Why vinyl flooring

What are the benefits and selling features of vinyl flooring?

The selling points.

Vinyl flooring is long-lasting, slow to wear under heavy footfall and can soften the sound of heavy footsteps. Which makes it perfect for high traffic areas and for those with kids and pets.

It's also often a cost-effective option over other types of flooring. As vinyl flooring doesn't require an underlay this can save on cost and make it quicker and cheaper to fit.

Vinyl or Lino flooring is 100% moisture resistant and anti-static, no hairs standing up on end and no worrying over spills and splashes in the kitchen or bathroom. Making it a great and safe choice for moisture filled rooms.

Vinyl flooring has made massive leaps in environmental arenas over the last decade. Most vinyl is now 100% recyclable and is made with fewer chemicals, giving your customer more peace of mind when buying.

Does vinyl look cheap?

There have been a lot of advancements in vinyl flooring over the last decade. It's not the cheap looking solution it once was. Modern vinyls are robust and with advancements in printing technology, the look and feel of vinyl has vastly improved.

Modern designs can include styles to look like other types of flooring such as carpets or hardwood, or even bespoke patterns.

Vinyl went to the next level with LVT, or luxury vinyl tiles. This is a new type of hybrid flooring, with all the benefits of vinyl, but with a rigid core for even greater stability that can be used with underfloor heating and specific LVT underlays.

How long will it last?

On average vinyl flooring will last between 10-20 years under heavy footfall. However, with proper fitting and daily maintenance vinyl flooring can last well beyond this timescale.

Can vinyl be used in bedrooms?

Not often a popular choice for bedrooms, vinyl is still well suited for any room. Vinyl is durable, low maintenance and moisture resistant and is often used in areas with high foot traffic. This means it is not commonly used in bedrooms, but the right vinyl can be used to create a statement as it comes in a range of colours and styles.

Check out our vinyl ranges by signing in and heading to - https://www.flanagan-flooring.com/flooringresources?Collection=Vinyl

Here you can see our current range, download decor sheets, imagery and brochures.

We are manufacturers and distributors and do not sell directly to the public. Our products are available from all leading specialist flooring retailers.  

What flooring works with underfloor heating?

Underfloor heating is becoming popular in homes in the UK and Ireland. It's ideal in bathrooms to beat that morning chill first thing while getting ready. When combined with a condensing boiler underfloor heating can achieve energy efficiencies of over 90% and be cheaper to run than radiators.

The best type of flooring to use with underfloor heating is tile and stone. However, a compatible radiant heating system can be found for almost every floor finish. As a supplier and distributor, we have worked hard to source a collection of floor coverings designed to work perfectly with underfloor heating.

Carpets Many of our carpets are perfectly suited to enhance underfloor heating systems. It's down to the tog rating, the more insulation the carpet provides the harder it will be for the heat to get through the carpet. So you are looking for a low tog rating on the carpet to ensure it will work with your underfloor heating. If your carpet and underlay have a combined tog rating higher than 2.5 tog, you might want to consider replacing the carpet and/or underlay at the same time as you install underfloor heating, or using an alternative heating method to heat your home.

Vinyl Can also safely be used with most underfloor heating systems. As vinyl is a thin flooring most vinyl works perfectly to conduct heat without much needing done to them.

Laminate with underfloor heating depends on the thickness of the boards, floating floors with a robust click system will allow a good bit of heat through. It also depends on the density of the wood, ensure the wood is as dense as possible to allow for the best heat transfer.

LVT Requires an underlay and must be fitted with one. LVT underlay will work in harmony with the underfloor heating and the LVT. LVT works with underfloor heating systems up to 28 degrees.

We are manufacturers and distributors and do not sell directly to the public. Our products are available from all leading specialist flooring retailers.  

Which underlay to buy?

Underlay is underused in our eyes. Underlays are a thin layer of cushioned materials made of things such as sponge, rubber, foam, felt, or they can even be made from recycled plastics. Some people see it as an option or an addition, but it is an integral part of your flooring. It can extend the life of your flooring by up to 30 - 50% in most cases. The right underlay will save you money in the long run so it's important to choose well.

No matter the flooring type a good underlay will extend the life of the flooring, act as a shock and sound absorber, reduce heat loss, repel moisture and mould, and level out the surface. Different types of flooring require different types of underlay and include different additional benefits.

Underlay for carpets

With carpet underlay always check the tog. A tog rating is much like that on duvets and bedding and is a measure of heat insulation. A lower tog of below 2.5 when combined with your carpet tog rating means the flooring will be perfect with underfloor heating systems. If you don't have underfloor heating then a higher tog rating will ensure warmth is held within your flooring better, saving on heating bills. A thicker underlay will also add to the comfort and create a very cushioned flooring to walk on.

Underlay for wood flooring

We offer a range of foam, rubber and fibreboard options in wooden flooring underlays.

On top of the tog rating, check that your underlay contains the right materials to be compatible with underfloor heating systems. The likes of our Timberlux underlay is suited for underfloor heating and has excellent heat retention properties and can be fitted with floating floor installations.

Our Soundtronic Gold has a good decibel rating. The higher the Db rating the more sound reduction the underlay will have. Ever been annoyed by the heavy footsteps of the neighbor above? All could be solved with a good Db rated underlay.

Underlay for hybrid, rigid core and SPC/LVT flooring

It is very important to use an underlay with an SPC or LVT flooring. Hybrid floors are a new type of flooring with a rigid core to create a really strong and ultra think floor covering. These floors are hard-wearing but need an underlay to support the joints and help to even the sub-layer. Without an underlay, this flooring will have a far shorter lifespan and may even lift and break. We offer an underlay specifically designed to work with LVT and SPC flooring and still offer all the benefits of our other underlays.

Underlay with vinyl flooring

Because of the way vinyl floors are fitted, and underlay cannot be used. But this is why felt backed underlay was developed. Felt back vinyl is a vinyl flooring with the underlay built-in, giving you a softer feel underfoot making standing in the room for long periods more pleasant. It is also suitable for use with underfloor heating in most cases.

We are manufacturers and distributors and do not sell directly to the public. Our products are available from all leading specialist flooring retailers. Want to sell our products? Get in touch with us and we will put you in contact with one of our sales managers in your area.