How to Choose Quality Vinyl Flooring
Today, homeowners across the country are taking up DIY projects at an increasing rate. Flooring is one project that has seen a huge uptick. This surge in DIY flooring projects is due, in large part, to new flooring products and installation methods. Installing a new floor today is easier than ever. On top of this, flooring materials are more affordable.
If you are a homeowner looking to refresh your home with new flooring, and have decided to do it yourself, you may be asking “how can I tell if the flooring I like is quality flooring?” We are going to help you increase your odds of picking a quality floor, by showing you the 4 most important qualities to look for in a new vinyl tile or plank floor.

#1 The Wear Layer
If you have been shopping around for a while, you may have noticed that most flooring advertises the thickness of its wear layer. This is usually expressed in “mils”, 1/1000 of an inch. A 12 mill wear layer is 12/1000 of an inch thick. The wear layer protects the visual layer from being damaged. It is usually clear and applied directly over the visual, (the layer that looks like wood, or some other pattern). Often the wear layer is embossed to enhance the natural look of the floor.
A quality floor’s wear layer will often be enhanced by the addition of very hard minerals, like silicon dioxide (quartz) or aluminum oxide. The addition of these very hard materials to the wear layer, makes it highly scratch and abrasion resistant.
A quality floor’s wear layer will be thicker than the cheaper offerings. You should shoot for vinyl flooring with at least a 12 mil wear layer. Thicker wear layers are better, but you will notice there is normally a price increase associated with a thicker wear layer. A thicker wear layer will normally come with a longer warranty.

#2 Rigidity
This applies to vinyl flooring, tile and planks, and not so much to roll vinyl. Almost without exception, quality vinyl tile and vinyl plank flooring is going to be rigid. This also means it is probably going to be thicker overall.
One of the most difficult parts of a DIY flooring project is getting the sub-floor flat and smooth before installing. Carpet can hide pretty substantial flaws in the sub-floor (the base you will be putting your new floor on), and while this article is not about prepping your sub-floor, you should read up on this topic and watch as many videos as you can.
Ridge flooring is generally a sign of well made flooring. However, for do-it-yourselfers, it has the important quality of hiding and working over less than perfect sub-floors. Thinner, less ridged, flooring tends to transfer imperfections to the surface. A slightly raised nail head or a gap between sub-floor material often can been seen “printed” on the surface of cheaper, thinner, vinyl floors. These bumps and ridges create spots in the floor that will wear unevenly.
A quality floor will be ridged and bridge small gaps and holes and will hide small bumps, helping ensure a successful outcome.

#3 The Pad
Most tile and plank vinyl flooring comes with an attached pad. This pad is normally a closed cell foam. This closed cell foam can often suffice for the vapor barrier when installing directly on a concrete slab (make sure all other installation conditions are met and that the foam on your floor is, in fact, closed cell). The pad, like a ridged floor, helps mitigate sub-floor imperfections. It also provides for a softer feel and, importantly, a quieter floor. This pad should be in the 1 mm to 3 mm range for thickness. Depending on how soft or firm it is, it could be thicker.
#4 The Connecting System
Water and spills are one of the main reasons homeowners have problems with their vinyl tile and plank flooring. Generally speaking the surface of a vinyl tile or plank is pretty impervious to moisture. The problems start when the liquid migrates through the seams and to the sub-floor. A quality floor will have a locking system that minimizes this. Very few floor systems have waterproof locking systems, but higher quality floor systems lock together tightly and minimize this problem. The use of sealants during the installation can further improve the floors ability to limit moisture migration.
Another issue that shows up frequently is vinyl flooring tiles and planks becoming loose. A strong locking system will prevent this. A quality floor with a strong click lock system will stay tight and secure for the life of the floor.
Here's to a Successful Project
We hope this article has provided you with some tings to look for in the flooring that you purchase. With a little preparation and patience you can buy and install a beautiful new floor.