Have you just closed down a deal on your first home? You’re now probably excited to dress it up and give it some of your own colors. Unfortunately, purchasing a whole new set of wallpaper, flooring, paint, and other home renovation materials can cost you a lot of money.
Save yourself some money by going with TrafficMaster vinyl sheet flooring for your home! Vinyl sheets are affordable for most homeowners, easy to install and maintain, and can imitate the looks of real hardwood and stone floors without the hefty price tag.
Learn more about the TrafficMaster Pro Basic Redwood Acacia Wood Residential vinyl sheet flooring in this article!
What Is Vinyl Sheet Flooring?
Vinyl flooring is the most fitting solution for new and budget-constrained homeowners who wish to give their home’s floor a fresh new look without costing them an arm and a leg. This kind of flooring is cheaper than hardwood and stone flooring but does come with a few compromises.
Vinyl flooring comes in three types: sheet, plank, and tile. Whichever you choose to go with, all of these types are composed of different layers. The topmost layer is a protective layer that can endure scratches and spills. Right beneath it is an image layer that can mimic any real wood and stone pattern of your choosing. Lastly, the core layer provides a structure for the entire assembly.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Vinyl Sheet Flooring?
Before making a bulk purchase of vinyl sheet flooring for your home, you should first consider the pros and cons of having it installed. Vinyl sheet flooring isn’t for everyone, but it can be the most practical and fitting flooring solution for most people, especially new homeowners.
Vinyl sheets are affordable, durable, and highly resistant to water damage. On the other hand, their colors can fade away, and the sheets themselves become difficult to repair over time.
To make the decision easier for you, we have listed down the advantages and disadvantages of having vinyl sheet flooring for your home. Read through the list and decide whether vinyl sheet flooring is the right choice for you and your home!
Pros
- Mold resistance: Mold often grows beneath the floors in damp areas of your home. Besides changing the color of your flooring, they can introduce alarming health risks to you and your family. Vinyl sheets are highly resistant to mold growth.
- High durability: Made of composite wood and synthetic materials, vinyl sheets are designed to withstand the test of time. A properly maintained vinyl sheet flooring can last for up to twenty years.
- Unbeatable low prices: Many homeowners dream of having genuine hardwood floors for their homes. However, the dream remains elusive because of how expensive hardwood floors are. Vinyl sheet flooring can imitate the looks of hardwood floors without the steep price.
- Water resistance: Water can weaken the durability of your flooring. In addition, moisture within your flooring can be fertile ground for mold growth. Due to their synthetic materials, vinyl sheets can withstand moisture and water damage.
- Ease of maintenance: Due to its protective layer, maintaining vinyl sheet flooring can be as simple as wiping the floor with a damp rag. Unlike hardwood floors, you don’t need to have your vinyl sheet flooring refinished every few years.
- Ample comfort: Compared to other flooring materials such as stone and hardwood, vinyl sheets feel softer and more comfortable underfoot. Stone and hardwood can be too hard, which is not recommended for homes with toddlers.
- Wide selection of styles and patterns: Besides imitating hardwood flooring, vinyl sheets can also take the form of other kinds of flooring. With its image layer, almost any pattern, color, and style can be printed on a vinyl sheet, resulting in thousands of styles to choose from.
- Stain resistance: Little accidents such as liquid spills can happen any day. Vinyl sheets have a clear layer of protective material that resists staining and damage from spillage. If you have pets and toddlers at home, vinyl sheets can save you from a lot of stress.
Cons
- Cannot be repaired: Hardwood floors wear out over time, but you can have them refinished, making them look brand new. With vinyl sheet flooring, however, you can only have them removed and replaced once they get damaged.
- Colors fade out over time: While there is a thin layer of protection on the surface, sunlight can still penetrate through it and damage the image layer. It can result in the discoloration of the pattern printed on the image layer.
- Damage from below: Thinner vinyl sheets are more susceptible to the bumps of the floor. These bumps can show up gradually after a long time, especially in places with high foot traffic. One way to prevent this is to make sure that the floor is completely flat and free from sharp blemishes.
Where Can I Buy Vinyl Sheet Flooring?
TrafficMaster is Home Depot’s own brand of affordable flooring products. Besides vinyl sheets, TrafficMaster also has laminate, carpet, and tile flooring options for sale. As such, all of their products can take advantage of Home Depot’s more than 2,000 store locations in North America.
Getting yourself some vinyl sheets can be as simple as driving up to a Home Depot store, taking your pick among the wide selection of vinyl floors they have on sale, and driving back home.
If there isn’t a Home Depot store location near you, you might have to go for a long drive for TrafficMaster vinyl sheet flooring. Unfortunately, TrafficMaster is exclusively sold by Home Depot, so you wouldn’t be able to get them anywhere else.
Introducing the TrafficMaster Redwood Acacia Vinyl Sheet Flooring
Specs at a Glance:
- Features a convincing redwood acacia wood print
- Comes with a thickness of 55 millimeters and a width of 12 feet
- Has a minimum order of 5 square yards length
- Can be installed in the basement, the ground floor, and higher
- Rated to be used in residential homes only
- Reduces the sound in the room by absorbing it
- Provides comfort underfoot with its built-in cushioning
- Has a protective layer that resists liquid spills and repels dirt
- Made of materials that prevent mold growth
- Can be effortlessly laid down on the floor
- Installs easily without too much underlayment or subfloor prep
Installation
Vinyl flooring is very popular among DIY enthusiasts and homeowners who want to take care of things themselves. Many homeowners choose to install their flooring themselves instead of hiring professional help to do it for them. Vinyl sheets are so easy to install that even a complete newcomer to the home renovation scene can do it!
Home Depot provides extensive documentation on how to install their vinyl sheets. You can find both written instructions and video tutorials on their website and official YouTube channel. Home Depot made it a lot less difficult for DIY lovers to install vinyl sheets in their own homes.
Durability
Vinyl sheets are composed of multiple layers. The Trafficmaster Redwood Acacia vinyl sheet has a 10-millimeter wear layer. The wear layer is the top layer that protects the sheet from scratches and spills. You can rely on the wear layer to withstand daily beatings from toddlers and pets at home.
This vinyl sheet has an overall thickness of 1.397 millimeters which can be enough for most homes. However, you might want to go with thicker options if you’re planning to install vinyl sheets in high-traffic areas. Unusually high foot traffic can wear the protective layer down.
Cost
Whether you are building an entirely new home or renovating an already existing one, materials and labor costs can quickly add up without you realizing it.
As a smart homeowner, you should diligently consider your options and nail down the best one that suits your needs. As such, one of the most important things that you should take into account when buying vinyl sheets is the cost.
You can purchase the TrafficMaster Redwood Acacia vinyl sheet at an affordable price of $0.73 per square foot at any Home Depot store location or even online through their official website. At this price, a square yard of Redwood Acacia vinyl sheet flooring can cost you around $6.60, which is definitely a bargain!
Downsides
You might need prior underfloor preparation before laying down the TrafficMaster Redwood Acacia vinyl sheets across your home’s floors.
Some customers report that their vinyl sheets had multiple puncture marks after unrolling them on the floor. Others discovered that the vinyl sheets easily rip upon installation. The vinyl sheets’ durability is something you should consider before making a purchase.
While you can definitely save some money due to the cheap price tag, you might want to seek help from someone experienced in laying down vinyl sheet flooring to avoid damages.
Final Thoughts
Everyone wants a home that feels warm and cozy and looks great. A hardwood floor would definitely give off that cozy vibe while also matching your home’s interiors. Unfortunately, it is too pricey for the average homeowner. However, there is an alternative.
The TrafficMaster Redwood Acacia vinyl sheet flooring can lend your home hardwood-like flooring without the hefty price tag. Because it’s made of synthetic materials, it can resist damage from water spills and mold growth. You can enjoy all these benefits without splurging all your hard-earned cash on your home’s flooring.
Transform your home into a cozy and warm space with TrafficMaster’s vinyl sheet flooring today!
June 3, 2022
