Vinyl tile flooring is constituted of twelve-inch squares of vinyl, usually about one-eighth inch in thickness, formed by compacting vinyl chips into sheets by the application of heat and pressure, and then cutting them into the standard size. These tiles are then applied to a sub-floor that has been prepared - levelled and smoothed - by the use of a vinyl adhesive that does not dry entirely, no matter how long it is left in the open air, and finally buffed and waxed with a special polish. The manner in which vinyl tile flooring is installed, as well as its relative cheapness, makes it the flooring of choice in medical and educational institutions, as indeed in any place that expects and sees a large amount of traffic - vinyl tile floors are easy to install, easy to maintain, last a long time under heavy use, and are as easy to tip up as they are to put down; the popularity is easily understood.
Installing Vinyl Tile Flooring
If you are in charge of the flooring of any institution, or industrial establishment, you might already be considering installing vinyl tile floors. Even if you're a private home-owner reading this, vinyl tiles might prove to be just the thing you're looking for. One major advantage of installing a vinyl tile floor is that you need not rip up the pre-existing floor. The floor can stay as is, provided it is a single, unbroken surface - tiled floors, admittedly, might have to be ripped up, but if you have a wooden, or concrete sheet, or stone floor, you only need to smoothen and/or level it by using floor joists. Once this has been done, the vinyl adhesive can be applied, and then the tiles can be stuck onto the floor, and allowed to set.
Advantages of Vinyl Tile Floors
Vinyl floor tiles are a great choice because of their durability, and relative cheapness. This makes them an extremely attractive choice for institutions. However, vinyl tile floors can also be a good option for a private home - durability and expense are as much a concern of the private as of the private purse, and vinyl tile floors can be as beautiful as they are durable. Vinyl floor tiles can be cut and shaped and arranged into attractive patterns that add a touch of colour and charm to the room - these days, they can even be made to resemble wood, terrazzo, stone, or concrete.
So decide on a vinyl tile floor, for all your needs.