What is Vinyl Sheet?
Vinyl sheet is a layered construction sold in 6' and 12' widths.
There are two types of construction, typically described by the type of backing:
Felt represents over 90% of vinyl sheet floors sold today.
Fiberglass is a newer construction format. Fiberglass is the "cushiest" form of vinyl flooring and offers the most installation options.
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The uppermost layers for both types are identical:
A) Protective top coat: Urethane or other high-performance top coats which make the product easy to clean and resist scratches and scuffs.
B) Protective clear vinyl layer: Adds durability and helps protect against rips, tears and gouges. The thicker this layer, the better the performance. The flooring's appearance retention and general durability is largely dependent on the quality and thickness of the clear wear layer.
C) Printed vinyl design layer: The rotogravure printing process offers an unlimited range of patterns and designs, including very realistic interpretations of natural materials.
The bottom layers for both constructions differ:
D) Felt: Felt bottom layer that adheres to the subfloor.
D) Fiberglass: A fiberglass structural layer makes the product more dimensionally stable (will not curl, allows it to lay flat, and install without glue). A cushiony vinyl backing provides added underfoot comfort.
Keep In Mind:
· The type of backing determines how it can be installed
What is Vinyl Tile?
Vinyl tile is a composite, layered construction consisting of:
A) Protective wear layer: Urethane and other high-performance wear layers make the product easy to clean and resist scratches and scuffs. Enhanced urethane offers the maximum amount of protection and is priced above regular urethane.
Less expensive vinyl no-wax tile does not have this protective wear layer.
B) Protective clear film layer: This film adds durability and helps protects against rips, tears and gouges.
C) Printed design layer: On this layer, a rotogravure printing process creates the myriad of designs available in vinyl tile. The visuals range from very realistic interpretations of natural materials to original and unique patterns.
D) Vinyl tile backing: This bottom-most layer adds structural strength and durability. Generally the thicker the backing, the more durable the product. |
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