Laminate or Vinyl Flooring?

So after 3 years, we finally moved into a much bigger office space. 'Much Bigger' in our context, as we have been working in a small (really small~) but cozy service office room. Since the first day of commencement, we have been helping approximately 24,000 homeowners in searching for their suitable interior design firms. Now it is our turn to look for one. And since it is just a small office space, we will only require simple renovation such as; the flooring and painting of the walls. Thankfully one of our ID partners, The Interior Lab, recommended us a reliable local flooring supplier - Neufloor. We met the Sales Manager - Nicole, who gave us about 12 samples of vinyl flooring. Similar to laminate flooring, there were various colours and texture to choose from.. But why we chose vinyl over laminate is because of the resistance to water. Personally I had bad experiences with laminates at home, popping up due to the smallest puddle of water seepage. And even my master room (with toilet attached) had experienced the moisture that causes the skirting to warp. On the other hand, Vinyl is almost termed to be water proofed. Though you may be paying more, but you will have less worries when it comes to water seepage, especially if you have kids or pets at home. So why not carpets instead? Since many companies opt for that and it's the defaulted choice? Yes, that is one of the reason. Personally for me, the main reason is that carpets are harder to clean and maintain. Dirt and sweat will stick on the carpets and removing them thoroughly can only be done by using steam cleaners. That's additional cost without both your feet and pockets feeling good!

From all the nice samples, we finally chose a light coloured series closed to our heart - The Arkansas. Light coloured vinyl allows us to clearly see the items on the floor, such as dust and hair. Which is good because we intend to keep the floor clean from debris and allow us to walk barefooted without worrying a bit. Another reason is that dark areas are more prone in attracting cockroaches and insects. The Arkansas series is raw textured and designed, and the colours spreads around light brown and beige.

 

The Day's Work

On the day of installation, 2 of Neufloor's staffs begin their work early in the morning. The tools that were required are simply: Measure Tape, Ruler, Pencil, Chisel, Cutting Knife, Silicone Glue, Hammer. Before the actual hard labour work stars, here are some preparation required:

• Basic cleaning of the floor surface, ensuring that it is debris-free
• Making sure the surface is dry, smooth and free from dust; solvent, wax, grease, oil and other extraneous materials
• Cutting the Vinyl into 6 different lengths (20cm, 40cm, 60cm, 80cm, 100cm, 120cm)

I'm sure this pre-installation phase (cleaning) is well included in the package when we engage them. But you can of course do a whole lot of time saving by removing the unnecessary items yourself prior installation. In our case, we only had debris to remove as it's a totally new compound. The Installation started off from the left corner of the room, down to the main door. And through our research, although installation of such seem to always begin from the left corner, but no factual reasons was given to why so. I believe that working from the inner left to right, and all the way to the door area makes obvious sense, since you do not want to repeatedly step on the laid vinyl before it's primed. The panels were laid in a 'stairs' layout which looks good if you were to look closely after it's completed. The procedure is basically the same throughout: by hammering the sides to lock the panels together, and apply silicone glue to all edges of the walls & panels together.

We didn't opt for skirting as walls are just fine for us. Skirting will definitely look good if applied at home, but I feel that it create gaps between furniture and walls. These gaps allow creepy crawlies a safe nest to hide and it collates plenty of dust too. Not trying to take away the credit of having skirting, but other than its main purpose of aesthetics, skirting can also be used to cover gaps or to hide ugly wirings away.

 

Our Verdict

Completion of laying took about 3 hours. The design of the flooring just looks wonderful by its own. More importantly, the application of silicone glue was a job well done. The amount used was just nice, it wasn't too much that it looks uneven, and wasn't too little that you will see cracks. No gaps could be found in between the panels, and the cutting of panels are superbly clean. I believe all these perfection comes with experience from the installers. We can only imagine how good it will look after our office furniture are in! :)

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To find out more about flooring & the service they provide, we interviewed Ms Nicole Chua, Sales Manager of Neufloor. Here are some useful points for you to consider before choosing your flooring.

Q: What's the difference Between Laminate and Vinyl Flooring?

Composition: The composition and materials of the product is what sets laminates apart from vinyl flooring. Laminate flooring is made of wood whereas vinyl flooring is made of PVC and rubber. Water resistance: In terms of water resistance, vinyl flooring is more water resistant than laminate flooring due to its properties.

Q: Which is better: The Kind That Sticks Together or Click/Locks Together?

Previously vinyl flooring needed adhesive to secure the flooring to the subfloor. However over the years as the advantages of using the click system traditionally only used in laminate flooring out-weighted the conventional method, manufacturers all over the world switched to using click-system. With this click-system, shorter installation time, prolonged lifespan and no damage to the sub-floor is what makes it so popular.

Q: How long it will take to complete an installation (approx. 500sqft)?

If the subfloor preparation works is done correctly and the site is in a ready to work condition (clear of debris and other on-going works), one day is sufficient to complete installation for such area.

Q: What is the warranty period?

The warranty period is 15 years for residential and 5 years for commercial.

Q: Where can vinyl flooring be installed? Outdoor/Indoor?

Although the product is water and heat resistant, it is not recommended for outdoor usage.

Q: How much cost difference comparing to other material like laminates, hardwood or other flooring?

As different flooring materials require different subfloor preparation works which varies in cost, it is best to consult a specialist or your designer for them to advice you of the costing.

Q: What is the average lifetime of a vinyl floor?

This is dependent on the consumer. With good care and maintenance, your flooring should be able to last a long time!

Q: Good ways to look after the vinyl flooring?

It is extremely easy to maintain and care for your vinyl flooring. You may refer to www.neufloor.com for cleaning and maintenance tips. If you're keen to have their service, email to (nicolechua@neufloor.com) and do remember to keep us in the loop (support@renonation.sg) so we can try and get discounts for you!

www.neufloor.com