Although aesthetics drive most home flooring purchases, you can’t sacrifice durability for looks. The best flooring weaves style, durability, and budget together so that you have the floor you’re proud to show off.
If you’re considering installing vinyl floors in your home, you’ll want to ask your flooring retailer all the right questions. Start with this one— how long does vinyl flooring last?
The answer may surprise you, mainly because several variables can impact vinyl flooring lifespan. Take a minute and read our guide to find out what you can expect from a new vinyl floor.
Table of Contents
A Few Words About Thickness
One key aspect of the long lifespan associated with vinyl flooring is thickness. The unit of measure flooring manufacturers use to measure thickness is the mil. A mil equals one-thousandth of an inch.
Whether you’re installing vinyl sheets, tiles, or planks, thickness drives longevity. So does the wear layer.
The wear layer protects the floor from anything that walks, crawls, slides, and runs across it. Without a wear layer, you would wear out the floor well before the end of its useful life. The thicker the wear layer, the longer the flooring should last.
Wear layer comes in
What thickness helps flooring last longer? Generally, vinyl floor contractors like a minimum of 12 mil for residential homes.
Quality Matters
While thickness and wear layer impact longevity, quality plays a significant role in your vinyl flooring’s life expectancy.
One of the benefits of vinyl flooring is the protective wear layer. Some vinyl sheets don’t come with a wear layer, putting them at risk for stains.
You can buy the highest quality flooring, but if you ignore your cleaning schedule, you run the risk of decreasing your vinyl floor’s longevity.
Maintenance and Vinyl Flooring for Homes
How well you care for your floors has a direct effect on how long they last. Here are a few tips to help you maintain vinyl flooring.
- Sweep regularly
- Clean floors with only warm water
- Diluted white vinegar adds cleaning power
- Use pH neutral commercial cleaners
Sweeping away dust and debris at least once a day goes a long way toward extending the life of your flooring. Mop as needed or at least once a week.
How Long Does Vinyl Plank Flooring Last?
The best vinyl flooring can last between and 20 years. Depending on how well you clean and protect the floor, you could enjoy 30 years of benefits. As far as longevity goes, each type of vinyl has a unique lifespan.
For example, if you buy vinyl sheet flooring, you can get between 10-20 years. Both vinyl plank and vinyl tile flooring can last 15-20 years.
Look first for quality when selecting vinyl flooring!
Inspired by this Post?
Choosing the best flooring materials means considering aesthetics, cost, durability, and longevity. We hope we’ve answered the question — how long does vinyl flooring last?
If you’re inspired to explore more ways you can make your house a home, our blog is the place to be! Search our archives for more articles like this one on flooring and other home improvement projects.
