We frequently have people ask us about the types of tile choices that are the most versatile, or that are particularly ideal for their homes. The debate of vinyl versus ceramic tile tends to come up a lot, but in our minds (as well as the minds of many others), there is no debate—vinyl is the superior option for your home décor in Houston, MO.
The technology behind vinyl flooring has come a long way in recent years, to the point where, once it’s installed, it is nearly indistinguishable from the materials it’s designed to mimic. In many cases, vinyl actually improves on the qualities of the real thing.
Let’s take a look at some of the most important categories you’ll want to consider when making your flooring decision.
Style
It is true that ceramic floors last forever and are highly durable. While this might be a selling point to some people, it’s also a potential flaw, as fashions can quickly change. Once you’ve installed ceramic floors, it’s a whole lot of work to remove them and reinstall new flooring. Luxury vinyl flooring, however, is very easy to install and is highly customizable, which allows you to more easily keep up with the changes in interior design trends.
Durability
Ceramic’s strongest trait is its stability. However, it’s not as durable as you might expect—because there’s no flex or give in the material, it’s much more prone to cracks and chips. Luxury vinyl tiles, however, are able to absorb force from heavy objects. They also have extremely durable wear layers that allow them to sustain damage. No longer is it true that vinyl is weak and easily damaged—the technology has significantly evolved.
Cost
Depending on the size, color and quality of the tiles you’re looking for, ceramic tiles will either fall close to or far above the price range you can expect to spend on luxury vinyl tiles. This means luxury vinyl offers a much higher value, considering the other benefits provided by the material.
Applications
When installing tile, you can expect to experience a lot more limitations with ceramic tile due to its more complicated installation methods, its more difficult removal, the higher costs of customization and the amount of time it takes to install. Luxury vinyl tile has the advantage in the versatility of applications due to how easy it is to install, remove and repair. It also is more reliable with regard to its durability and offers a wider range of looks and design features, meaning it’s a more versatile design tool.
Environmental friendliness
Ceramic tile is not recyclable, meaning it’ll end up being thrown into a landfill. The materials used to make luxury vinyl tiles, however, are recyclable and made of recycled materials, meaning using it has a much smaller environmental impact.
For more information about the differences between luxury vinyl and ceramic tile and the benefits of choosing vinyl, contact Crowleys Homeworks and we’ll tell you all you need to know about selecting your home décor in Houston, MO.