Manufacturers

Armstrong | Congoleum | IVC | Mannington

Benefits of Resilient/LVT Flooring

Resilient-vinyl is fashionable, high-tech flooring that offers outstanding advantages in style and quality for budget-conscious consumers. In recent years, there have been amazing advancements in the quality and design of this durable, desirable flooring.

• Available in a fabulous assortment of designs, colors, and textures, resilient flooring brings you exciting new styles that create stunning rooms.
• This type of floor is moisture resistant, impervious to most stains, and easy to clean.
• Resilient flooring does not need to be waxed because 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 and scuffing.
• Resilient flooring is … resilient. It is flexible as well as comfortable underfoot, and there is less breakage when items are dropped.
• The price tag is generally a very pleasant surprise when compared with other flooring options.

You can choose from several alternatives in look and construction. There is direct-glue sheet flooring for durable performance and seamless appearance. Or you may prefer luxury vinyl tile (LVT) or luxury vinyl planks in either direct-glue or floating constructions. Call or stop in to our Chantilly, VA showroom to ask one of our friendly staff members to help you determine which of these options will best suit your space.

A Brief History of Resilient Flooring

Everyone loves the look of hard-surface floors. For example, hardwood is lustrous and comfortable, conveying a natural, easy luxury. Tile and stone floors have similar appeal.

For decades, consumers looking for an alternative to natural wood, tile, and stone surfaces didn’t have very many choices, let alone stylish ones. Vinyl and laminate products were, in the past, popular for their budget friendliness as well as their ease of installation, but no one claimed they were as fashionable as real wood or tile.

Today, that has changed.

In recent years, rapidly advancing high-tech processes have transformed LVT and resilient sheet flooring into products that look like the real thing. Such products are available in several price points, with the most expensive lines offering the most realistic look.

One significant change is that LVT and resilient sheet flooring no longer have to have the look of perfection that used to be the giveaway that the flooring was resilient. Higher-end LVT can effectively mimic distressed and antique floors.

Luxury vinyl tile (LVT) and resilient sheet flooring have evolved into high-end products that savvy clients are selecting over wood and tile, because the new products look so similar to the natural surfaces they mimic. They perform extremely well and cost less.

The Family and Eco-Friendly Flooring Option

Today’s consumers are increasingly interested in eco-friendly flooring. The new LVT and resilient sheet flooring products address these concerns by using virgin vinyl that doesn’t release harmful VOCs as well as adhesives that do not have fumes. Some can be installed without any adhesive at all. Because the products are durable and have a timeless look, they will last for decades and not end up in a landfill nearly as quickly.

Care & Maintenance of Resilient Flooring

Although resilient-vinyl floors are naturally very durable and resistant to wear, all floors need a little bit of routine maintenance to keep them looking new longer. Here are a few general tips. Please be sure to reference your specific warranty for tailored care requirements!

• As needed, sweep your floor to remove dirt and grit.
• Wipe up spills promptly.
• Mop occasionally using a special cleaner (Call us for recommendations.)
• Avoid using detergent or soap-based products, which will dull the shine.
• Most resilient-vinyl floors have finishes that do not require additional buffing, shining, or waxing-these actions, in fact, might harm the finish.
• Resilient-vinyl floors can be slippery when wet, so use caution when walking on them after mopping.

Installation of Resilient Flooring

BEFORE INSTALLATION
To help insure a trouble-free installation day, follow this 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. Minimize dust by vacuuming your old carpet before it’s removed and, after it’s up, vacuum the floor thoroughly.

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, and don’t leave anything—such as drapery or plants—hanging over the installation area.

Generally, your resilient-vinyl plank flooring should run parallel to windows or, in narrow rooms, to the longest wall.

Measure door clearances before you have your carpet 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 carpet is installed. Keep extra paint to touch up any post-installation nicks.

DURING INSTALLATION
To make sure your resilient-vinyl floor looks good now and for a long time to come, proper installation is of the utmost importance. This is the procedure that an experienced installation professional will follow:

Current flooring: A professional installer will start with a flat surface. This may require extensive prep work—such as removing the existing floor or installing a new subfloor on top of an existing floor. However, in certain cases resilient-vinyl flooring can be installed directly over top of what you already have. Your installer will have the experience to know the best way to proceed.

Moisture testing: Resilient-vinyl flooring is less sensitive to moisture than hardwood, but the existing subfloor still needs 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, yet another reason why proper installation by a professional will give you the highest-quality results.

It is a great idea to check with us directly to find out if there are other actions we recommend before installation. Call us today for more information or for a free quote!