There are many materials for finishing floors, but vinyl tile stands out among them. It is excellent for kitchens and bathrooms, as the material is ideal for wet rooms. Vinyl tile has a complex structure, consisting of a protective, decorative and main layers. The protective layer is a transparent coating that protects the material from moisture, mechanical influences and aggressive environments. The decorative layer is also made of a vinyl base and is necessary for drawing a picture or a pattern. Its homogeneity, clarity and high adhesion is provided by special dyes. The base layer is represented by two layers: a base layer and a stabilizing layer. They are necessary to ensure that the surface of the floor permanently remains smooth. This is provided by a mixture of polyvinyl chloride, vinyl and fillers with plasticizers.
Advantages and disadvantages of the material
Every year the material is gaining popularity due to the fact that its quality and characteristics are improving. It has various advantages, including:
- ease of installation and maintenance;
- durability (due to the multi-layer structure);
- antibacterial protection (a special coating protects against bacteria and does not allow them to reproduce);
- resistance to moisture and temperature fluctuations, which allows you to cover the material “warm floor”;
- ease of maintenance and repair;
- wear resistance;
- resistance to mechanical stress (dents, cracks and chips are not formed at point impact)
- ease of cutting, allowing you to obtain a variety of drawings;
- Low weight, which facilitates transportation and laying of the coating;
- the possibility of laying on any basis;
- the variety of colors, patterns and textures.
Although vinyl floor tile is considered an excellent material, it has several drawbacks: unnatural composition, laboriousness and high cost of installation of some types of coating (on the mastic). When installing it is very important to qualitatively level the surface, otherwise it will be ugly. If the choice falls on the budget tile, it is possible discrepancy of seams or bloating of the material.
Types of vinyl tiles
There are several types of vinyl flooring, depending on its technological characteristics. Here it is worth allocating tiles:
- on an adhesive basis (each element is covered with glue, which speeds up installation);
- with locking fastening (suitable for rooms with increased traffic);
- adhesive coating (parts of the coating are attached to the substrate with a special glue).
According to the purpose of vinyl flooring is divided into: domestic, commercial and special. Household tiles are used in residential areas, as it will not be able to withstand heavy loads. It features a variety of design, resistance to wear and tear. Commercial tiles are suitable for large premises with high traffic (entertainment and shopping centers). Its main advantage – wear resistance, which is explained by a reinforced protective layer of material. Special tile has high strength and resistance to wear and tear, which is important for rooms with heavy loads (such as gymnasiums). Its protective layer is 3.5 mm thick, and special components reduce slipping. The floor must combine aesthetics, durability, resistance to mechanical stress. All these requirements are met by vinyl floor tiles.