Vinyl floors continue to be one of the most sought-after flooring materials on the market today. Many homeowners prefer vinyl over other choices because you get the look of natural hardwood at a fraction of the cost. Not only is vinyl flooring priced better than wood floors, but it is also resistant to water, and very durable. Vinyl holds up to scratches and dents like a champ, its no wonder if continues to gain popularity. When it comes to vinyl you have a couple of options as far as the installation process is concerned. You can get a “click-lock” vinyl or a glue down vinyl. Let’s discuss the differences between the two.

WHAT ARE CLICK-LOCK VINYL FLOORS?

Click-lock vinyl also known as floating vinyl is equipped with a tongue and groove system that allows the planks of vinyl to click and lock together. As the planks are clicked into place, they can float slightly above the subfloor. The vinyl can be easily clicked into place using a rubber mallet. Since this version of vinyl floors floats slightly, they can be installed over a subfloor that has some imperfections, where as a glue down variety would not have that flexibility.

WHAT IS GLUE DOWN VINYL FLOORING?

In contrast to its counterpart, the glue down variety of vinyl flooring is such that it is glued down to the subfloor. Glue down vinyl is either put into place using a liquid glue or an adhesive tape to secure the planks to the subfloor. Glue down vinyl is a more permanent solution to floors than floating vinyl would be, and because of the time it takes to either peel off the backing to the adhesive on the plank or paste it down with glue it does take more time to install glue down vinyl within the home.

WHICH IS MORE COST EFFECTIVE, GLUE DOWN OR CLICK-LOCK?

As we continue to explore which option might be best for your particular needs, price is definitely worth discussing. Click-lock vinyl is more expensive per cubic foot than glue down vinyl is, however that cost is offset with any additional supplies that might be needed to complete a glue down installation. Both types of vinyl will have installation labor costs involved. Typically speaking the labor costs for installing click-lock vinyl will be less expensive than glue down because it isn’t quite as labor intensive.

WILL GLUE DOWN OR CLICK-LOCK VINYL BE MORE DURABLE?

This is a great question. As far as the composition of the planks themselves they are equally durable and water resistant. There is no difference there. With floating planks, it is possible that a plank could come loose if heavy furniture is moved across it frequently. Glue down vinyl flooring holds up wonderfully in heavy traffic, and in instances where furniture may be moved frequently across it. You can rest assured that both varieties of vinyl are scratch resistant, they will continue to look beautiful even through times of high traffic. Another point of interest would be that glue down may work better than click-lock in very large rooms as it may provide more durability in that instance.

WHAT IF I NEED REPAIRS?

Even the most durable flooring may require a repair from time to time. If a repair is required, click-lock floors may be a bit tricky as the person executing the repair may need to ease the tongue and groove into place between existing planks. Glue down planks on the other hand can simply be pulled up and replaced. Both are possible to do, so that is not a worry for most homeowners.

No matter which option you decide to go with, you will have beautiful new floors throughout your home. When making the decision between the two it comes down to preference, room size and traffic level. When you keep these points in mind you and your flooring professional here at Image Flooring in Winnipeg, MB will have an easy time choosing the right floors for you.