It is sometimes called linoleum after a visually similar product of different (linseed oil) chemical composition.
[1] Vinyl flooring is extensively used because it is water-impervious, fairly durable, adjustably resilient and insulating, easy to install, available with a variety of appearances, and inexpensive.
[3][4] The three basic categories of vinyl sheet flooring are homogeneous, inlaid, and layered composite.
Then the sheet is coated again with one or more protective wear layers, the topmost of which may be polyurethane, to avoid waxing.
It can produce polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), especially at higher temperatures.
Vinyl flooring decomposes and releases toxic gasses, mostly hydrogen chloride, long before bursting into flames.
It can make a permanent or portable dance floor which can be laid on problematic surfaces such as concrete.
Sheet vinyl flooring should be allowed to rest in the room it will be installed in, to avoid having to make multiple cuts as it relaxes.
Vinyl sheet flooring is usually made with skeuomorphic patterns that imitate wood, stone, or tile.
The texture of these materials is imitated using embossing and specific top coats; the appearance is duplicated using a print layer.
This allows customization of the pattern to the dimensions of the room, and can include cutting lines for easy installation.