What are the disadvantages of PVC flooring?

14 Apr.,2024

 

PVC flooring is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a synthetic material made of polymer chains. It also features excellent sound insulation properties that keep noise from leaking into your home or office space.

PVC flooring is a flexible, durable, and lightweight material that resists water and stains. The surface is smooth and easy to clean. It comes in a variety of colours and styles, including textured and patterned designs. It is often used in residential settings, but it can also be used in commercial spaces and industrial settings. 

PVC flooring is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a synthetic material made of polymer chains. It also features excellent sound insulation properties that keep noise from leaking into your home or office space. 

Source: Pinterest

Know about: carpet flooring designs

PVC flooring: Uses

PVC flooring is durable and flexible. These qualities make it an excellent choice for many applications, including:

Residential applications 

PVC flooring is ideal for residential spaces because it is waterproof and doesn’t require sealing or maintenance as other materials do. This makes it perfect for basements and other areas where moisture could damage other materials.

Commercial settings 

PVC flooring is also highly durable and easy to clean, so it can be used in commercial settings without worrying about damaging your building’s structure or causing dirt build-up on the floors below them over time. 

Industrial settings 

PVC flooring is also highly resistant to oil, grease, and other contaminants that often get into industrial environments, where they might damage other materials over time if left untreated. PVC flooring is a relatively new product, but it has quickly become the most popular option for commercial and residential flooring.

Source: Pinterest

 

PVC flooring: Advantages

  • It can be installed over concrete or other hard surfaces without the need for a subfloor, which can save you time and money. 

 

  • PVC flooring also offers a long lifespan. Normal conditions can extend its life to 20 years.

 

  • PVC flooring is a popular material for floors in homes, businesses and schools. It is often used in kitchens, bathrooms, and other areas where the floor needs to be durable and has good slip resistance. 

 

  • The most apparent advantage of PVC flooring is that it is waterproof. 

 

  • PVC floors are also easy to clean with simple household items such as soap and water, as well as non-abrasive cleaners such as bleach or ammonia-based cleaners. They can even be hosed off without replacing them with new ones if they get dirty enough.

 

  • Another advantage of using PVC flooring instead of carpeting or other materials such as tile, wood or stone is that it can easily be refinished if you want a different look for your home or business space. There is no need for expensive re-doing costs either.

 

PVC flooring: How can it be disadvantageous?

Vinyl is not environmentally friendly since it is made from petroleum, and chemicals are used in its manufacture. The corners of the flooring may wear over time. If exposed to sunlight, it may also fade. The entire sheet must be replaced if it is damaged.

PVC and other flooring materials

PVC and vinyl are effectively the same thing and refer to a type of flooring material that is known for its durability and versatility. PVC flooring is simply another term used to refer to vinyl flooring.

Here are some of the key features and differences between PVC flooring and other types of flooring materials:

  • Durability: PVC flooring is known for its resistance to scratches, dents, and wear and tear, making it a popular choice for high-traffic areas.

  • Fire safety: Unlike some other flooring materials, PVC flooring contains flame-retardant chemicals, making it a safer option in areas near electrical appliances and sources of fire.

  • Maintenance: PVC flooring may require regular cleaning with specialised cleaners to maintain its appearance and resist staining.

  • Cost: PVC flooring is generally more expensive than other flooring materials but offers a similar range of benefits.

Overall, PVC flooring is a popular and versatile option for those looking to upgrade their flooring, but it’s important to weigh the cost and maintenance requirements when making your decision.

 

FAQs

What is the lifespan of PVC floors?

The average life expectancy of a vinyl floor is 10 to 20 years. But in some cases, it can last even longer.

Is PVC flooring durable?

Yes, PVC flooring is highly durable and resistant to scratches, dents, and wear and tear.

Is PVC flooring fire-resistant?

Yes, PVC flooring is flame-retardant and contains fire-resistant chemicals in its composition.

Is PVC flooring easy to maintain?

While PVC flooring is relatively easy to clean and maintain, it may require the use of specialised cleaners to resist staining and maintain its appearance over time.

Is PVC flooring expensive?

PVC flooring is generally more expensive than other types of flooring materials, but it offers a range of benefits, including durability and versatility. That makes it a popular choice for many homeowners and businesses.

Was this article useful?

  • 😃

     

    (

    0

    )

  • 😐

     

    (

    0

    )

  • 😔

     

    (

    0

    )

Housing News Desk is the news desk of leading online real estate portal, Housing.com. Housing News Desk focuses on a variety of topics such as real estate laws, taxes, current news, property trends, home loans, rentals, décor, green homes, home improvement, etc. The main objective of the news desk, is to cover the real estate sector from the perspective of providing information that is useful to the end-user.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/housing.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Housing

Email: [email protected]

When people are looking for a quick flooring fix, they may be tempted to go with vinyl flooring or PVC flooring for their homes. This is especially true if the area they’re looking to repair is in a part of the home that is exposed to a lot of water, as vinyl flooring does hold up well to moisture. However, these plastic floors do come with downsides. While some are obvious, like lacking natural beauty of hardwood flooring, others might not be apparent to people that aren’t experts. One particularly troublesome downside to vinyl flooring is the hazards to health it might pose.

As flooring experts, we’ll take a short dive into what PVC flooring is and why it can make people sick. 

What is PVC Flooring

PVC flooring is just another term for the more commonly used term vinyl flooring. The acronym PVC stands for polyvinyl chloride, the material that the flooring is made out of. In common use, the word polyvinyl was shortened to vinyl, the term most people are familiar with.

The material polyvinyl chloride is fused and pressed to make strips of plastic flooring that will often be designed to look like wood or some other appealing flooring material like stone or tile. However, PVC strips are normally very thin, often less than half an inch, and while they can be wear-resistant because of the material they’re made from, some complain that it’s almost more like a mat than proper flooring.

Dangers of PVC Flooring

While the durable material vinyl floors are made out of may appeal to some homeowners looking to install it in a room where more damage may be expected, like a kitchen or bathroom, this material does have some downsides, primarily the health concerns that come along with it.

In recent years, more studies have come out linking PVC flooring to health issues like asthma and even rare cancers. The reason for this is the chloride that the name polyvinyl chloride comes from. In order to produce chloride-based plastics, most of these floors are made out of reprocessed plastics to reduce the cost of production, however, these plastics contain toxic chemicals that are released when they get broken down, exposing the material to hazards like lead and phthalates.

Compounding the health risks posed by PVC is that the production of chloride-based plastics itself produces toxic chemicals that can damage the health of anyone exposed to them, specifically the class of chemicals known as dioxins, which are carcinogenic chemicals that can remain in the environment for a long period of time and accumulate in an individual’s body, potentially leading to health issues.

Is PVC Flooring Safe

The safety of vinyl flooring is going to depend on your particular circumstances at home. The chemical toxins in PVC flooring get released into the home as dust and can accumulate in the air, but in a small space that people aren’t often exposed to, this risk will be reduced. However, if you have young children at home you may want to consider the risks associated with vinyl flooring, as children have been shown to get up to 10 times the exposure as adults do because they often spend so much time playing on the floor.

Now that you know a little more about the hazards posed by PVC flooring you’re in a better position to figure out what kind of flooring is best for your home. Every home will have different needs, but as hardwood flooring experts, we are big fans of hardwood.

What are the disadvantages of PVC flooring?

Does Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Flooring Make People Sick?