Can Resilient Flooring Actually Be Better Than the Real Thing?

Do you like the appearance of ceramic tile or stone but don?t like the way it feels? Some of the alternatives are so real that you can?t tell the difference. In fact, some of the products are referred to as super-natural. The look of stone or ceramic tile will add elegance to any home and continues to be a design favorite.

All types of resilient floors are designed to be both durable, comfortable to stand on and stain resistant.

There is no limit to the available styles as well as a variety of price points to fit any pocketbook. It should not be considered a ?cheap? alternative to ceramic or stone, but a quality alternative with different characteristics. Many flooring companies stock a variety of inexpensive products and have samples of the more costly styles.

The term resilient means the ability to recoil or spring back into shape. There are various types of resilient flooring made from materials such as cork, vinyl, linoleum and rubber. These products are known for being sturdy and have a natural spongy feeling. Resilient floors are able to recoil or spring back into shape after bending, stretching, or being compressed.

These flooring types are comfortable to stand on and make great floors for kitchens. The floors are treated with a type of finish that makes them resistant to scratches and stains. Cork floors are often waxed, which improves their stain resistance. The Library of Congress has had cork floors for years and continues to periodically wax and polish them to bring out their beauty.

What is resilient flooring?

Luxury vinyl tile or LVT is another type of resilient floor. It is known for its incredibly stunning looks and considered another ?fabulous fake.? Again this is not an inexpensive alternative to the real thing, hence the name, luxury vinyl tile.

Unlike ceramic, porcelain and glass tiles, LVT is easy to install. It can be installed with or without grout. To install the tiles, simply peel off the backing and place the tile where it needs to be installed. Just be sure you?re installing it the right place because it?s difficult to remove them once they have been installed.

These tiles are covered with clear urethane, which makes them resistant to scratches and gouges. Note the word scratch resistant, not scratch proof. The second layer of the tiles is the colored design with a felt or fiberglass backing. Because of the resiliency, they are quieter than other tiles.