Vinyl flooring is durable, affordable and easy to install

Vinyl is commonly confused with other types of flooring such as laminate flooring. Luxury vinyl tile and planks are increasingly popular due to their versatility, ability to hold up in moist environments says Kumpal Vaid, Founder and Principal Designer, Purple Backyard.

What are the different kinds of flooring available in the contemporary timeline?
There are mainly five types of flooring available and they are as follows.
• Hardwood: Solid hardwood flooring consists of boards milled from a single piece of wood. Engineered hardwood flooring consists of a multi-layer base (made of compressed wood, resin and polymers) with real hardwood on the surface. It can be significantly less expensive than solid hardwood.
• Laminated flooring: Laminate flooring delivers the look of real wood, tile or stone flooring at an affordable price, with less maintenance involved. With scratch-resistant, waterproof, noise-resistant and heated options available in a variety of stylish, easy-to-install options, laminate flooring has grown in popularity.
• Vinyl flooring
• Natural Stone flooring: Granite, marble, slate and other surfaces that have an elegant appearance but can be expensive
• Tile flooring: Vitrified tiles are hard, virtually nonporous and impervious to stains and scratches, making them ideal indoors as well as outdoors. The dye mixed in the clay before it is fired gives the tile a uniform colour right through, so even if the tile is scratched, the colour will stay the same.

Ceramic tile is made from clay and is durable enough for most rooms of the house while having a softer, more comfortable walking surface compared to other tiles. Porcelain tile is fired at a higher temperature than ceramic tile, making it more durable, less porous and more water-resistant than ceramic, but also more expensive. Other types of tiles include mosaic glass, metal, cement and engineered tile, which are created with limestone, bits of marble and the other materials, like epoxy.

As a professional, what kind of products and brands do you prefer?
We prefer brands or products that allow for some customisation or ease of use and installation.

When it comes to flooring, how can one make the right choice on a defined budget?
The points to consider while making the right choice for flooring are; what’s the area of application? Is it a wet area or an area that’s high on moisture? Is it a heavy traffic area? and do you have pets? A few of these questions will help you narrow in on flooring and within that category, you’ll find options of the different price range.

What is your take on laminate flooring, what kind of projects is it most suitable for?
Laminate is a synthetic product that simulates the look of real hardwood. It can have an authentic wood floor appearance that makes it popular with homeowners who like the style of hardwood but want to spend less money on flooring. Although it is a budget-friendly flooring type, laminate does not perform well when it comes to moisture. Some types of laminate have water-resistant properties, but these flooring options are not waterproof and will become seriously damaged if the water sits on them for an extended period of time.

Advantages of using laminate flooring:
• One of the major benefits of choosing laminate flooring is the comfortable feel underfoot. You may not think of this feature as a significant factor in your decision about which flooring type to choose, but the underfoot feel can have a big impact on whether you enjoy walking on your floors day in and day out. Laminate has a thick composition that includes wood content, which helps it to feel warmer and slightly soft.
• Many homeowners prefer the look of laminate to that of vinyl. Although both flooring types come in a range of styles, colours, and patterns, laminate typically features better imagery or embossing that gives the floors a more realistic look. Generally, homeowners will choose laminate over vinyl for highly visible areas of their homes, such as entryways, living rooms, and dining rooms.

On the other hand, there is also a disadvantage of using laminate flooring as it doesn’t last as long as vinyl. In many cases, laminate floors need to be replaced within 4-6 years of installation. The upside is that the initial cost of laminate floors is sometimes lower. If you’re on a tight budget, laminate flooring allows you to give your floors a fresh new look for less money.

Sheet, tiles or planks, which is the most lucid way to achieve perfect vinyl flooring, on what basis should the selection be made?
Vinyl flooring is a synthetic flooring material that is durable, affordable and easy to install. Vinyl is commonly confused with other types of flooring such as laminate flooring. Luxury vinyl tile and planks are increasingly popular due to their versatility, ability to hold up in moist environments and realistic wood plank and stone tile appearance. People love vinyl flooring for many reasons. It’s affordable, durable and water-resistant flooring. It’s also available is many attractive textures, colours and styles that will match just about any room.

Vinyl flooring comes in sheets, tiles and planks which make for easy DIY installation. It’s also a great flooring option for bathrooms or laundry rooms since it won’t stain and withstands humidity well. Vinyl flooring also has its drawbacks. The manufacturing process uses toxic chemicals, and some vinyl flooring may off-gas VOCs after installation. It’s also difficult to repair if something punctures or scratches the floor. Homeowners shouldn’t expect to see any return on their vinyl flooring investment if they plan to sell the house. Lastly, vinyl flooring may look real thanks to modern technology, but it’s very hard to achieve that “real” feel of hardwood or slate with vinyl flooring that emulates those types of finishes.

Kindly tell us about the recent projects you are working on?
We are currently working on an apartment where we are exploring the use of different natural stone materials for floors and walls. An office space that talks about the multi-utility aspect for workspaces. Exploration of materials and innovative brands is a continuous tone at the studio with all aspects of any fit-out or space that we work on.

23