Vinyl Flooring Experiences - How Good is Vinyl Really?

In recent years, those who followed the click vinyl trend had to do so without long-term vinyl flooring experiences. Nevertheless, many have installed the modern vinyl covering in their homes. Nowadays, vinyl flooring is even more popular than laminate or tiles. But what are the experiences with vinyl flooring? Has vinyl flooring proven itself in practice?

Good and Bad Vinyl Flooring Reviews

Questions like these are justified, as not everyone has had the opportunity to gain their own vinyl flooring experience yet. This is because the flooring has not been on the market long enough.

Therefore, many like to read forums about vinyl flooring reviews or ask acquaintances. In a relevant forum, you will find reviews about vinyl flooring, often written with missionary zeal. You will find both staunch advocates and harsh critics. But even if some contributions are interesting to read, you unfortunately also come across many misinformation. This happens out of ignorance because something was picked up somewhere. It also happens because information from 2005 or 2008 is now outdated. This concerns topics like vinyl flooring health under the aspect of plasticizers and much more.

Vinyl flooring experiences are personal. It already starts with the shopping experience. A wide selection, correct advice, and attractive prices make up an important part of a good vinyl flooring experience. Bad experiences often stem from a lack of advice and information. Here, customers seek serious information, real samples to touch, and not just the best price. A good purchase process, including quick delivery, is often crucial for customers.

Making Use of Vinyl Flooring Reviews

Ultimately, it is the experiences with the vinyl flooring itself that help to determine if vinyl is the right flooring. A good vinyl flooring review can be achieved by considering various perspectives. Ask questions like the following to learn more about vinyl flooring experiences:

• How does vinyl flooring feel?
• Is vinyl easy to clean?
• Does vinyl flooring withstand daily wear and tear?
• Does vinyl still look good after years of use?
• What experiences are there with vinyl flooring on underfloor heating?
• How durable is vinyl really?
• Is vinyl scratch-sensitive?
• Which type of vinyl flooring has proven to be better?
• What influence do adhesives or soundproofing have on vinyl flooring experiences?

Whether good or bad, vinyl flooring reviews reflect different qualities, demands, and expectations. For a personal judgement, the correct application, suitable accessories, and daily use play an essential role.

Those who can report experiences with vinyl flooring on tiles often praise the ingenious flat structure of click vinyl. No one wants to miss vinyl on tiles because it is as durable as tiles but warmer underfoot.

Those who have a dog in the house are often surprised at how well vinyl suits pet ownership. Not only does it provide good grip, but vinyl flooring is also convincing in terms of hygiene. Thus, vinyl flooring reviews with dogs are generally positive. It is rare to hear pet owners complain about scratched vinyl due to their dogs.

Experiences about the daily care and maintenance of vinyl vary greatly. Those who expected vinyl to withstand everything might be disappointed. Vinyl can also scratch, get dirty, and show signs of wear.

Moreover, the different types of vinyl behave differently. Therefore, we look at the experiences with the various types of vinyl here.

Click Vinyl Flooring Reviews

The first click vinyl flooring reviews began around 2010. When solid click vinyl entered the market as an alternative to laminate, not only end consumers were sceptical. Retailers and professional installers also doubted whether a 5mm vinyl could work as a click elastic floor covering. The click connection is delicate, and the flexibility of vinyl doesn't exactly make the clicking process easier.

The word quickly spread that click vinyl couldn't be installed as robustly as laminate, as many retailers claimed. The first rows in particular require careful work during installation. Those who fail here quickly complain about the difficult installation of vinyl flooring.

However, the quality differences of click vinyl become apparent when selecting the floor. A tongue and groove connection can be difficult to click or fragile. Similarly, customers report how easy and good it is to install click vinyl when they buy good brand quality, such as from wineo or planeo®. Customers like to write reviews about these products in forums or directly on review portals like Trustedshops.

Positive and Negative Click Vinyl Reviews

Negative reviews of click vinyl are often due to misinformation or installation errors. The same applies to inferior goods from Asian and European production. A strong-smelling floor is a first indication of inferior ingredients. In some cases, customers have reported unpleasant odours that persisted even after 3-4 weeks. This is not always due to poor material quality. For example, laying click vinyl on an unsuitable substrate, such as adhesive residues from the old covering, can cause reactions that result in long-lasting emissions. Perhaps they wanted to save some money on the substrate, but it was done at the wrong end.

Negative reviews include open click connections, difficult installation, warping planks, or the telegraphing effect. An uneven substrate shows through over time.

When someone shares bad experiences with click vinyl, the cause is often an unsuitable impact sound insulation or an unfavourable substrate. Joints can open if the elastic click vinyl is laid on non-pressure-resistant insulation. Laying click vinyl on wooden planks that give way partially can damage the click connection. Customers also find it negative when click vinyl expands strongly behind window panes in the sun and then waves. Solid click vinyl is thermoelastic and not suitable for temperatures above 35°C. If someone has laid vinyl directly by the fireplace without a heat shield, the heat radiation can heat and strongly expand the vinyl all around.

The majority of our customers report extremely positive experiences with click vinyl. Everyone finds the floor warmth pleasant even without underfloor heating. Since click vinyl is pleasantly elastic, you feel it immediately under your feet and on your back. Especially parents with small children appreciate the hygienic and waterproof properties of click vinyl.

When falling porcelain doesn't break immediately on the vinyl floor, this is also due to the shock-absorbing properties. Most people rate this robustness very highly.

Vinyl Flooring Adhesive – Reviews

Those who want to refer to experiences with adhesive vinyl flooring must distinguish between the different installation methods. In addition to classic adhesion, you can also adhere vinyl flooring floating on insulation or self-adhesive installation. Therefore, experiences with adhesive vinyl vary greatly.

Here you will find everything about the 4 adhesive vinyl installation techniques.

Vinyl Flooring Reviews - Wet Bed Adhesive

The majority of vinyl plank installations use the classic wet bed adhesive method. Therefore, extensive knowledge and experience are available. In large commercial buildings and retail stores, adhesive vinyl—often referred to as designer flooring—has been in use for a long time. Contractors and interior designers value it for its extreme durability. The surface, due to the polyurethane (PU), is extremely resistant. Additionally, adhesive vinyl is often described as a low-maintenance floor covering. Particularly on large surfaces, maintenance costs can be saved.

Adhesive vinyl is also becoming increasingly popular in private homes. Most people highlight the pleasant properties when talking about their adhesive vinyl. It provides a cushioned step, even when walking with hard-soled shoes. Those who enjoy walking barefoot appreciate the good floor warmth. The longer you live with adhesive vinyl, the more carefree you become with it. Not having to protect the adhesive vinyl in a special way significantly eases daily life and avoids stress. No matter how dirty the adhesive vinyl gets, it can be easily cleaned. Scratches can also be easily concealed. If necessary, a plank can be very easily replaced.

Adhesive vinyl comes in an enormous variety of designs that remain more colour-stable than wood. While real parquet changes colour, here the coordinated material combinations remain permanently matching. Customers always find this stylish.

For those with a lot of sunlight on the floor, adhesive installation provides dimensional stability to heat-sensitive vinyl. Experiences of vinyl warping are avoided when a good adhesive with high shear strength is used.

The elaborate processing is among the negative experiences with classic adhesive vinyl. A perfectly smooth substrate is essential. Otherwise, every unevenness will be visible in the light. And if you are not a professional, experiences with installing vinyl adhesive are necessary. You must strictly adhere to all specified times, including complete curing, apply the adhesive in the correct amount, and finally roll the planks.

Experiences with Vinyl on Insulation Adhesive

As this dry adhesive method is still relatively new, long-term reviews are lacking. However, long-term tests have confirmed the excellent new installation method for adhesive vinyl. This is repeatedly endorsed by professionals and private users.

The ingeniously simple installation of the adhesive planks receives unanimous praise. Those who have installed vinyl planks using this alternative method have had stress-free installation experiences. The dry adhesive on the insulation allows for easy correction for more than 30 minutes. There is no stress, similar to click vinyl, as the work can be interrupted at any time. You can install adhesive vinyl floating on insulation without detailed prior knowledge. Even as a novice, you will ultimately enjoy an excellent installation result.

Adhesive vinyl is also suitable for applications that were otherwise not possible. Laying the thin design planks directly over the old flooring with an installation height of around 4mm appeals to all renovators. You save both time and money on preparing the substrate, and the floor is immediately usable.

Self-Adhesive Vinyl Flooring Reviews

This dry adhesive method is especially popular among those who want to renovate effortlessly without being too demanding. Beginners particularly favour the very simple installation.

However, experiences with self-adhesive vinyl are not always positive. Ideally, the subfloor should be perfectly smooth, as the planks are very thin. Rarely does anyone smooth the subfloor correctly for self-adhesive vinyl because this would diminish the appeal of easy installation. Many people don't attempt other vinyl flooring installation methods, even though they are also simple. Therefore, many stick the self-adhesive planks directly onto the old screed, tiles, laminate, or parquet flooring. They accept the telegraphing effect, as no insulation can compensate for it here. Thus, every tiny unevenness in the new vinyl covering becomes visible.

There are also many reports of joints appearing over time with self-adhesive vinyl. The dry adhesive apparently cannot withstand the shear forces caused by shrinking planks. Significant issues are also reported with planks that detach or form waves. Particularly with heat exposure such as sunlight, the adhesive seems to lose its strength.

Loose Lay Vinyl Flooring Reviews

When the so-called loose lay method for vinyl was introduced, there was great enthusiasm. What could be simpler than just laying the vinyl planks directly on the floor? The loose lay method requires neither clicking nor adhesive. This is enabled by the reinforced structure of the vinyl floor. Manufacturers experimented with various backing materials such as honeycomb patterns or slightly adhesive coatings to ensure a secure hold. Finally, tape around the laying area serves as a fixative against slipping.

In practice, the loose lay installation of vinyl has proven to be a quick and easy solution for perfectly flat surfaces or temporarily used areas such as exhibition stands. It is also very popular for short-term shop-in-shop solutions (e.g., a clearly defined sales stand for a specific brand within a department store). The rapid installation and dismantling of the loose lay planks is unbeatable without compromising on a high-quality appearance.

However, loose lay vinyl has not yet established itself as a long-term flooring solution. The longer the floor is meant to stay in place, the less reason there is to install it in a secure manner. Problems such as slipping, joint formation, or raised edges are most frequently reported with loose lay vinyl. Nevertheless, the development of loose lay continues.

Vinyl Laminate Reviews

When vinyl laminate hit the market, it was the precursor of a new generation of clickable flooring. It simply replaced the melamine resin layer of laminate with a vinyl layer. Full vinyl click was then the next stage of development.

Vinyl laminate is still a popular type of vinyl flooring today because it is warmer and quieter than classic laminate. The installation method is the same for both types of flooring.

Those who do not want to forego the proven properties of laminate today can benefit from the good experiences with vinyl laminate. This includes especially the secure click connection through the solid HDF carrier, which also prevents the telegraphing effect. Even under strong sunlight, vinyl laminate remains in place and does not form waves. Pressure marks from heavy furniture feet are also not an issue.

However, the hollow sound of footsteps is still a negative aspect of vinyl laminate. Additionally, swelling vinyl laminate due to moisture is not a positive experience. Nevertheless, this flooring type still holds a firm place among vinyl floor types.

Vinyl Flooring Reviews: Is Vinyl the Right Flooring for Me?

Experiences with Vinyl Flooring on Tiles

Vinyl is similarly durable as tiles but stands out with its pleasant foot warmth. Additionally, the flat structure of click vinyl is a decisive advantage when laying it on tiles.

Vinyl Flooring Experiences with Dogs

Vinyl flooring is also impressive in terms of hygiene. Most pet owners report positive experiences with vinyl flooring. Since vinyl is waterproof, robust, slip-resistant, and easy to clean, it withstands the daily wear and tear of life with a dog excellently. However, the type and thickness of the vinyl's wear layer play a crucial role. Note that even with a high wear layer and usage class, scratches from pets cannot be completely avoided.

Our Customers' Experiences with Click Vinyl

The majority of our customers are convinced of the positive properties of click vinyl even after years of use. It's no wonder, as a click vinyl floor is warm underfoot even without underfloor heating. The elastic material is easy on the joints and beneficial for the back. The robust flooring with a practical click system is easy to install and is also waterproof and easy to maintain.

The most common reasons for our customers' negative experiences with click vinyl are inferior product quality and installation errors such as an uneven substrate, incorrect impact sound insulation, and high temperatures over 35 degrees, etc.

What Experiences Have Our Customers Had with Adhesive Vinyl?

Experiences with adhesive vinyl depend primarily on the installation method. Read about the 4 adhesive vinyl flooring techniques here. Most consumers have experiences with the classic adhesive vinyl with wet bed adhesive.

As a durable and easy-to-maintain floor covering, adhesive vinyl is often used on large surfaces in commercial areas. The long-lasting elastic properties of adhesive vinyl, the pleasant foot warmth, the wide variety of designs, and the colour stability are also convincing for use in private areas. Scratches on adhesive vinyl can be easily concealed and the planks can be easily replaced if necessary. The adhesive provides dimensional stability to the heat-sensitive vinyl and prevents it from warping.

However, customers find the elaborate processing of adhesive vinyl a disadvantage. A perfectly smooth substrate is essential, as any unevenness will show through. The quality of the vinyl adhesive is also crucial. Apply the adhesive in the correct amount and finally roll the vinyl planks.

Laying vinyl on the self-adhesive insulation planeo silent stick is a simple alternative to the classic wet bed adhesive method. This dry adhesive process allows for a floating installation of adhesive vinyl.

Self-Adhesive Vinyl Flooring Reviews

Installing self-adhesive vinyl flooring is also a simple method of dry gluing vinyl. It ensures easy installation without much effort and is a popular choice for renovations. It is particularly important to have a perfectly smooth subfloor to ensure that no irregularities show through the vinyl covering later. Issues such as joint formation, planks that come loose or form waves, and loss of adhesive strength due to heat are among the negative experiences our customers report with self-adhesive vinyl.

Loose-Lay Vinyl Reviews

Loose-lay vinyl with self-laying properties is the latest innovation in the renovation market, eliminating the need for clicking or adhesive when installing vinyl flooring. It is a quick and easy solution for perfectly level subfloors or temporarily used areas such as delineated sales and exhibition stands. With the loose-lay method, the planks are particularly quick to set up and just as quick to take down. You do not have to compromise on a high-quality, natural look with self-laying vinyl. Despite all the advantages, loose-lay has not yet established itself as a well-known, popular flooring solution. The lack of long-term consumer experiences contributes to this.

Conclusion on Vinyl Flooring Reviews

Today, vinyl flooring is one of the most versatile types of flooring. Accordingly, the experiences are equally varied. Most people are enthusiastic about vinyl flooring. Positive vinyl flooring experiences have much to do with the right advice and the appropriate choice. Negative experiences with vinyl flooring are mostly due to misinformation. Unsuitable materials, incorrect installation, and the inevitably resulting surprises are the consequences. Please share your experiences with vinyl flooring in the comments below - We look forward to hearing your opinion!