Vinyl composition tile

Modern vinyl floor tile is frequently chosen for high-traffic areas because of its low cost, durability, and ease of maintenance.

Vinyl tiles have high resilience to abrasion and impact damage and can be repeatedly refinished with chemical strippers and mechanical buffing equipment.

Some manufacturers have created vinyl tiles that very closely resemble wood, stone, terrazzo, and concrete and hundreds of varying patterns.

However, they stained easily and deteriorated over time from exposure to oxygen, ozone and solvents, and were not suitable for use in basements where alkaline moisture was present.

The extra layer of protection is usually a heavy film covered with a UV-cured urethane that makes it scuff, stain and scratch resistant.

In fact, a DIYer with assorted ten-minute slots in otherwise busy days would have enough time to get a floor laid gradually, and thus could avoid professional installation costs.

Primarily, LVT is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which involves the use of non-renewable petroleum resources and the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during production.

Furthermore, recycling options for PVC are limited due to the complexity of its chemical composition, leading to increased landfill waste.

Asbestos fibers were added to vinyl tiles for their outstanding insulative properties, a desirable attribute in regions with cold winter weather.