At Home: Vinyl has come a long way

Don't cringe when a flooring professional recommends vinyl floor for your home.

This isn't your grandmother's flooring. Modern luxury vinyl is a very different story than that of twenty years ago.

Today, luxury vinyl is the largest growth category in flooring, according to Kelly Ellingson, flooring department manager at Simpson Furniture in Cedar Falls and Coralville.

Luxury vinyl comes in tile, stone and wood aesthetics. Like the real deal, luxury vinyl is installed piece by piece. Manufacturers use state-of-the-art photography technology to get authentic look of wood planks or stone tiles.

The wood looks mimic the grain and character of oaks, hickory and even exotic woods like tiger wood and Brazilian walnut. Some manufacturers even offer reclaimed wood looks complete with fissures and knots. Planks are available in 3' to 7' widths to be able to fit any style design.

Tile looks have the variance of depth of real stone and porcelain tile. Most styles are available in different sizes in order to create patterns and fit any room. To replicate realistic visuals, most tile looks offer synthetic grout. Unlike traditional sanded grout, the grout is stain resistance and silicone based so it has little maintenance.

It can also be more cost effective than the real thing.

On a scale of flooring prices, vinyl is the cheapest, followed by luxury vinyl, with real wood and stone at the top.

'Aside from great visuals, there are many benefits to the luxury vinyl tiles and planks,' Ellingson said.

Vinyl flooring has protective coating to ensure it stands up regardless of foot traffic. It is scratch, stain and scuff resistant and water resistant, unlike wood and laminates.

Vinyl is also warmer and softer underfoot than traditional stone and wood, offering more comfort.

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Simpson Furniture has been a premier retailer for home furniture, flooring and home decor since 1946.

2300 Jones Blvd., Coralville; (319) 545-5005 and 2300 Main St., Cedar Falls; (319) 266-3535; www.simpsonfurniture.com