#1 Pros and Cons

First and foremost, you must know the pros and cons of each type of flooring material before deciding what type of flooring fits your lifestyle most. Talk to the sales representative about your expectation, building a good rapport is very important. 

After all researches and talking to different flooring companies, you’re still confused with the 1001 types of vinyl available in the market? What else should you look out for?

#2 Certificates and Test Reports

You should make sure the product you are getting is safe and deliver what it claims. Ask for all certifications and test reports. Be certain that you are getting what was said to be. You want to give your loved ones a safe environment to live in.

#3 Value vs Quality

Vinyl price can start from as low as $1.90 per square feet. This price is the most likely supply of material only. Are you getting what you see/hear – price vs design vs quality vs durability? Invest some time, make an effort to visit the showroom, look at the actual product, feel the quality, if it meets your expectation, you’ve probably found THE one.

#4 Knowledge & Experience

Budget is important. But more importantly, is the person who is going to give you advise, explain the product and spend the next few days or months with you till your flooring job is complete.

This floor representative should be equipped with good knowledge of the different types of flooring materials, a sound technical skill on how and what to do to achieve your ideal theme and experienced enough to foresee and tackle the tricky situation.

#5 Testimonial

Be it an established or newly set up company, there are customer orientated ones, there are sales figure orientated ones. 
Apart from the points we’ve highlighted, there is one last but not least factor you should consider, TESTIMONIAL.

Existing customers are the best person to tell you if this company is the one you should award the job to. Every customer’s expectation and the floor’s condition are different. There won’t be 100% positive reviews but do make an effort to read up some reviews of the company that you are considering. The salesperson will only paint you the beautiful picture but the reviews from the customers are always the truth that you need to know.

Looking for a suitable flooring company that suits your budget and preferences? Discuss your needs with our flooring team HERE.

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Vinyl Flooring Disadvantage #1:
Presence of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) & volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Play safe! HERT vinyl flooring is a great choice for young ones who love to roll around the floor during playtime.

Because of the chemicals used in producing conventional vinyl flooring, there is the likelihood of a potentially dangerous amount of VOC being released into the air. This can be harmful to our bodies when inhaled on a constant basis at home. Homeowners with young children or pets will definitely want to consider an alternative such as Hybrid Eco RigidTech (HERT) flooring. Manufactured with phthalate-free material, this low VOC-emitting vinyl flooring will ensure safe and non-toxic air quality for the little and furry little ones. And, unlike conventional non-biodegradable vinyl flooring, HERT flooring is an eco-friendly vinyl flooring option that eco-conscious homeowners can embrace.

Vinyl Flooring Disadvantage #2: Subfloor imperfections & telegraphing

Goodbye uneven floors! Homeowners who use ETEC flooring can feel comfortable with a flat and safe floor for the most accident-prone part of the house – the kitchen.

With conventional vinyl flooring, the installation must be done with utmost care and precision to ensure that the subfloors are absolutely clean and smooth. This is to avoid any unevenness from underneath the vinyl flooring that may eventually show up and be a permanent eyesore! To address such potential floor bumps, a great alternative to put on your list of flooring options is the EcoTech Extreme Core (ETEC) flooring. Unlike other common vinyl flooring, ETEC has a rigid and high-density core, which makes it resistant to most subfloor imperfections and prevents the telegraphing of vinyl tiles.

Vinyl Flooring Disadvantage #3: Stains & Discoloration

Beautiful yet easy to maintain, ETEC flooring is a versatile option that this homeowner chose for the kitchen, living room and even the bedroom.

Common vinyl flooring stains often include discolouration that arises when rubber comes in contact with low-quality vinyl flooring. It is an issue that many homeowners fail to note, especially when many shoes come with rubber soles that can threaten the aesthetics of your vinyl floor! That said, homeowners who want to enjoy the advantages of vinyl flooring without sweating over this can breathe easy with ETEC vinyl flooring. With its waterproof features, ETEC vinyl flooring is less susceptible to stains and discolouration and homeowners do not have to trade off its easy-to-maintain benefit.

For more information on The Flooring Gallery’s wide range of vinyl flooring and its advantages, feel free to get in touch with our vinyl flooring experts HERE.

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Building up a party-friendly home or hosting a big party at home? Here, we have some tips on the best types of flooring for parties, how you can prepare your floors for a house party, and some house party cleaning tips.

If you’re a homeowner considering flooring options for your new party-friendly house, The Floor Gallery (TFG) highly recommends vinyl flooring for parties. Vinyl flooring is a top choice amongst party-hosting homeowners due to its low maintenance features. Break little to no sweat when there’s a food or drink accident. Vinyl flooring will only need basic wiping with an ordinary damp cloth – hello easy party cleanup and goodbye sticky floors!

Credits: floorstoyourhome.com

While we never really know what our guests bring to the dance floor, vinyl flooring is a great option when it comes to protecting your house floors. Not only does it have scratch-resistant features, vinyl flooring is water-resistant – making it immune to glaring coffee stains – and has a wide array of high slip resistance textures as well. This reduces the likelihood of slips and nasty falls. If you find that vinyl flooring is suitable for your house, check out the wide range of eco friendly vinyl flooring that we offer here.

Alternatively, if you are looking to introduce a breath of fresh air to the party by means of an outdoor space, be it a garden or balcony, you could consider wood decking as well. TFG’s eco-friendly wood decking options are slip-resistant, ensuring a greater and safer time on the floor. If a downpour occurs before your party (and hopefully not during), there is no need to tip toe cautiously on semi wet floors just to avoid slipping. Being heat-resistant as well, you will not have to worry about the dance floor literally heating up!

For those who already have hardwood flooring installed in your home, here is something to note for your big party preparation. The biggest no-no is waxing your wooden floor before the party. We understand that you may want to impress your guests with a glossy, pristine floor. That being said, guest safety is still very important, and you want to prevent a slippery and dangerous dance floor at all cost.

Do you have questions about installing vinyl flooring in your home? Feel free to get in touch with our vinyl flooring experts HERE. In the meantime, happy party planning!

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Since vinyl flooring took off in the last several years, it has seen rapid adoption in both the residential and commercial spaces. Durable, easy to install, and safe for the elderly and children, vinyl flooring is quickly finding itself being installed in spaces all over the world. On top of that, vinyl flooring is available in a wide variety of designs and colours. No wonder vinyl flooring installation is gaining popularity!

What makes vinyl flooring so unique? The secret lies in the technologies that go into the vinyl flooring. Let us have a look at them, layer by layer.

1) Top Layer Technology: Tuff-Shield™

The top layer of the vinyl flooring is a crucial part as it needs to take the everyday abuses and abrasions. From footsteps to household accidents, such as the dropping of keys, the top layer acts as a protective shield for the flooring. It helps to maintain the beauty of the floor for years to come. Not all wear layers are the same. Superior wear layers are critical for performance as well as letting the design come to life.

Tuff-Shield™, the Tuffest coating ever, originates from the United States. It features a double-coating method that adds extra strength to the underlying urethane protectant coating of your vinyl flooring installation. Tuff Shield™ provides the vinyl floor with additional resistance to everyday wear, allowing it to be used in various applications in the home or office. Tuff-Shield™ technology is found in The Floor Gallery’s Eco Resilient Flooring (ERF), as well as EcoTech Extreme Core (ETEC) range of flooring products.

2) Middle Layer Technology: Ecotecture™

The middle layer is the part that provides for the dimensional stability for the vinyl flooring installation. Dimensional stability is the ability for the material to retain its original shape, especially when subjected to changes in its surroundings such as temperature and humidity.

Ecotecture™ Tech is created by bonding several high performance core layers. Every layer is designed to perform and bond together for exceptional dimensional stability and extra sound absorption.

(Eco Protect Resilient Flooring)

Each layer of the Ecotecture™ performs a specific function in the vinyl flooring installation. While the bottom most layers prevent curling and add stability to the vinyl tile or plank, the middle layer provides for sound absorption. The top two layers provide protection to the flooring’s design, as well as against the elements and even bacteria, ensuring that the vinyl flooring remains durable in most environments. Ecotecture™ is featured in The Floor Gallery’s Eco Protect Resilient Flooring (EPRF).

3) Locking Mechanism Technology

The locking mechanism provides for tight joints between vinyl planks and ensures that the flooring does not open up. Tight joints will also prevent any water from seeping in from the flooring’s surface.

Undoubtedly, modern technologies allow for so many exciting possibilities in the modern homeowners’ and offices’ flooring needs. Connect with one of our flooring specialists to discuss about a vinyl flooring installation that suits your needs HERE!

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Homeowners are immensely proud of their abodes and without a doubt, the floor accounts for a major portion of their renovation needs. As 2018 gets well underway, it is worth having a look at trendy vinyl flooring ideas in home décor this year.

Although traditional wood flooring still captures the imagination of many homeowners, a relatively new type of flooring has been gaining popularity – vinyl flooring. Eco Resilient Flooring are layers of virgin PVC. EcoTech Extreme Core and Hybrid Eco RigidTech are PVC mixed calcium powder Co extrusion. Vinyl flooring has gained wide interest due to its durability, ease of maintenance, and safety. Because of its versatility, it remains popular in 2018 and beyond.

Vinyl flooring comes in many styles, but two major types are tops with homeowners. The first are wood effect vinyl flooring tiles. These synthetic tiles are made to look and feel like natural wood, complete with their naturally coloured grains and textures. This trendy vinyl flooring option appeals to people who yearn for the wood-like look in their homes but also desire the ease of maintenance and soft feel. Wood-look vinyl comes in various colours, among them the evergreen brownish hues. Classic Oak and Danish Oak are always in demand.

      
Styles: Classic Oak & Danish Oak

Style: Scandi White Oak

Another popular class of vinyl flooring is stone effect vinyl flooring. As the name implies, stone-look vinyl flooring refers to vinyl tiles that mimic the look of natural stones. While natural wood evokes a sense of class, stone represents high-end natural look, with its associated luxury and stability. Stone-look flooring has the additional advantage of not having repeated patterns. Think of the polished marble or granite tiles in a five-star hotel lobby – there you have it. You can now replicate that posh and trendy look in your very own home! Consider Slate Grey and Washed Concrete. Both are dark grey tiles with the washed stone look that will evoke feelings of being at one with nature.

Source: Pinterest

  
Styles: Frosty & Sterling

Browse our wide selection of trendy vinyl flooring as you plan for the renovation of your dream home here.
Feel free to contact us should you require any advice; our consultants are always ready to assist!

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Homeowners sometimes got confused by the range of vinyl flooring products, hence let’s delve into the topic on the types of vinyl flooring available for home owners in Singapore today.

Clickable Resilient Flooring

Resilient flooring is part of the family of vinyl flooring. However, it is very different to traditional vinyl flooring due to features like 5mm thickness, 0.5 mm wear layer, made from pure virgin vinyl pulp and you do not need a flat subfloor to install the resilient flooring. Many flooring contractors sometimes will confuse the consumer by telling consumers that their resilient flooring is high end, premium and luxury. Basically, these flooring are considered as clickable resilient flooring which is categorised under the big family of vinyl flooring.

Vinyl Sheet, Plank or Tiles (or Traditional Vinyl Flooring)

These types of vinyl flooring are usually installed in clean room, clinics, hospitals and science labs. This is because medical vinyl sheets and tiles have anti-static and anti-bacterial properties which make it suitable for the above-mentioned areas. One thing to know that vinyl sheet and tiles usually has low thickness and wear layer compared to clickable resilient flooring, that is why, it is not recommended for homes.

Medical Clickable Resilient Flooring

From the terms, you will be able to guess this type of flooring has both features of a clickable resilient flooring and also medical vinyl sheet or tiles. Usually, they are in plank types and is highly recommended for homes with kids and elderly due to its eco friendly, anti-bacterial and durable features.

Eco Resilient Flooring (ERF)

This type of vinyl flooring has similar features to clickable resilient flooring, only that its focus is more on being certified eco friendly and eco healthy. Typical features of eco resilient flooring that makes it different to traditional clickable resilient flooring are its safe composite of material used to manufacture the flooring, better contribution to indoor air quality and also certified eco friendly. Other than that, it has all the features of clickable resilient flooring (whether it is name premium resilient, high end resilient, luxury resilient and so on), such as high slip resistant, waterproof, high impact resistant, high stain resistant, better dimensional stability, termite proof and more.

Now, you have a better understanding of vinyl flooring and the current types of vinyl flooring options available today for our home owners. Hence, do make wise decision when shopping for flooring. Do not be misled by marketing terms of clickable resilient flooring such as high end resilient, luxury resilient, premium resilient and more!

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Durability

Ceramic flooring is quite durable, if you know how to take good care of it. It can last for about 50 years or more. However, a drop of heavy object on the tiles, may break the tiles..

On the other hand, eco resilient flooring has high in durability due to its extreme dimensional stability, thick protective wear layer and reasonable thickness. With these features, it is no wonder eco resilient flooring manufacturers are able to provide lifetime warranty for the product.

Installation

Installation of ceramic tiles will take a lot of time, At the end of the day, there will be a lot of mess after the installation too. It may also take longer time for the installation complete. This is partly because ceramic tiles requires the use of wet cement for installation.

Eco Resilient Flooring, on the other hand, can be completed faster compared to ceramic tiles. A typical four room BTO flat may take a few hours of installation. It is much fuss free and so much easier. Not to forget, it is pretty mess free too!

Replacement

You can easily walk into a tile shop to get a replacement of the broken tile and replace it yourself. However, if your tiles are installed long time back, you might have problems finding a replacement. You can consider it a new fashion or trend if you have a sudden patch of different tiles out of nowhere on your floor.

Eco Resilient Flooring, as mentioned previously, is covered under warranty for lifetime on residential properties. If there is any faulty parts on the flooring, you can always call up the flooring contractors again and they will be there to solve your problem with a replacement plank. Hence, no need to worry about having a out of place patch on the floor!

Maintenance

Both type of flooring are relatively easy to maintain. However, for the ceramic tiles, there is the grout area that you need to scrub. Grout is the part where the tiles are joined. It is normally the dirtiest part of the floor on ceramic tiles flooring. A lot of manual work is required, but not very often. Otherwise, to maintain both flooring, you will only need to sweep and mop the floor to maintain the cleanliness. For Eco Resilient Flooring (ERF), cleaning is so easy and completely fuss free.

Now that we have gone through the differences between the 2 types of flooring, we hope you have a clearer and better understanding of the two.

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As similar concept to Newton’s law of motion, “Every action (force) in nature there is an equal or opposite reaction.”, all pros of vinyl flooring does comes with an equal share of cons. Do read on to find out if vinyl flooring is the right choice for you and your family before committing to the flooring.

Merits of Vinyl Flooring

Ease of Maintaining

Vinyl flooring is very easy to maintain. As long as you clean the flooring regularly, with just sweep and water, you will be able to keep it cleanliness. There is no need for strong chemical or scrubbing.

Cost

Among all the other types of flooring, vinyl flooring is considered relatively cheaper. This includes the long run maintenance cost. Just think of all the solutions you need not purchase. It is also easier for replacement to take place. When the flooring needs replacement, you need not replace the whole flooring, but just that few pieces of plank that are damaged.

Waterproof

Good quality vinyl flooring is waterproof, making it impervious to water. With this flooring characteristic, it makes it the perfect flooring for kitchen, toilet or any other places with high moisture like your air-conditioned rooms.

Durability

Vinyl flooring is well known for its high durability if it is well installed and maintained properly. It can easily last up to ten twenty years. However, if you done your research well, some companies are so confident of the product that they are giving a lifetime warranty for the flooring. That how durable vinyl flooring is!

Ease of Installation

Vinyl flooring is easy and fast to install. You can easily have it installed in your own comfort as short as 1 day. You can do it yourself, but it is highly recommended that you get a professional to do it for you.

Disadvantage

While vinyl flooring as an amount of merits, it also has its fair share of disadvantages that one should take note.

Discoloration

While it is easy to maintain vinyl flooring, making it as clean as it was when it is new, you have to take note that rubber and vinyl are consider enemy. Fiction caused by rubber and vinyl flooring will result in the discoloration of the flooring. Hence, it is highly not recommended to have any rubber mat or rubber shoe heels on the vinyl flooring to prevent permanent coloring.

Subfloor damage

It is relatively important to have a perfectly smooth, flat surface before you lay your vinyl flooring. This is because any small grains trapped can wear the material, making lumps appearing. This is also another reason why having a professional to do your flooring is important.

Glue Used in Vinyl Flooring

The thinner form of vinyl flooring such as the vinyl sheet and tiles are installed with adhesive. Such adhesive may not be eco friendly. Today, with the advancement of technology, many homeowners prefer clickable vinyl flooring (or clickable resilient flooring) which acts as a strong substitute to traditional vinyl flooring as it can be installed without adhesive.

With the above mentioned pointers, do weigh the merits and disadvantages before committing to having vinyl flooring. Otherwise, feel free to approach any of us on how to maintain your vinyl flooring today!

The post How Much Do You Know About Vinyl Flooring? appeared first on The Floor Gallery.

Here are the reasons why.

Antibacterial Properties

Grand Oak White Design

For health conscious homeowners, this is the first thing to look at. Its antibacterial properties made it recommended for clinics, childcare centres and hospitals too. Have your children ever drop morsels of food on the floor, pick it up and then eat them? Or have you ever sleeps on the floor? Do you know that there are millions of germs and bacteria on the flooring if it is not cleaned and maintained thoroughly? The anti-bacterial layer on the Eco Protect Resilient Flooring creates a protection layer that kills germs and bacteria. Therefore, it is recommended for families especially when they have family members with skin sensitivities and allergies.

Heat Resistance

Eco Protect Resilient Flooring is best recommended for kitchen due to its heat resistant properties too.

Unlike ceramic tiles, Eco Protect Resilient Flooring has better heat resistance and hence creates a comfy effect on the feet. When the weather outside is cool, you will not be afraid of getting cold feet that may lead to rheumatism especially for the elderly. When the outside weather is warm, your feet will feel comfortable as well!

Impact Resistance

Eco Protect Resilient Flooring has a built-in softer layer on top of its core, which helps to lessen the impact when a person falls. Hence, it is highly recommended for families with elderly and children.

Slip Resistance

European Oak Golden Design

The high slip resistance for Eco Protect Resilient Flooring makes it a safe flooring product whether in homes or public areas. Its grooved surface enhances its slip resistance thereby ensuring extra safety at home.

Eco Friendly

Western Oak Grey Design

Eco Protect Resilient Flooring had been awarded, Singapore Green Label certification SGBC 4 ticks in 2018, this is one of the highest standard in the eco friendly products category for flooring products in Singapore and Southeast Asia. An important criteria for Eco Protect Resilient Flooring is the use of safe non-toxic materials in the manufacturing of the product. This important criteria is something that not all resilient flooring or conventional vinyl flooring products have. Hence, it is important for homeowners, before they make their decisions on the flooring purchase, to ask for test reports or certification from the flooring contractors with regards to the use of safe materials in the manufacturing of the product.

Better Air Quality

Mountain Oak Grey Design

Eco Protect Resilient Flooring had passed the credible French VOC Regulation with A+ standard and be awarded the Indoor Air Comfort Gold. What it means to homeowners is that it helps to ensure we are breathing in better quality air within enclosed air-conditioned areas.

Better Durability

Grand Oak White Design

With high scratch resistance and dimensional stability, Eco Protect Resilient Flooring is hence a very durable flooring for your home. This will ensure a long lasting effect and cost efficiency on your flooring renovation.

In summary, Eco Protect Resilient Flooring is definitely a flooring product that is highly recommended for homes with elderly, children or pets or people who are safety and health-conscious. Click here for product enquiries.

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For HDB home owners and commercial owners who are shopping for vinyl flooring, the most important thing of all is to understand the different types of vinyl flooring available in Singapore. Here are six vinyl flooring options to consider:

#1 Vinyl Tiles

Vinyl flooring can be found in the format of tiles in classic designs such as marble, granite or any other stone-like patterns. Such vinyl tiles have a lower thickness and wear layer, and they are usually installed using a glue down approach.

#2 Vinyl Sheets

Vinyl Sheet is the thinnest form of all vinyl flooring. The thickness and wear layer can be between 2mm and 3mm – that is as fine as a piece of resin paper! As such, the installation of vinyl sheet flooring has to be carefully executed, so as to avoid any unevenness in the flooring. Such vinyl sheet flooring is best used for commercial kitchen or offices, where heavy walk-in traffic takes place.

(Want to learn more about our vinyl flooring options? Get in touch with our team here.)

#3 High End Resilient Vinyl Flooring / Luxury Vinyl Tiles

High end resilient vinyl flooring or luxury vinyl tiles (LVT) are commonly used in both residential and commercial properties today. Often phthalate-free, it has a thickness between 4mm and 5mm and a wear layer between 0.3 mm to 0.5mm. As such, luxury vinyl tiles are perfect for HDB and private housing in Singapore, as it provides maximum comfort for walking on your bare feet. Unlike the other vinyl flooring variations, you can install luxury vinyl tiles using the click-on approach. No glue is necessary. This helps to speed up the vinyl flooring installation process. The Floor Gallery’s Eco Resilient Flooring range is a close sibling to luxury vinyl tiles.

#4 Vinyl Planks

Vinyl planks usually has wood-like designs that are installed via a glued down method. Unlike laminate flooring or resilient planks, vinyl planks are usually smaller in size and thickness.

#5 Medical Industry Vinyl Flooring

“Technical” vinyl flooring is often used in specialised areas that require complete sterilisation, such as hospital rooms. This is probably due to its anti-static properties. It is important to know that not all vinyl flooring products are considered “technical” vinyl flooring.

#6 Heavy Duty Vinyl Sheets

Large industrial areas or warehouses may sometimes have forklift traffic or heavy traffic entering in and out of their premises. Therefore, it is important to install heavy duty vinyl sheets that are strong and resistant enough to withstand such heavy load and traffic.

There you have it! The six main types of vinyl flooring options in Singapore. Enjoy shopping for your flooring with this new found knowledge!

(Interested to find a suitable vinyl flooring option? Discuss your best options with us here.)

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