Although the pages that my clients
tear out of decorating magazines
show tile, carpeting, and even marble
on kitchen and bath floors, their
overwhelming choice is sheet vinyl.
And despite the countless number of
square yards laid by flooring
mechanics each year, it's a product
few general contractors know much
about.
In fact, a lot of us still refer to
resilient flooring as "linoleum,"
which was made of wood fiber and
linseed oil with a burlap backing.
But enough history.
More Than Meets The Eye
Today, sheet vinyl floor covering
is composed of four layers (see illustration).
The bottom layer is the
backing or carrier. It's the body of the
floor covering on which everything
else hangs, and is either felt