Vinyl is made from a special type of plastic known as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and is used to create a variety of items including home siding, toys, clothing and handbags. This versatility in production extends to vinyl flooring, which is available in a number of colors and patterns and can be crafted to resemble more expensive floors such as hardwood, tile or stone. This quality makes these types of floors more comfortable to walk and stand on for longer periods of time.

There's more to selecting your vinyl flooring than determining how you want the floor to look. The type of vinyl flooring you choose (sheet, tile or plank) can determine both the ease and the method of installation. The way the flooring is constructed (inlaid rotogravure) affects how durable the floor will be, while the top layer (vinyl no-wax, urethane or enhanced urethane) plays a role in how simple your vinyl floor will be to maintain and how long it will last.