Apparently, vinyl flooring has been around since the 1930’s. Which happens to be around WWII(insert mild history lesson) & by 1950, it was strong in the market place. Seemed like everyone had to have it. Why not right? It was low cost, water resistant & fast forward to today; there are SO many varieties of desirable characteristics that continue to make this flooring material a popular option. You have dozens on top of dozens of design options, it’s low maintenance, & as stated above; water resistant. It doesn’t get cold in the winter & there are even padded versions of vinyl that make it comfortable to walk on. It’s inexpensive for the most part until you get into the higher end vinyls, where you may pay upwards of $10.00 or more per square foot. Vinyl is generally considered to be a highly durable material that, if properly installed and maintained, can last upwards of ten to twenty years, depending on quality of material.

Ok-now all that sounds good right? I mean, if you have all these options, then why wouldn’t you take the plunge & rest easy for another 10 to 20 years. Well some people..most people are starting to notice the carbon print that has been placed on our planet. It’s ecological impact on the personal and world environment may be some of the most disconcerting. Have you ever heard of VOC? AKA-Volatile Organic Chemicals. I have not heard of this until today, & from what I have read, it would make sense as to why vinyl is not as sought after as it once was. According to research-the chemicals used in the manufacture of vinyl flooring can cause a toxic out gassing to occur after the floor is installed. Out gassing? By definition out gassing means the release of a gas that was dissolved, trapped, frozen or absorbed in some material. According to the age of the floor & its chemical makeup; it can lead to respiratory problems, eye irritation, or asthma effects. YIKES-

It also is a problem in our landfills; as vinyl is NOT biodegradable & does not break down. It’s a non-natural resource & it takes up our natural resources like natural gas & petroleum in the manufacturing sector. Of course we cannot forget about our ultimate natural resource- the SUN! Our sun is SO good for so many things, but to a vinyl floor; its the enemy. The sun actually releases a chemical in the vinyl that causes it to yellow. Yellow vinyl-very interesting! Certainly couldn’t put this in a sun room-

Then of course, if not installed on a smooth surface then you are risking something getting caught underneath during installation & over time could puncture or even tear the vinyl. Which in turn could cost you another installation, because unlike certain ceramics or hardwoods-you have to tear up the entire floor & might even damage your sub-floor in the process.

So as I am sitting here looking at all the pros & cons of vinyl flooring-it all boils down to CHOICE. What are you willing to put up with, & what are you willing to take a stand on? Seems as if you might need to take certain precautions & do your research before hiring an installer or if your a DIYer. Both sides seem to make a strong case & if you take everything into consideration, weigh your options, make a list of pros & cons in your home..then decide what works best for you.