Resilient vinyl flooring has been the single most popular floor covering in the US for many years. There are a number of reasons, but the most obvious is cost, variety, and ease of maintenance. Vinyl is the least expensive flooring option on its low end and competitive with hardwoods and linoleum at its higher range. As with everything else, you get what you pay for. Vinyl can come in both sheets and tile and price may likely vary between the two.

Keep in mind that vinyl comes in different qualities.

Good quality—Higher quality sheet vinyl often has color throughout, not just printed on. The wear layer is typically much thicker and may be warranted for up to 30 years depending on the manufacturer. It repels dirt, scuff resistant, and takes considerably more abuse. Because it is thicker, it's also much heavier. As a result, it's advisable to consider hiring a professional installer to make sure it's properly installed.

Poor quality—On the low end, vinyl is relatively thin with a shallow wear layer over a felt or vinyl backing. A pattern is printed on its surface using a rotary printing technique called rotogravure; hence, the moniker rotovinyl. The top layer is clear vinyl. It may seem brittle or stiff and could be subject to breaking or tearing. Its life expectancy is relatively short—usually less than ten years depending on traffic.

Here are some points to follow after your new vinyl floor has been installed.

• Keep traffic minimal during the first 24-48 hours after your floor is installed. This is to allow the adhesive to cure properly.
  
• Don't put any heavy objects on your floor for 24-48 hours. This allows the adhesive time to cure and helps avoid heavy objects from displacing the adhesive and causing permanent depressions in your new vinyl floor.
  
• When moving heavy furniture or appliances across your vinyl floor, always place wood, or hardboard down to use as a runway. Never move the object directly on the vinyl surface.
  
• If the room your new vinyl floor is installed in has direct exposure to sunlight, try to protect your floor from fading by using blinds, shades, or curtains during peak sunlight hours.
  
• If your floor has seams, avoid stepping on the seam sealer for at least 24 hours so the sealer has time to dry properly.