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Do Vinyl Floors Scratch?

do vinyl floors scratch

Of the numerous flooring types, vinyl has, in recent times, become one of the more versatile and widely used ones.

Vinyl flooring is a synthetic flooring made from PVC (polyvinyl chloride), fiberglass, and a plasticizer.

The multiple layers of synthetic materials give it a certain thickness and durability that is not common across all flooring types.

While vinyl flooring has a lot of advantages, it is still not clear to many if they are likely to scratch or not.

In this article, we will answer the question, “do vinyl floors scratch?”

We will also discuss the advantages and maintenance of vinyl floors.

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Firstly, let’s take a look at some of the benefits.

Benefits of Vinyl Floors

There are so many benefits that will accrue from using vinyl flooring in your homes over some of the other popular flooring types.

Let’s take a look at some of these fantastic benefits of vinyl floors.

They are resistant to stains

If you have children or pets in your home, you should be on the lookout for spills and stains always.

It will do you a whole lot of good if you choose a floor type like vinyl as it is resistant to stains and very easy.

All you have to do when you spill is wipe up as soon as possible, and the stains will not set in.

They are durable

The durability of vinyl floors is arguably the best thing about them.

As they are made from a combination of PVC, fiberglass, and plasticizer, they offer a superior level of durability when compared to a lot of the other floor types.

The durability is what makes them suitable for places with high traffic like commercial spaces, and also spaces like kitchens and bathrooms, where spills are likely to occur often.

They are not expensive

One of the common objectives of many building and remodeling projects is to get the best quality elements at the lowest possible price.

Compared to wood, ceramic, and some other popular flooring, vinyl is quite affordable.

What’s better? The affordability does not in any way affect the functionality; as affordable as it is, it is still a functional and durable flooring.

You don’t have to pay so much for flooring that will not offer you the quality vinyl will give you.

Easy installation

do vinyl floors scratch remove scratches easily

It doesn’t matter if you have considerable experience with DIY home projects or not.

You will surely find the installation of vinyl floors very easy.

This is even more interesting if you are looking to cut down on costs.

Water resistance

This is another strength of vinyl floors, and it makes them suitable for bathrooms, kitchens, laundries, and other spaces where spills are likely to occur.

As they are impermeable to water, all you have to do is wipe them clean when you spill water.

Do Vinyl Floors Scratch?

Vinyl floors are known for their durability, but does this mean that they are not susceptible to scratches? The answer to this is no.

When misused and when not maintained properly, vinyl floors will either scratch or lose color.

Also, when installed on an uneven surface, you may begin to notice some bumps here and there with time. However, vinyl floors do not scratch easily.

They will only scratch under very intense misuse.

You will see that a lot of vinyl floors in public spaces are scratch-free; this is as a result of their resilience.

Also, when they scratch, you can easily buff out the scratches and restore them to their original shine.

You should also know that some vinyl floors are resistant to scratches.

If you want your vinyl floor to be scratch-resistant, go for planks that come with an extra layer of polyurethane protection.

The polyurethane layer will protect against scratches and maintain the look of your vinyl floor.

All in all, you have to maintain your floor well and treat it with care if you want to prevent scratches and retain the shiny look.

Protecting Your Vinyl Floor from Scratching

There are some standard precautions you can take to keep your vinyl floor from scratching.

Even if you have a scratch-resistant floor, it is never a bad thing to take these precautions.

Move furniture with care

When you drag furniture recklessly on most floors, you will end up scratching them, and this remains true for vinyl floors.

Even if you have scratch-resistant floors, you should still be careful when moving furniture.

Don’t drag furniture across your space; if you find a piece of furniture too heavy, get someone to assist you in lifting it.

Put foot mats at entrances

Preferably at the main access to your home, add a foot mat where people can scrape the dirt of their footwear before waking in unto your vinyl floor.

Most of the scratches experienced on vinyl floors dirt transferred by footwear.

While it may be impossible to get rid of all the dirt, if you have a mat at your entrance, you should be able to get rid of most of the dirt that can act as abrasive and cause scratches all over you vinyl floor.

Regular cleaning

When you neglect to clean your vinyl floor regularly, you will inevitably experience a buildup of dirt that may cause scratches.

Sweep regularly with a soft broom or use a vacuum cleaner to get rid of the dirt.

Furthermore, you should mop the floor occasionally; ordinary water is sufficient in most cases, but you can also use mix some detergent in.

However, try as much as you can to avoid abrasive cleaners.

Conclusion

Among the most affordable flooring types, vinyl is the best.

It offers a level of durability that is not reflected in any way by its low price.

To answer the question, “do vinyl floors scratch?” The answer is yes, vinyl floors do scratch.

However, some scratch-resistant vinyl planks come with an extra protective layer of polyurethane.

You should note that regular maintenance of vinyl floors is essential, whether you have a scratch-resistant floor or not.