2mm Vinyl Flooring

Stick Down flooring refers to the conventional vinyl planks or tiles that stormed onto the market late last century.

They took over from the cushion sheet vinyl rolls that were commonly used in Australian kitchens and dining rooms over the previous 50 years. They are also known as LVPs (Luxury Vinyl Planks) or LVTs (Luxury Vinyl Tiles).

Like their predecessors, these vinyl planks are manufactured with a film or photo of whatever it was replicating and then covered with a clear textured pvc wear-layer.

The soft foam or cardboard backing has been replaced with a solid, high density backing that gives the plank great strength and stability.

The big improvement over the roll vinyl is that the surface layer cannot be easily punctured or torn, and this meant that these LVTs are suitable for heavy commercial use provided the wear-layer is thick enough.

From an aesthetic point of view, the individual planks have a variety of prints and allowed for a more natural appearance when randomly laid, than a sheet vinyl where the same pattern repeats every metre or so along the floor.

Australians are purchasing mostly timber plank-look patterns and the available ranges do reflect this.

However, there are some stone, tile and concrete patterns scattered through the ranges.

Timbers from around the world have been photo -simulated, and the degree of realism in the more recent offerings really need to be seen.

“Loose Lay” vinyls can also be included as they are most commonly stuck down.

Integra Direct’s Gold Coast showroom displays Australia’s largest range of full size Stick Down and Loose Lay vinyl planks, so come in and compare floor displays of our entire range, and even borrow a full size plank to take home.

These glue down plank and tile floors are available in thicknesses from 2mm to 4mm, with 2.5mm and 3mm being the most common.

The toughness and thickness of the wear-layer is the most important factor and the industry standard is that 0.5mm and over is considered a commercial grade.

The 2mm planks generally have a thinner wear layer and are suited for domestic use only.

A 2.5mm plank with a 0.5mm wear layer is recommended for heavy domestic wear areas, and do not actually cost more than the thinner domestic planks.

The 4.5mm or 5mm Loose Lay planks have no wear advantage over the 2.5mm as the thickness comes from an acoustic backing.

Many experts consider the 2.5mm and 3mm versions to be superior from a wear point of view under heavy commercial use.

DIYers are able to install Stick Down and Loose Lay vinyl flooring themselves more easily than any other flooring, but Stick Downs must not be loose laid.

Being made of fully synthetic products, most Stick Down vinyls are water-proof, so wet-mopping, pet accidents, leaks or spillages have no effect on the flooring.

The textured surface means you will no longer be a slave to your floor. Fade-resistant dyes means that Stick Down planks withstand colour-loss much longer than real timber flooring.

Also, Stick Downs can be laid seamlessly with no expansion gaps or expansion trims and features and border works are easily achieved.

These are a stylish, inexpensive, long-lasting, low-maintenance and comfortable floor that can be laid throughout every room of the home

The fact that these floors are in place for so long without the need for soaps, polishes, strippers, sanding or recoating means that, once it is past its manufacturing stage, the environmental impact is lower than any other floor coverings.

The hygienic advantages of a Stick Down vinyl makes it a favourite with families, especially with asthmatics, toddlers and babies.

The elderly and frail also find that pedestrian, wheelchair and walker movement is not inhibited.

Nothing is perfect. Manufacturers have recognised that a wider variety of pattern is required for the most natural look, and they are heading in that direction.

During installation, the planks must be checked before gluing them in to ensure it is not matching the ones adjacent.

Using hard-setting glues are only a minor inconvenience, but considerable effort will be required in 25 years’ time when removal is done.

Curtains or blinds should be used to protect the Stick Down floor form direct sun during the heat of the day.

Due to the inherent water-resistance of Stick Down floors, they are commonly installed in wet areas such as kitchens, laundries, garages, shower floors and bathrooms, as well as any other room in the house.

Cooks appreciate the fact that they can stand for hours on a Stick Down floor without the fatigue of standing on a cold hard ceramic tile or concrete floor.

Their thermal benefits mean children can lay about and play on a Stick Down floor all year round.

These are a stylish, inexpensive, long-lasting, low-maintenance and comfortable floor that can be laid throughout every room of the home.

Almost every type of domestic subfloor can have Loose Lay laid over it. It is a requirement that the subfloor is smooth, flat and solid.

Concrete floors must have holes filled and may need anything from a light sand-down, to a thin feather coat or a full flood coat of floor preparation.

Ceramic tiles should be removed or primed and topped over with a suitable cement topping.

Particle-board floors may require sanding at the joints and must be topped with a suitable fine cement compound to allow a proper bond.

Timber floors will require either a flexible flood coat or board underlayment.

Let Integra Directs’ experienced experts take the worry out of this when your home is inspected.

Integra Direct can also guide DIYers with all the information and products to give their projects a professional finish.

Stick Downs with a wear layer of 0.5mm and over are usually graded ‘Heavy Commercial’ and obviously will give home -owners decades of service.

Most of these carry Residential wear warranties of 20 – 25 years, while those with thinner wear-layers will have reduced warranties and life spans.

Areas exposed to direct or reflected sunlight during the middle of the day may eventually exhibit colour loss or change, so the use of window coverings or awnings will help with this.

Regular cleaning and the use of entry mats and furniture protectors will ensure your Stick Down maintains its new look for many years.

The 3mm thick standard vinyl floors have been installed in some Australian homes for well over 20 years without any sign of wearing out.

All floors can be damaged but the tough wear-layer of Stick Down vinyl floors easily withstands the rigours of day-to-day life.

Dragging heavy fridges or furniture without protective pads has been known to cause surface marks.

A glued down plank can be removed, the glue scraped off the subfloor and a new plank glued into place.

This can be done by any handy-man or handy-woman or call Integra Direct for a service call by one of our professional installers.

We recommend spare material be purchased and stored flat to ensure matching flooring is available throughout the life span of your floor.