Luxury Vinyl
Elegant design. Exceptional durability.
Browse our various informational pieces about Vinyl, including benefits, care and maintenance, and installation! Access our Shaw Catalog. You can also find the various brands we carry and some other articles.
BENEFITS OF Vinyl
Vinyl is fashionable, high-tech flooring that offers outstanding advantages to our style-, quality-, and budget-conscious customers. In recent years, there have been amazing advancements in the quality and design of this durable, desirable flooring.
More Benefits
Benefits Of VinylBenefits Of VinylEveryone loves the look of hard-surface floors. wood, for example, is beautiful and comfortable, conveying a natural, easy luxury. Tile and stone floors have the same appeal.
For decades, consumers seeking an alternative to natural wood, tile, and stone surfaces didn’t have a great many stylish choices. Vinyl and laminate products were, in the past, popular for their budget-friendliness and ease of installation, but no one claimed they were as fashionable as real wood or tile.
Today, that has changed.
Luxury vinyl tile (lvt) and Vinyl sheet flooring have evolved into sophisticated products that high-end clients are choosing over wood and tile because the new products look so similar to the natural surfaces they mimic. They perform extremely well and cost less.
Foster Owen, an interior designer with Clifton carpets in Dallas, Texas, has watched this trend evolve. “the look of these floors has progressed so much with technology,” he says. “people think they are walking on wood.”Benefits of Vinyl available in a fabulous assortment of designs, colors, and textures, Vinyl flooring brings you exciting new styles that create beautiful rooms. This type of floor is moisture resistant, impervious to most stains, and easy to clean. Vinyl flooring doesn’t need to be waxed—its top layer is made to stay shiny. Heavy traffic is no problem, because these floors not only handle lots of activity, they’re actually resistant to scratches. Vinyl flooring is … Vinyl. It’s flexible and comfortable underfoot, and there’s less breakage when items are dropped. The price tag is usually a very pleasant surprise.
You can choose from several alternatives in look and construction. There’s direct-glue sheet flooring for durable performance and seamless appearance. Or you may prefer luxury vinyl tile or luxury vinyl planks in either direct-glue or floating constructions. Ask one of our sales staff to help you decide which of these options will best suit your space. Trillium 515 Crocus Technology improved look
Foster remembers an LVT in the 1970s and 1980s made to look like brick, with a herringbone pattern and grout lines. That product fell out of favor, along with similar faux looks.
But in recent years, rapidly advancing high-tech processes have transformed LVT and Vinyl sheet flooring into products that look like the real thing. such products are available at several price points, with the most expensive lines offering the most realistic look.
One significant change is that LVT and Vinyl sheet flooring no longer have to have the look of perfection that has long been the giveaway that the products were Vinyl. Higher-end LVT can effectively mimic distressed and antique floors, Foster says. With products designed to look like wood, longer planks placed irregularly give a look of authenticity, he says.
These products are now found in upscale homes and commercial spaces, a far cry from Vinyl’s origin as a homey, economical option.
They’re still offering a look for less money than the real thing,” Foster says of the higher-end LVT products. “The price difference is enough of a difference to sway people’s minds. Plus it’s easy to clean and not easily damaged.” Earth-friendly, family-friendlyToday’s consumers are increasingly interested in earth-friendly flooring. the new LVT and Vinyl sheet flooring products address these concerns by using virgin vinyl that doesn’t release harmful VOCs and adhesives that don’t have fumes. some can be installed without any adhesive at all. Because the products are durable and have a timeless look, they’ll last for decades and not end up in a landfill as quickly.
Foster sees a bright future for LVT and Vinyl sheet flooring, buoyed by high-tech processes that enable the products to evolve and remain fashionable amid changing consumer tastes.
“Somebody doing fabulous interiors may want stone, marble, or wood because not everybody is going to want a faux look,” he says. “But for most people, the LVT and vinyl sheet flooring products are going to offer the right look and appealing features for the money.”
CARE & MAINTENANCE OF Vinyl
Although Vinyl floors are, by their nature, highly durable and easy-care, all floors need a bit of routine maintenance to keep them looking new longer. Here are a few general tips.
Vinyl Care Tips
Please be sure to reference your Vinyl floor warranty for specific care requirements! For your general information, however, here are some basic tips and facts:
As needed, sweep your floor to remove dirt and grit.
Wipe spills promptly.
Mop occasionally using a special cleaner we can recommend-just ask your sales associate for guidance.
Avoid using detergent or soap-based products, which will dim the shine.
Most Vinyl floors have finishes that do not require additional buffing, shining, or waxing-these actions, in fact, might harm the finish.
Vinyl floors can be slippery when wet, so use caution when walking on them after mopping.
INSTALLATION OF Vinyl
We help you every step of the way after you’ve selected your new floor: professional on-site measurement, removal of old flooring, and skilled installation. We do it all expertly, so your floor will look amazing and give lasting satisfaction. Learn the particulars about Vinyl installation here.
Before & During Install
Before Installation
Merrimac Plank Luxury Vinyl Tile by Shaw
You want a problem-free installation and, to help ensure it, here’s a checklist of things to do before the installer arrives.
Make sure you know who’s removing your existing flooring. If you wish, the installer will do it. If not, you should make arrangements to have it removed.
Who’s moving the furniture? Decide in advance if you want to take on the responsibility or if you want the installer to handle it. Either way, be sure to remove all fragile items from the room.
In general, your Vinyl plank flooring should run parallel to windows or, in narrow rooms, to the longest wall.
Measure door clearances before you have your Vinyl installed. If the new floor is thicker than your existing floor, door bottoms may rub. Plan in advance to have someone shave or saw the correct amount off the bottom of each door so it does not drag.
Paint first. If you’re planning to paint, wallpaper, or do any other remodeling in the room, it’s best to do it before your Vinyl is installed. Keep extra paint to touch up any post-installation nicks.
During Installation
Carriage House Resilient by Shaw
To make your Vinyl floor look good now and for a long time to come, proper installation is critical. Here’s the procedure an experienced installation professional will follow:
Current flooring: A professional installer will start with a flat surface, which may require extensive prep work—such as removing the existing floor or installing a new subfloor on top of an existing floor. Sometimes, however, Vinyl flooring can be installed directly on top of what you already have. Your installer will have the experience to know the best way to proceed.
Moisture testing: Vinyl flooring is less sensitive to moisture than hardwood, but the existing subfloor will still need to be tested so that moisture-related problems can be avoided later. • Installation method: In floating floors, as the name suggests, planks are attached to each other, not to the subfloor. Glue-down floors require greater installation skill for the exacting process of adhesive application. As discussed below, room shape can also be problematic.
Room shape: The configuration of a room can be a challenge, requiring precise measurement, cutting, and placement of flooring—another reason why proper installation by a professional will give you high-quality results.
It’s a good idea to check with us directly to find out if there are other actions we recommend before installation. Just call a member of our friendly sales staff.
Our Tile & Stone Brands
Celeste Floors
Trucor Floors
Shaw Floors
Hallmark Floors
Armstrong
SouthWind
Mowhawk
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