Design Styles
Today, the prints for vinyl floors are so developed that anyone would be fooled. It seriously surprises you to find vinyl types that give a near perfect mimic of actual hardwood or natural stone tile. Depending on the specific aesthetic of the room you want to design – whether you desire a sleek, clean minimalism or a warm and homely scandi-living room – there is a vinyl design to suit.
Bring some small portions of the chosen floor colour and pattern home to see how it looks in the light of the interiors. Maintain flooring continuity across from one room to the other to ensure the look is flowing.
4. Waterproofing Abilities
By its very nature, all vinyl has inherent water resistance so it is ideal for zones that are more prone to dampness such as the bathroom and laundry. For these wet rooms, search for vinyl that is labelled as 100% waterproof with a separate treatment or has water-resistant coating. This helps to avoid gotton and damage from such things as water spills.
5. Underfloor Heating Compatibility
When selecting vinyl for a home that has underfloor heating, it is advisable to get one that compatible with the heating systems. In general, if the vinyl flooring thickness is below 2mm, the thermal conductivity provided is adequate. The floor temperature should not be above 27 degree Celsius The owner should discuss with the manufacturer to determine whether the vinyl product is suitable for use with underfloor heating.
6. Level of Maintenance
The biggest Strength of Vinyl Flooring is that it’s low maintenance or in other words, it doesn’t need much care! The type of cleaning that is required is sweeping and damp mopping as they will suffice for daily cleaning. Just make sure to clean up all the dropages and ensure that they do not leave stains and swollen edges in the future. Avoid using acidic or strong alkaline cleaning agents.
In the long term care vinyl flooring also provides occasional buffing and reapplication of acrylic sealant. This works like a shield that prevents the area from being stained by spills and developing scratches on the surface. Schedule for intense cleaning on at least once per year to help the floor maintain its appearance.
Top Picks of Vinyl Floor In Singapore
1. LVT stands for Luxury Vinyl Tiles/Planks
If you would prefer to get a feel of the natural material such as wood or stones then LVT would be the best for you. In today’s society print engineering produces very realistic looking like textures on high quality vinyl. LVT also offers a more durable form of vinyl, thus ideal for use in public places that receive huge traffic.
2. Sheet Vinyl
Sheet vinyl also has a similar form of installation as linoleum flooring because it is available in rolls. This is the least expensive option and is recommended for utility spaces like laundry and storeroom that only require a simple wash with water and a clean cloth. It is also suitable for forming a level floor of one large area with minimal visible seams from tiles as in sheet vinyl. It’s always best to just not move very large appliances directly across the surface of sheet vinyl that may scratch it.
3. Vinyl Tiles
It is the simplest and cheapest type of Vinyl tiles. They are available in dimensions such as 30cm x 30 cm squares, which are relatively easy for do-it-yourself mounting. Their surface can look like ceramic tiles but in addition to the sound insulation in this case will be better. Nonslip vinyl tiles can be used in bedrooms or play areas. Just ensure that the base material is plain vinyl as opposed to PVC based materials which emit an unpleasant colour after sometime.
4. Cushioned Vinyl
Cushioned vinyl flooring refers to a PVC vinyl flooring that has an additional layer of foam beneath the vinyl top layer. This provides soft feel under feet, best acoustic and thermal insulation specifically on cold surfaces. It can be recommended to create a warm atmosphere in the bedroom space and become the best option for it. Foremost, springy cushioned vinyl offers anti-fatigue characteristics especially in areas such as kitchens and laundry functionalities that require standing for long hours.
Vinyl flooring is an excellent choice for homes and businesses in Singapore as it is affordable, durable, easy to clean, and does not require professional installation.
There are two major vinyl types: sheet vinyl as an elastic material produced as rolls of strips and Vinyl tile as inflexible click-fit tiles/planks. Both are fairly simple to do if you have some knowledge and experience in tiling, and can be done as DIY projects. Here is the standard procedure:Here is the standard procedure:
- Prepare the existing floor by making it clean and free from any irregularities by sanding down. By using the floor patching compound one should level any uneven area.
- Install the underlayment. This type of vinyl has a cushioned backing with the padding built right into the floor meaning no additional underlayment is needed. Tiles are normally provided with anti-slip underlay because they are subjected to shifting.
- For sheet vinyl to be installed start from one corner of the room and unroll it all over the room. Trim edges once fitted. After spreading adhesive on the substrate surfaces, the flooring must be installed while the glue is still wet.
- For vinyl planks, install the flooring row by row spreading it gradually while leaving a gap at the edges of the planks. Cut them in shapes that would suit the irregular edges of the walls and gaps. Couplers of the interlocking tongues and grooves should fit tightly into the complementary part. Stagger the joints randomly.
- Floor trims and scribe pieces should be set after 24 hours to avoid rough edges on walls and other vertical surfaces. Do not install flooring directly beneath cabinets that are likely to be loaded with a lot of weight.
Finally, wait for a week before subjecting the new floor to high traffic as this would allow the adhesive to set properly. Do not slide massive objects on such floors and objects which have sharp edges that will scratch the upper layer.
Guidelines to follow when cleaning Vinyl Flooring
- Clean regularly either through mopping with water or washing with clean cloth moistened with water. Never pour water over the floor and all the other floors.
- It has also been reported that, one should clean up any liquid spills as soon as they can before the liquid can get to the under side of the vinyl.
- Do not heat above the temperature of 70 degrees C Heat should not be applied directly on the carpet floor Use floor protector pads below decorative furniture items.
- Reduced light penetration by using window tints as the sun damages vinyl in the long run.
- Use outdoor and indoor mats in areas where people walk with shoes to minimize the tendency of scratching surfaces in the rooms.
Avoid making your own homemade cleaners from scratch especially those that use wax or contain an alkali formulation to clean vinyl floors; rather opt for the specially formulated vinyl floor cleaners that are wax-free.
In addition, it’s advisable to reapply floor sealer once a year to give a better protection and sheen for the floor especially for those with topical scratch marks.
For LVT flooring, repair single pieces that have been damaged instead of replacing the whole floor. Save spare pieces.
If installed properly and maintained, the premium vinyl flooring can remain as elegant and pristine as the day it was installed for more than a decade and a half, outlasting natural wood and laminates. Furthermore, one should think about such factors as durability, a number of styles, affordable prices, and easy care of vinyl when deciding on the new flooring type. Realistic and appealing floor finishes such as vinyl will prove practical in your home’s heavily traversed areas including hallways and dry kitchens in Singapore.
