Though many different materials are found on the floors of today’s kitchens and bathrooms, sheet vinyl remains the most popular. Sheet vinyl promises less maintenance, an easier and less expensive installation, and fewer seams than other types of flooring. Originally introduced as a low-maintenance alternative to linoleum, vinyl flooring has undergone steady improvement in quality and decorative styling. Today’s embossing technology, for example, can replicate the pitted and grainy textures of tile and grout well enough to make some of the ceramic and stone imitations look close to the real thing (see Figure 1). These looks aren’t limited to the highest-priced products, either; they are often available throughout a manufacturer’s line. Flooring Anatomy Residential sheet-vinyl flooring is generally composed of three separate layers bonded together: the
