Flooring Installers for Vinyl and Linoleum

What´s under your feet?

Whatever the room, the single largest design element is the flooring. Your room can have great bones, a great paint job, interesting architectural elements, and beautiful furnishings, but it won´t look pulled together without a great floor. For kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and utility rooms, vinyl and linoleum are both excellent choices.

Superficially, vinyl and linoleum are similar types of flooring material. Both are available in tile or sheets and installation is similar. In fact, linoleum was very common until the 1960s when vinyl become available for a lower cost. Until then, linoleum floors and counters appeared in kitchens and bathrooms across America. The following describes the differences between vinyl and linoleum:

Material	Advantages	Disadvantages
Vinyl	Relatively inexpensive Readily available Many colors and patterns Easy maintenance	Made of synthetic ingredients including petroleum products Offgassing From petroleum distillates Production and incineration creates dioxin Short life span, usually around 10 years Often less expensive than linoleum Pattern is often stamped on
Linoleum	Made of natural ingredients including pine resin and linseed oil Low, temporary offgassing from natural oils Renewable and biodegradable Long life span; often more than 30 years Color and pattern runs entirely through material Easy maintenance Green product, highly renewable	Can´t be used where there is subfloor moisture such as basements Higher cost is comparable to high end vinyl products Sheet linoleum requires professional installation

Hiring an installer

Regardless of flooring type and cost, make sure that the installer knows what´s he´s doing, is qualified to do the work, and backs up his installation with reasonable warranties. Flooring installation maybe simple or very complex, especially in odd-shaped rooms where sheet vinyl or linoleum is being installed. Find out how long the installer has been in business. Request references and make sure that he has experience in residential installations. Ask for certifications or licensing if it´s required in your state. Get an agreement in writing. If you are choosing and providing materials for installation, read and understand the manufacturer´s warranties. If the material is being provided and installed by the installer, make sure warranty responsibilities are clearly noted on the agreement.