It has been for decades that vinyl flooring is a choice for those who want an affordable and practical flooring either for residential or for commercial use. Nevertheless, people frequently fail to understand each types of vinyl. So here are the key differences of Sheet Vinyl Vs Vinyl Tile Flooring packed in a comparison guide.
Vinyl flooring is noticeably suiting areas with the high moisture such as bathroom, laundry room and kitchen due to the fact that vinyl is constructed along with the resistance to damages.
In the past, vinyl flooring comes in two forms that are sheet vinyl and vinyl tile. They are best described as the standard forms of vinyl flooring with the more expensive price known as luxury vinyl flooring.
In this regards, standard vinyl flooring is designed typically for residential use.
Both sheet vinyl and vinyl tile flooring offers the same benefits though they have their own characteristics.
To get the deeper understanding about these vinyl types, here we come with the key differences of Sheet Vinyl Vs Vinyl Tile Flooring, allowing us to know which one is suitable for our application.
To give you a clear picture about either sheet vinyl or vinyl tile, there are some flooring characteristics we are going to explore in this article.
Those are the major differences of sheet vinyl versus vinyl tile, appearance, water and heat, care and maintenance, installation and cost, lifespan, sizes, comfort and sound, resale value, verdict and the top brands.
The Major Differences of Sheet Vinyl vs. Vinyl Tile Flooring
Before we go deeper to explore the major differences of sheet vinyl vs. vinyl tile, learning the similarities will also be much of advantage.
Truly, both of these vinyl types share the same composition and performance.
They are similarly constructed from the thin PVC plastic core bonded to a fiberglass backing layer which is topped with the tough and printed design layer as well as transparent layer.
They are also the flooring with the thin material which is as little as 1/16 inch thick only. In comparison, luxury vinyl plank come with the thickness as much as 1/3 inch.
Sheet vinyl is produced in 6 or 12 foot rolls. The customers are free to cut the rolls in their desired sizes.
The wide width provides you with a covered space so that there is no seam at all. As a result, sheet vinyl becomes one of the best flooring materials option for water repel.
Essentially, vinyl tile is just the same product as vinyl sheet. However, vinyl tile can be cut into smaller square pieces.
It can also be installed piece by piece based on the layout lines that you have drown onto the subfloor.
Vinyl tile is a good option for DIYer but it potentially allows the water to seep down passing the cracks to the subfloor.
Here are the major differences of Sheet Vinyl Vs Vinyl Tile Flooring presented in the chart to enable you to understand easily about them.
| Vinyl Sheet | Vinyl Tile | |
| DIY Suitability | Installed by Pros | Easier for DIYer |
| Water Penetration | Effectively impenetrable by water | Water seep passing the cracks between tiles |
| Cost | Approximately $0.50 to $1.50 per square foot | Approximately $1.50 to $3 per square foot |
| Installation Technique | Glue down application | Glue down application Peel and stick application |
| Repair | Difficult | Individual tiles can be replaced |
Appearance
Vinyl flooring offers not only the low cost but also an incredible look.
You can even request to have the vinyl printed to look like a huge number of different materials such as natural stone, ceramic tile and hardwood.
Sheet Vinyl
Sheet vinyl is noticeably more versatile in its design due to the fact that it is suitable with the unrepeatable patterns.
Vinyl Tile
Vinyl tile is basically designed to mimic the stone and ceramic tile look. It comes with the seams between the pieces. In this case, you will find vinyl tile more successful than the sheet vinyl.
The final measurement states that all flooring is made from the standard vinyl including both sheet vinyl and vinyl tile. However, they can easily be recognized as a synthetic material.
Furthermore, the standard vinyl flooring is also recognized as a cost-effective and a low-end flooring material.
Though it is claimed that it is mimicking other flooring materials, it is not quite trustable.
This makes the company gradually turns to focus on luxury vinyl, a new vinyl flooring type that is more effective in creating the texture and feel of the realistic look.
Read Also: Flooring Ideas for Entryway: 15 Unique and Stylish
Water and Heat Resistance
The next thing we are going to discus in this Sheet Vinyl Vs Vinyl Tile Flooring review is the water and heat resistance feature added the flooring products.
Sheet Vinyl
It is likely that the biggest benefit of installing sheet vinyl instead of tile is the possibility to install one or two unbroken solid pieces.
This means that there is no seams that runs between a number of individual pieces like you might be able to do with the tile.
In comparison to tile, sheet vinyl comes with the better barrier to more resistant to moisture.
Thus, sheet vinyl is a good option for wet environment such as bathrooms, kitchens and other areas with the high level of moisture.
If you decide to install this sheet vinyl in your home, make sure you work with the secure material at the edges of the room at which the adjoining pieces can be sealed and bonded.
Vinyl Tile
Like sheet vinyl, vinyl tile is also resistant to water. However, if there are many seams exist, it is quite possible that the moisture will seep down passing the cracks to the subfloor.
So what vinyl type will be the best for water and heat resistant?
The answer is definitely sheet vinyl.
Thanks to the few number of seam in sheet vinyl that make the flooring more resistant to water.
However, you must be aware of the heat since it can cause the terrible damage on the floor.
It is recognizable that the heat from hot pans, heating appliances and cigarettes will cause the flooring surface melt, leaving a disfiguring burn spot.
Care and Cleaning
Our Sheet Vinyl Vs Vinyl Tile Flooring review also notes that both sheet vinyl and vinyl tile has the same way of care and cleaning methods. They both offer the easiest care and maintenance.
The general maintenance include the regular cleaning you can perform by sweeping the dust and dirt and the damp mopping that you can do to remove the difficult stain.
So what vinyl type will be the best choice for care and cleaning?
The answer is the vinyl tile.
Vinyl tile is best described to offer a very simple care and maintenance including the daily sweeping and occasional damp mopping.
This way, you can use a mild detergent that is specifically designed for cleaning vinyl.
Nowadays, the modern vinyl flooring comes with the durable shiny wear layer that simply requires no wax or additional top-coating.
However, the vinyl flooring can be yellowing if you frequently use acrylic flooring coatings.
Durability and Maintenance
Durability is usually the first important thing that people are questioning once they come to the home improvement store to look for a flooring product.
In this case, the vinyl manufacturer claims their vinyl product to be highly durable.
In fact, vinyl is just a resilient material designed with the softness. Making it more susceptible to tearing. Even only a dropping pan will cause the flooring get a permanent scar.
The number of dings and gouges which is increasing gradually becomes the reason why people use vinyl flooring in some heavy areas where they can reinstall or replace the flooring after 10 years or more.
Sheet Vinyl
It is always possible to cut and replace a small size of sheet vinyl though the area where you repair the vinyl is always visible.
It is also helpful to cut out the patch along the old existing pattern, yet it would be very difficult to carry out.
Vinyl Tile
Vinyl tile is easier to repair than the sheet vinyl. This is due to the fact that individual vinyl tile can be easily removed and replaced.
Use the adhesive by heating it and pulling the tile up as well as scrapping away the bonding agent.
This is considered as the easiest way of removing the vinyl by heating the adhesive. Afterwards, you can just replace the tile with the other suitable tile.
This way of repairing the vinyl flooring can be completely done for the rest of the vinyl floor. What an incredible flooring type!
So what vinyl type will be the best for durability and maintenance?
The answer is vinyl tile.
Due to the fact that you can easily remove the individual vinyl tile and replace it with the other new tile, the flooring is best described to be the best to maintain, meaning that vinyl tile is more durable than the sheet vinyl.
Installation
Installation is also an important factor to consider when it comes to vinyl flooring projects.
If you are just wondering about to install Sheet Vinyl Vs Vinyl Tile Flooring, simply refer to the flooring review sections:
Sheet Vinyl
Glue down application is the common installation method offered by the sheet vinyl.
In this installation, you need only to use the adhesive troweled onto the underlayment.
Later, you can press the flooring carefully into the place and compress it using the heavy roller to have the bond secured.
In short, you need some special techniques to join the seams so that the two pieces of the vinyl join.
Fortunately, the manufacturers of sheet vinyl offers the DIYers with a template method how to cut the sheets in order to fit the size well.
In fact, sheet vinyl can be possibly installed by the DIYers easily based on the installation guidance provided by the manufacturers.
Believe it or not, even just a beginner is able to do this project well.
Vinyl Tile
When you make your decision to take vinyl tile for your home flooring, you must be lucky to know that this type of vinyl flooring is also available for DIY option.
Once you carefully lay the layout lines you have drawn on the underlayment, you will find it pretty easy to do the installation project.
Most DIYers easily do the hand-cut over the perimeter tiles to join the space contours.
Luckily, you can also install the standard vinyl tiles using a troweled adhesive that can bond each of the tiles to the subfloor.
However, most of the vinyl tile products comes with peel-and-stick technique.
This makes you able to peel away the per-applied adhesive which is also protected by the backing sheet.
Some pros notice that this installation technique is still doubtful. It is probably more secure to trowel-on the adhesive instead.
However, in some home improvement centers, the standard vinyl tiles are mostly available with peel-and-stick types.
Thus, you need to explore more flooring stores to find a good choice of tiles especially the ones with towel-on adhesive.
So what vinyl type will be best for installation?
The answer is the vinyl tile. This is based on the fact that vinyl tile is providing DIY options at which everyone can easily install the vinyl by himself.
Cost
Sheet Vinyl
In most of home improvement stores, sheet vinyl is available in price of $0.50 to $1.50 per square foot.
This is one of the most affordable price for sheet vinyl on the markets. Thus, this vinyl flooring type is highly demanded and massively produced.
Vinyl Tile
Different from the sheet vinyl, vinyl tile’s price is more expensive. The average cost of this vinyl tile can range from $1.50 to $3 per square foot.
So what vinyl type will be the best for cost?
The answer is sheet vinyl.
Truly, sheet vinyl is always less expensive than the vinyl tile though both of them have the same colors and patterns.
Typically, it would be difficult to differ the standard forms of vinyl flooring from the luxury vinyl.
Both of them share the same expensive price yet the different level of prestige and different performance of features.
In this case, the luxury vinyl always uses click-lock installation technique to meet the tiles or planks pieces.
Lifespan
Sheet Vinyl
So you are wondering how long a sheet vinyl will last?
Along with the proper installation and professional maintenance, sheet vinyl will be able to last for 20 years or more. However, the more typical lifespan of sheet vinyl is 10 years.
Vinyl Tile
Similar to sheet vinyl, vinyl tile has a comparable lifespan.
However, if you really want to know which vinyl type will be the best for the lifespan?
The answer is the vinyl tile. In this case, the high quality vinyl tile can last for 10 to 20 years as along as it is maintained properly.
Keep in mind that vinyl tile is usually used on a rarely used guest bathroom. Thus, it can last even for decades to come.
Sizes
The next thing to review in our Sheet Vinyl Vs Vinyl Tile Flooring article is the sizes.
In this regards, the sheet vinyl is usually available in 6 and 12 foot rolls along with the pieces cut to any length required while the vinyl tile comes with 9 to 18 inches across.
Do you know a fact?
Vinyl tile is the best option of size you can take into consideration. It is not beneficial enough to know about the size of vinyl flooring since the size would much depend on your preference.
The large size of sheet vinyl will be beneficial if you are going to have a seamless installation.
On the contrary, the small size of the vinyl tiles will be much of advantage for DIY installation options.
Comfort and Sound
Truly, sheet vinyl comes with the hard and cold material underfoot if you specifically install it on a concrete subfloor like in a slab-on-grade foundation.
Though the vinyl tile may share the same comfort and sound with the sheet vinyl, it best described that vinyl tile is the best option to choose a vinyl flooring type.
Unlike other flooring type, vinyl tile is not noisy. It comes with the denser materials, allowing the room to feel hollow.
Additionally, using rugs will also add the comfort and sound transmission of vinyl flooring.
Resale Value
Tough both of sheet vinyl and vinyl tile share the same resale value, however, vinyl tile is considered the best due to its economy flooring material.
The standard forms of them comes not only with the economy flooring materials but also the best selected colors and designs to minimize the liability.
In this case, the luxury vinyl can be a better option due to the characteristic performance.
Conclusion
Finally, we can derive a conclusion from this Sheet Vinyl Vs Vinyl Tile Flooring review that both of these vinyl flooring types are offering a low-cost flooring material.
Each of them comes with their own characteristics and advantages. For DIY installation, vinyl tiles are preferable. But for hight moisture areas, sheet vinyl is a good choice.
Read Also: Types of Wood Flooring for Kitchens – The Ideal Inspirations
Some Top Brands of Sheet Vinyl and Vinyl Tile
There are some large and well-known companies produce the major brands of vinyl flooring. Here are some of the top vinyl flooring brands to consider.
Armstrong
Armstrong is one of the big company offering many kinds of vinyl flooring. Even an increasing of luxury vinyl is emphasized in the production.
Armstrong flooring products are available in many stores including the home improvement stores in your town.
Mannington
Mannington comes with the standard vinyl flooring products but is specializes to produce sheet vinyl. Mannington flooring products are also available in many flooring stores with specialty.
Tarkett
Tarkett becomes a good option of sheet vinyl. The variations include the luxury vinyl planks and tiles. You can easily find Tarkett collection in some of specialty flooring stores and design centers.
TRAFFICmaster
Manufactured by Shaw, TRAFFICmaster is mosty available at Home Depot stores. This brand is now possessed by Berkshire Hathaway.
It comes with the best selection of either sheet vinyl or vinyl tiles and carpets as well as laminate flooring. TRAFFICmaster offers a high quality flooring product you may expect.
