Your bathroom and kitchen probably take the biggest beating when it comes to cleaning. Water splashes everywhere, and some occasional scratches and stains result from frequent use. So, when it’s time to redo those areas you are most likely left with two options — tile or vinyl. Here are some advantages and disadvantages for both options that should give you some insight on making the right decision of flooring in your home.
While porcelain and vinyl are very similar in many ways, they have quite a few differences as well. While both are great when dealing with water and moisture, they have many different qualities in other areas, so let’s get to it.
APPEARANCE
Within the last 10 years, vinyl has come a long way when it comes to looks compared with tile. Both materials’ beauty comes from the quality and realistic look of the print that is on the surface of the product. While both products have great looking options, vinyl is typically a much easier material than tile to get a realistic looking print onto.
In most cases, it’s hard to tell the difference between vinyl and tile flooring from a photo, but in person, you may notice that the two simply have a different “feel.” Happy Floors has recently changed the game by offering coordinating tile and vinyl lines (like the ones shown in the photos), allowing you to create a seamless look throughout your home while changing the softness and durability from area to area. The Citrus is the tile, and Maui is the vinyl. Would you have been able to tell the difference if we didn’t tell you?
INSTALLATION
While tile remains the most durable it comes with the tradeoff that it is VERY messy. Whether you are removing old tile or laying down new tile, installation tends to be a bit more of a project because it cannot be installed without thinset and grout. On the other hand, vinyl can be dry-installed, also commonly known as floated, and it is simply the easiest to take up and install while still giving you a beautiful floor.
Which will take longer to complete?
As I stated above, vinyl is much easier to install so it is going to get done the fastest. Not only does tile take a little bit longer to install, but it also has a longer “cure time.” This is the amount of time after the floors are complete which you need to wait before walking on them or cleaning them. Because wet materials are used to set tile, they need to properly and fully cure before the floors can be cleaned and open to foot traffic.
DURABILITY
I know, I know, I’ve said tile is the most durable, but let’s not count vinyl out just yet. Because vinyl is made with an especially durable wear layer, it is less likely to crack and break. It also has a degree of cushioning that absorbs and dissipates the force from heavy objects. So that’s a PLUS! Tile’s strongest feature is its stability, but it has no flex or give so it is more prone to cracks and other damage. But in the scenario of picking vinyl or tile for redoing your bathroom, I recommend you choose the tile. It’s the most durable, easiest to clean and 100% waterproof so you will never have to worry about any damage.
Which would you choose for your kitchen and bathrooms? It’s a hard decision, but you’re in great hands with either route you choose to go. It all depends on you and what suits you best in your home with your family! Happy remodeling!
