Which vinyl flooring is the right one for my project?

Urban Surfaces offers 3 types of vinyl flooring. Each features a different type of installation method:

  1. Floating Vinyl Flooring
  2. GlueDown LVT
  3. LooseLay

The interior environment usually determines the type of flooring product for the job. Here are some details about the 3 types of vinyl flooring.

Floating Flooring

Floating flooring keeps getting better. Thanks to advancements in core construction, it’s widely used today. What makes floating flooring so popular? You can install it over many different surfaces, such as an existing floor. With minimal floor preparation work, floating planks lock together and “float” over imperfections in the subfloor. No adhesive is required. Floor pieces have pre-attached foam underlayments. Floating planks help reduce sound. They’re also more comfortable to walk on compared to other hard surface flooring options.

Urban Surfaces products featuring floating:

Floating floors work best in residential and light commercial applications. Urban Surfaces’ floating floors come with commercially rated wear layers of 20 mil or more. However, a heavy commercial application requires a more secure installation, which you can only find in a permanent GlueDown product.

GlueDown Vinyl Flooring

In terms of cost effectiveness, a GlueDown LVT floor installation often beats a floating floor. However, a GlueDown LVT floor requires professionals with experience in floor installation because any imperfections in the subfloor will show if not properly or professionally prepared. Professionals also ensure your subfloor does not have any high moisture content, pH extremes, or unevenness in the surface that can cause the adhesive and floor to fail.

Urban Surfaces products featuring GlueDown:

For areas where you expect high foot traffic, use a GlueDown LVT system, which is also a good choice for projects on a tight budget.

LooseLay Vinyl Flooring

LooseLay flooring features the simplest installation system available. Laid as it sounds, “loose lay” installations require minimal adhesive in small rooms or full-spread adhesive for commercial environments. Thick and heavy, a LooseLay plank features a backing that grips the subfloor, holding the plank firmly in place. To reduce the cost of demolition and floor preparation, LooseLay can be installed over existing hard surface floor coverings. Added features include cushioning that softens steps while reducing sound at the same time, similar to our Sound-Tec collections.

Urban Surfaces products featuring LooseLay:

Install InstaGrip in a wide variety of residential and commercial applications.