The History of Vinyl Flooring
Vinyl flooring has become an enduringly popular option in homes and businesses all over the world. It’s a cheaper and more versatile option compared to many traditional flooring materials and its development has taken place over the last 100 years.
How It All Started
Vinyl flooring began in the 1920s as an accident. A chemistry teacher was trying to make a glue to stick metal and rubber together. Instead, he discovered polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This new material didn’t stick things together, but it resisted water, was cheap to make and could easily be coloured.
Early Uses
Although vinyl was discovered in the early 1920s, it wasn’t used in homes right away. The material was first used in many other areas such as electronics, construction, medical equipment, packaging and transportation. It was so useful because it lasted a long time and could be used in many different ways.
After World War II
During World War II, most vinyl was used for military needs, which left little for home products. After the war ended and factories started making consumer goods again, vinyl production grew. By the mid-1950s, companies began making vinyl flooring.
Why Vinyl Makes Good Flooring
Vinyl became popular as flooring for several reasons. It’s strong enough to handle lots of foot traffic without wearing out, and it also feels comfortable to walk on, even barefoot. This is because the makers have found ways to make it both tough and soft.
Handling Water and Everyday Use
One of the best features of vinyl flooring is that water doesn’t damage it. Unlike wood floors, vinyl stays intact when liquid spills on it, and this makes it perfect for kitchens and bathrooms where spills can often happen.
Vinyl Has Improved Over Time
Over the years, vinyl flooring has gone from being a practical choice to being something far more beautiful. Manufacturing can now create vinyl tiles that look just like wood or stone, and the printing is so detailed that it’s hard to tell the difference between vinyl and natural materials.
Affordable Option
Perhaps the biggest selling point of vinyl flooring is just how low cost it can be. As inventor Friedrich Klatte found, vinyl is much cheaper to produce than natural materials. Getting, processing and shipping hardwood, limestone or granite costs a lot more. Vinyl is also lightweight, which makes shipping much cheaper.
The market for vinyl flooring has increased dramatically in the last 40 years. Companies keep improving their products, which makes vinyl a realistic alternative to natural materials. These developments will make sure that vinyl flooring will remain popular for many years to come.