As the leader in vinyl flooring, Mannington has put together a guide that details everything you need to know about vinyl sheet flooring.
What is Vinyl Sheet?
Vinyl sheet comes in a single roll that are 6-12 feet wide. This limits the number of seams seen after install. It is completely impermeable to water and is similar to linoleum. Vinyl sheet can be made to look just like wood, stone, and slate, or take on its own unique patterns.
Mannington offers two types of Vinyl Sheet:
- Luxury Vinyl Sheet. Luxury vinyl sheet, also referred to as LVS, provides a broad range of natural designs, from realistic wood grains to elegant stones and rustic slates. Each pattern is enhanced with Mannington’s new, exclusive NatureForm® 4G technology for colors that are incredibly crisp and rich; and each is available in your choice of three performance levels: Platinum, Gold, and Silver and all are made in the U.S.
- Resilient Flooring. Resilient flooring, also known as 'vinyl' or ‘felt-backed vinyl’, has been around for decades and is still one of the most popular types of flooring around.It's made using a printing process known as 'rotogravure', which prints a pattern on the flooring substrate via an engraved cylinder. Mannington resilient flooring uses ultra-low VOC, water-based inks and we make all of our vinyl products right here in the U.S.
Benefits of Vinyl Sheet Floors
In addition to their affordability, vinyl sheet floors offer a variety of other benefits and features, including:
- Realistic visuals. Vinyl sheet can be designed to look like other more expensive flooring options. From encaustic tile to marble, stone, wood and slate, your options for choices are virtually limitless.
- Easy to clean & maintain. As with any type of flooring, vinyl sheet requires the occasional cleaning but overall it’s very easy to clean & maintain.
- Extremely durable. Vinyl sheet is often compared to linoleum flooring, but it is stronger and longer-lasting. It doesn’t scratch or stain easily, which makes it kid and pet-friendly.
- Ample variety. If you’re looking for flooring that’s going to help your home stand out from the others in your neighborhood, vinyl sheet is your answer. Because vinyl sheet is available in a wide variety of realistic styles like unique designs, wood, stone, and slate, it’s easy to create a floor that’s uniquely yours.
- Waterproof. Our vinyl sheet can be used anywhere, but they’re especially ideal for rooms like kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms and mudrooms.
- Not permanent and expertly laid out for you. Vinyl sheet is especially great for homeowners who like to change up their décor style frequently as it’s not permanent. Bonus: when our in-house styling team creates our vinyl sheet they expertly layout the design so there’s no guesswork during installation.
- Budget friendly. Get the style you love for a lower price point than other flooring categories.
- *Made in the USA. Mannington vinyl sheet floors are proudly made in the USA.
- *FloorScore® Certified. All Mannington floors are independently tested and meet stringent indoor air quality standards and low VOCs.
*When looking for vinyl sheet floors, be sure to do your research especially around these topics. Mannington offers floors with these attributes, but not every flooring manufacturer does.
Cleaning Vinyl Sheet
Vinyl is one of the easiest floors to clean and maintain. Here’s how:
- Wipe spills up immediately. Vinyl is a great flooring option for moisture-prone rooms, but it shouldn't be in contact with moisture for that long. If something spills or puddles on your vinyl, wipe it up right away to prevent staining.
- Weekly cleanings are perfect. Use a dry duster or vacuum to remove any dust and loose debris from your vinyl surface. Then, using a wet mop and gentle cleaning solution designed for vinyl floors, remove any stuck-on debris. If you prefer to use a more natural cleaner, combine vinegar with water and use that instead. To fight tougher stains, like those caused by fruit juice, ketchup, or wine, a paste of baking soda and water will remove the appearance of those stains. For tougher stains caused by ink or crayons, use rubbing alcohol and a soft-bristle brush to gently lift the marks.
- Additional tips. Sweep your floor regularly. When mopping, only use polish or "mop and shine" products if you wish to make the floor shiny as vinyl sheet floors have a low gloss.
Other Care and Maintenance Tips:
There are few easy ways to protect your Vinyl Sheet flooring:
- Use a doormat outside your home’s entrances
- Close your curtains and blinds when sunlight can directly hit the floor
- Support furniture with flooring protectors
- Use runways to protect floors when moving furniture or heavy objects
Misconceptions About Vinyl Flooring
As one of the most affordable options on the flooring market, vinyl sometimes gets a bad reputation. Below, Mannington clears up some of the most common myths associated with vinyl floors:
- Vinyl is dated and/or ugly. Vinyl sheet floors aren’t like their 70’s ancestors! Today’s vinyl flooring comes in a wide variety of options. You can even find vinyl flooring that mimics the appearance of hardwood or tile.
- Vinyl is flimsy and cheap. Like any other type of flooring, not all vinyl sheet is created equal. There are some bargain friendly brands that won’t stand the test of time, but all the vinyl that Mannington offers is extremely durable and resistant to stains, moisture, scratches, and general wear and tear.
- Vinyl will eventually lose its design. Many homeowners think that vinyl sheet flooring comes with a risk of walk-off, which is the idea that after years of use, the design wears off the vinyl. Today’s vinyl is made with a protective top coat that helps keep the printed image of the design intact.
Installing Vinyl Sheet
Vinyl sheet installation methods simplify the process and let installers match the installation technique to the jobsite conditions. Jobsite conditions to consider are:
- Temperature
- Structure
- Type of subfloor
- Moisture levels
- Existing floor coverings
Vinyl sheet can be installed using methods like permanent bond, releasable bond or loose lay. We recommend having vinyl sheet floors professionally installed but if you plan to install the flooring yourself, be sure to seek luxury vinyl sheet or resilient installation instructions from the flooring manufacturer.
Discover which luxury vinyl sheet or resilient floor is right for you and visit a local Mannington retailer today.