There's more to selecting your vinyl flooring than determining how you want the floor to look. The type of vinyl flooring you choose (sheet, tile or plank) can determine both the ease and the method of installation. The way the flooring is constructed (inlaid or rotogravure) affects how durable the floor will be, while the top layer (vinyl no-wax, urethane or enhanced urethane) plays a role in how simple your vinyl floor will be to maintain and how long it will last.

Until the mid–1980s, almost all vinyl tiles contained asbestos. These asbestos–containing tiles were available in 9x9 and 12x12 sizes with widths of 1/8" or thinner. If your pre–existing vinyl floors date back to the 1980s or before and you plan to remove them before installing new ones, it's important to contact a professional to do so.

Vinyl flooring's popularity has remained consistent up to the modern day. Ongoing advances in vinyl flooring technology like slip resistant surfaces and static conductivity have kept vinyl flooring relevant to the modern flooring consumer. With its easy installation and maintenance, wide selection of color and pattern choices, and long–lasting durability, vinyl flooring is expected to remain at the forefront of the resilient flooring industry for years to come.

Sheet vinyl is the most popular type of vinyl flooring. It is generally available in 6 to 12–foot rolls. This type of floor is great for quickly covering large areas without having a lot of seams where dirt and moisture can gather. Seamless surfaces are actually very moisture–resistant. If your flooring project requires multiple sheets of vinyl, seams can be sealed with chemical bonding or heat welding.

The size of sheet vinyl can make it difficult to handle, so sheet flooring installation is typically done by a professional flooring installer. Sheet vinyl comprises 85–90% of vinyl flooring sales.

Vinyl Flooring ConstructionVinyl flooring is created in one of the following ways:

•Homogenous or Solid: Homogenous (solid) vinyl is uniform in structure and composition throughout, with no added backing.
•Inlaid: Inlaid vinyl is made by adding granules of vinyl to a vinyl backing and heating them with the wear (surface) layer. This creates colors and patterns that will last even if the surface layer begins to wear down.
•Layered composite: Layered composite vinyl is the most common type of vinyl flooring. It consists of four distinct layers. The backing (bottom) layer is vinyl, fiberglass or felt. This layer is covered with a core layer of liquid polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and filler, which is topped with a decorative layer and a wear layer of protective, clear vinyl.

•Rotogravure: In this process, also called rotovinyl, a pattern is printed onto the vinyl floor's core layer, with a clear wear layer added on top of that. A variety of designs and patterns are available, giving you a great deal of options for your floor. Since the pattern is only printed on the core layer, however, the durability of the wear layer will affect how long the floor maintains its original appearance.
•Inlaid: Vinyl granules or chips make up inlaid vinyl floors, creating a unique color and pattern. These materials go all the way to the floor's backing layer, making this type of vinyl floor especially durable. True inlaid vinyl floors come in 6–foot wide rolls only. If you find inlaid vinyl floors in 12–foot wide rolls, beware: some of the color may actually be part of the wear layer.
Vinyl Flooring Wear LayersThe wear layer atop your vinyl floor dictates the longevity and amount of maintenance you'll have to put forth, so be sure to know what to ask for.

•Vinyl no–wax: The least durable of the three, your floor will nonetheless resist scrapes, scuffs, and some stains. It also sports a much smoother finish. Required maintenance includes regular washing and a good polishing from time to time to restore shine.
•Urethane (PVC): Urethane surfaces will keep their "like new" appearance longer than most vinyl no–wax surfaces, as well as resist stains, scrapes, scuffs, and heel marks. It has a more textured surface, which sometimes simulates tile or stone patterns.
•Enhanced Urethane: This most durable of wear layers resists staining from many common household elements. Since grime and dirt will not stick to this type of surface, the only maintenance needed is an occasional sweep or mopping. Watch out for fading, which may occur if your vinyl floors are exposed to strong sunlight.

Vinyl flooring comes in a legion of colors, patterns and design options. It is affordable and easy to clean, making it a fantastic choice for your flooring project. 
 
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Vinyl flooring, like cork and linoleum, falls into the family of resilient flooring. Basically, vinyl flooring will add a little spring to your step, and not just because it is such a beautiful and affordable flooring material. Vinyl is flexible, and this resiliency makes this type of flooring more comfortable to walk and stand on.