Vinyl is one of the most popular flooring materials, and that should come as no surprise. After all, it comes at great value while offering a wide range of styles, colours, and designs. If you've decided on vinyl, you might think that all you now need to do is pick out which of those many design options you would like, but it actually pays to think about the type of backing that will be used.
The backing might not sound important, and it certainly isn't a very interesting consideration, but the choice you come to is going to make a significant difference. Felt backing is still the most popular choice, but you can now find plenty of suppliers who offer fibreglass instead. It's usually a little bit more expensive than felt, but there are plenty of reasons why it's well worth the money.
Here are just four.
1. Fibreglass Backing Is Easy to Install
When felt-backed vinyl is laid down, strong and permanent glue needs to be used to adhere it to the subfloor. In contrast, fibreglass-backed vinyl can be laid down using either a releasable glue or no glue at all. This means that the installation process will generally be a lot easier. Even more importantly, it means that the flooring can be pulled up if necessary without being broken apart.
2. Fibreglass Backing Resists Warping and Shrinking
When you use felt-backed vinyl, you really need to be careful about where you lay the flooring down. Unfortunately, this backing can be negatively affected by moisture, as well as by changes in temperature or humidity. These factors can cause shrinking or warping to occur over time, giving your vinyl flooring an unpleasant appearance and possibility necessitating a complete replacement. However, this isn't a problem you'll run up against with fibreglass-backed vinyl.
3. Fibreglass Backing Won't Curl Up at the Edges
You might have noticed that some vinyl floorings seem to curl up a little where the flooring meets a wall. If you have noticed that, it means that the flooring is backed with felt instead of fibreglass. Unless fixed down with a very strong adhesive, felt-backed vinyl is going to curl up in this fashion. Again, this isn't an issue that occurs with fibreglass-backed vinyl.
4. Fibreglass Backing is Thicker
Finally, fibre-glass backed vinyl is a lot thicker than felt-backed vinyl, and it provides much better cushioning. This makes it a lot more comfortable to walk on than felt-backed vinyl, so it's great for both high-traffic areas and rooms in which you tend to stand for long periods.
Share21 December 2016
Welcome to my blog, my name is Kate. My parents lived in a very old home which still had its original flooring. I loved the pattern of the Victorian bathroom floor tiles, the glow of the timber wood, and the smooth ceramic kitchen floor. I would spend many hours sitting on the floors, feeling the surface as I played with my toys. When I bought my own home, the first thing I installed was new flooring to re-create the wonder of my childhood. I have decided to start this blog to pass on my passion for flooring with the rest of the world.
