Types of Vinyl Flooring and Where Each One Works
The main types of vinyl flooring explained: cushioned sheet, LVT tiles and planks, commercial sheet and slip rated safety vinyl, with where each works best.
Vinyl flooring comes in four main types: cushioned sheet vinyl for homes, luxury vinyl tiles and planks (LVT), heavier commercial sheet vinyl, and slip rated safety vinyl. They share a material but differ in thickness, feel, fitting method and where they belong, so asking for vinyl on its own can lead to quite different floors.
Here is how to tell them apart, where each performs well and what fitting each one involves.
Cushioned sheet vinyl
Sheet vinyl comes off a wide roll, so most rooms are covered in a single piece with no joins. A cushioned backing makes it warm and soft underfoot, which is why it is popular in kitchens, bathrooms and utility rooms.
Because it is thin and flexible, it shows every lump beneath it. A smooth base, often a plywood overlay on timber or smoothing compound on concrete, is what makes it look good.
Luxury vinyl tiles and planks (LVT)
LVT is cut into planks or tiles that look like wood or stone, with a moisture resistant wear layer on top. It comes in stone, plank and herringbone formats from brands such as Karndean, Amtico and Moduleo.
It can be glued down to a prepared subfloor or supplied as a click system. Glue down suits large open plan and commercial floors, and our click versus glue down guide compares them.
Commercial sheet vinyl
Commercial sheet vinyl is denser and harder wearing than domestic cushioned vinyl, built for corridors, classrooms and healthcare. Seams are hot welded so the surface is continuous and water cannot get into the joins.
It is often finished with coved skirting, where the floor is turned up the wall to leave no corner for dirt or water to collect.
Safety vinyl
Safety vinyl adds grip to the surface for wet or busy areas: commercial kitchens, wet rooms, care settings and toilets. Slip rated options go up to R11, and ranges include Altro, Polyflor Polysafe, Tarkett Safetred and Forbo Surestep.
It feels slightly textured underfoot and is cleaned differently from smooth vinyl, so it is usually chosen for where grip matters rather than for a whole house.
Which type suits which room
| Room or space | Usual type | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Family kitchen | Cushioned sheet or LVT | Warm, water resistant and easy to clean |
| Bathroom or en suite | Sheet vinyl or LVT | Few or no joins for water to find |
| Living room or hallway | LVT | Wood or stone look with good wear |
| School or clinic corridor | Commercial sheet vinyl | Welded seams and hard wearing |
| Wet room or commercial kitchen | Safety vinyl | Slip resistance |
What every vinyl floor has in common
Whichever type you choose, the subfloor decides the finish. Vinyl is a thin, close fitting material, so dips, nail heads and board joints telegraph through. Preparation is part of every vinyl job we quote, and our survey checks the base before we recommend a type.
Frequently asked questions
- Is LVT the same as vinyl flooring?
- LVT is one type of vinyl flooring. It comes in planks or tiles, while sheet vinyl comes off a roll and usually covers a room in one piece.
- Which vinyl flooring is best for a bathroom?
- Sheet vinyl with sealed seams or a well fitted LVT both work. In wet rooms, a slip rated safety vinyl is often the safer choice.
- Is sheet vinyl waterproof?
- When fitted correctly, yes. That means sealed or hot welded seams and, in wet areas, coved skirting to stop water tracking behind units.
- What is safety vinyl used for?
- Areas where slips are a risk, such as commercial kitchens, wet rooms, toilets and care settings. Slip rated options go up to R11.
- Does vinyl flooring need a perfectly flat floor?
- It needs a smooth, sound base. Vinyl is thin, so lumps and joints underneath show through. We prepare the subfloor as part of the job.
Keep reading
What sheet vinyl really costs installed, how cushioned, felt-backed and safety vinyl differ in price, and why preparation is the biggest variable in a vinyl quote.
Sheet vinyl or LVT — which suits a wet room, kitchen or busy hallway best? Compare seams, looks and cost.
How sheet vinyl is fitted in a home: clearing the room, preparing the base, templating, adhesive or loose lay, seams, sealing edges and when you can use it.
See how we survey, prepare and fit vinyl across Kent.
See how we survey, prepare and fit safety flooring across Kent.
Talk it through with a fitter, not a call centre
Bring your room plans to our Gillingham warehouse or book a free survey and we will recommend the right vinyl for each space.