Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl, or resilient flooring offers the perfect combination of beauty, maintenance and durability. Many homeowners still use the term "linoleum" for resilient sheet vinyl. Modern resilient flooring has come a long way from the days of linoleum.. The vinyl flooring materials available today offer a wide variety of styles, patterns and colors. Because these materials incorporate modern plastics, they can also be extremely durable. They resist scratching from normal wear and tear and resist even tough stains. Vinyl is often a popular choice for high traffic and well-used rooms such as kitchens, bathrooms and rec rooms. Most vinyl flooring offers no-wax performance and easy maintenance - vacuuming or mopping is usually all that is necessary.

The Process
Modern vinyl flooring is manufactured in layers, much like a layer cake. Colors and patterns are incorporated in the middle layers. Vinyl flooring gets its durability from its upper layer, called the wearlayer. This wearlayer is often a clear vinyl resin available in different thicknesses. In general, the thicker the wearlayer, the more expensive and longer lasting the product will be.

Gloss, Bounce & Irregularities
Many vinyl floors have a very high gloss. This gloss is often achieved by adding a urethane on the top of the clear, vinyl wearlayer. These urethanes are often as durable as those which are used on hardwood flooring.

Many vinyl floors today have a bounce or cushioning quality. This is achieved by incorporating a thin layer of foam in the bottom of the product. If you intend to spend a great deal of time standing or walking in the room where the vinyl will be installed, such as a kitchen, your legs and back will appreciate this extra cushioning.

Some vinyl products are designed to help you reduce the effects of irregularities in your subfloor and can help reduce subfloor preparation costs. In fact, some of these products can be installed over your existing flooring.

Installation
Depending on the size of your room, you may be able to install your vinyl floor in one large piece. Many patterns and styles are available in 12 foot widths. If, however, your room is wider than 12 feet, this does not pose a problem. Special glues, also called seam sealers, have been developed to join pieces of vinyl together so the finished look will look like one solid piece.

In general, vinyl flooring offers one of the most economical of all flooring choices. If you are considering vinyl for your home, you'll be pleased with the wide selection of patterns, styles and colors now available. There are now more options in vinyl floor covering than ever before. With all the choices available, you'll be sure to find the perfect look to coordinate with your decor at Big Bob's.