Because it is fashionable, simple to maintain, and durable for a very long time, luxury vinyl tile has been adorning homes and commercial buildings for decades. With its eye-catching patterns, textures, and finishes, this vinyl flooring currently competes with some of the most expensive vinylgolv alternatives available as a result of innovative progress.
Issues With Luxury Vinyl Floor Tile
But like other vinyl flooring, it has a few drawbacks that need to be taken into account before buying. The most frequent issues with luxury vinyl tile are listed below:
Installation might need a lot of preparation
Although preparing the subfloor is crucial for any vinyl flooring installation, it is especially crucial when installing luxury vinyl tiles. The Golvplattor won’t lie correctly on the ground if sufficient preparation is not done to remove dirt, trash, lumpy spots, or generally even the subfloor up, and this may provide a number of issues, including:
Lifted joints and edges
When placing click-lock floor tiles over an uneven vinyl flooring, the bumps will often cause some of the boards to rise. Now, if these protrusions are strategically placed to be right next to a tile’s tongue or groove, they may prevent the tile from properly locking with the adjacent tile, which could lead to a lifted joint.
More flooring materials are needed
A vinyl flooring that is uneven also means that your floor tiles will have to rest across high ridges and low hollows, which might shorten the boards.It will be challenging to get a shorter tile to lock with an adjacent larger tile, and the more shorter boards there are, the more vinyl flooring you will need to fill the full space. And the project will cost more the more floor tiles you require.
Make sure your subfloor is as flat and smooth as possible to prevent these issues. Sand any lumps, apply patching compound to all low areas, and remove any old adhesives with a scraper. Importantly, when you’ve finished preparing the floor, remember to clean it. Remove any paints, oils, marks, pollutants, abatement chemicals, and residual agents that can impede installation or damage the vinyl material by scrubbing them off. Of course, the subfloor must be entirely dry before luxury vinyl floor tiles may be installed on it.
Might become spotted or discolored
Luxury vinyl floor tiles are susceptible to stains and discolouration, just like most vinyl flooring is. Drink and food spills should never be allowed to dry on the floor since they can be difficult to remove afterwards and risk leaving a permanent stain. The easiest approach to prevent tough stains is to immediately clean up any spills on the vinyl flooring. Additionally, it’s crucial that you use a clean rag to avoid escalating the problem.
Luxury vinyl floor tiles may stain, fade, and take on a lighter tint than they did initially. Most often, this occurs in homes with plenty of windows. Your vinyl flooring will gradually start to discolor if there is a spot that is always in direct sunlight, and ultimately that spot will look entirely different from the rest of the vinyl flooring. Make it a practice to keep your blinds and drapes drawn, especially when the sun is at its fiercest, to prevent this. However, there are other factors besides direct sunshine that might cause the color of your vinyl floor tiles to fade. Additionally, using bleach or other abrasive cleaning agents on your vinyl flooring may cause discoloration.
To clean your tiles, please use materials that are safe for vinyl. For instance, your dishwashing solvent could work wonders for your vinyl. Just a few drops can be added to water to clean your floor. Add some vinegar to the mixture if you’re attempting to get rid of stubborn spots. After cleaning, give the floor a good rinse; don’t leave any residue behind as this might result in stains and discoloration.
Can Be Scratched
Although luxury vinyl floor tiles are designed to last a lifetime, if they are put in houses with children, pets, or in heavy traffic areas, they may become scratched and dented. These might be brought on by sharp toys, claws, or outdoor debris like dirt and tiny rocks. You may avoid scratches by designating a specific area for children to play and by regularly clipping your pets’ nails. You could also wish to have visitors remove their shoes before entering your home or clean your floor often. Speaking of footwear, your floor is quickly scratched or dented by high, pointed heels.
Sanding the afflicted area and using a little coat of auto wax will remove minor scratches. Before and after sanding, the area must be thoroughly cleaned with mild soap and water for optimal results. Here’s a quick video that shows you how to repair scratches on luxury vinyl tiles.
Not repairable
By sanding over the dent and then applying wax, small fractures, scratches, and other tiny dents can be fixed. The tile may only be replaced if it is shattered and a significant portion of it is destroyed. But repairing a broken vinyl tile is simple—all you have to do is remove the old board and put in the new one. Only if your floor tiles are stuck down, of course.
If your floor tiles employ a click-lock mechanism to stay in place, it’s likely that they were installed from the wall; as a result, you must remove all the floor tiles from the wall up to the damaged tile and then reinstall them all the way back when the broken tile has been replaced. This procedure can be expensive and time-consuming, especially if you hire a professional to do it for you.
Capable of trapping moisture below
It’s true that luxury vinyl floor tiles are water-resistant and won’t be harmed by little spills as long as they are cleaned up right immediately. However, due to the way they are set up, these floors are unable to totally prevent water from leaking through the locking joints or seams.
A puddle of water left on a tile’s edge for a few minutes can eventually seep through cracks and become trapped between the tile and the subfloor. It is crucial that you avoid this because if moisture gets trapped below your vinyl flooring , it will serve as a favorable environment for the growth of mold and mildew. Over time, the mold will invade the entire subfloor, destroying your vinyl flooring and reducing its lifespan.
Additionally, as it keeps growing, some of its spores will begin to leak through the cracks in the floor tiles and contaminate the air within. With repeated exposure, these allergens anchor themselves in the lung cavities and not only induce allergies but also increase your chance of developing chronic illnesses like emphysema, TB, or severe sarcoidosis. Experts advise against utilizing luxury vinyl floor tiles in damp locations like tubs and showers because of the moisture issues they have. Consider ceramic floor tiles for such settings.
It may be difficult to remove glued tiles
Pulling a tile’s tongue out of a neighboring tile’s groove typically works to remove click-lock tiles. This will often only take a few hours. Glued vinyl floor tiles are a very different matter. It gets more difficult to remove the tile as the adhesive on the vinyl flooring solidifies. To prevent tearing the tiles, you can sometimes even need to scrape below them. The greatest option if you frequently move homes and adore the feel and appearance of luxury vinyl floor tiles is to get click-lock boards. These will be simple to remove and replace and will float effortlessly on the current vinyl flooring.
Conclusion
Luxury vinyl flooring undoubtedly has certain drawbacks that you should be aware of before beginning the purchasing process, just like any other floor kind. But also have in mind that this vinyl flooring is among the most well-liked options available right now in terms of robustness, cost, and simplicity of installation. You must consider both sides of an issue if you want to be able to decide with confidence.
