In today’s world, there is always a flooring option available to upgrade your home on a budget using the materials you want. The strides that have been made in technology have turned options once thought as less than desirable into something that is very highly sought after.
One such option that has turned the corner from déclassé to chic is peel and stick wood flooring. Peel and stick flooring offers a vast array of designs and colors, and there is undoubtedly one style with which you are sure to fall in love.
However, as with everything, there are pros and cons involved in determining whether peel and stick wood floor is the correct covering for your floor.
What Exactly IS Peel and Stick Wood Flooring?
The peel and stick wood flooring concept, aka peel and stick tile, is nothing new to the flooring world. As its name basically implies, this is a sheet of vinyl in the shape of a square or plank with an adhesive-covered back, and once the pack is peeled away, the flooring is simply stuck down. It really is almost that easy.
Where does the “wood” come into play? Tiles that resemble wood are all the rage in the design aspect of the peel and stick world today. You can achieve the look of wood at a fraction of the cost.
The Scoop on the Good and Bad of Peel and Stick Wood Flooring
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of peel and stick wood flooring. Then, hopefully, you can use this information in your determination as to whether or not this option is viable for your home.
Pro: Budget-Friendly
A huge check in the “pro” column for peel and stick wood flooring its affordability. Even on its “luxury” end, the cost for peel and stick is somewhere between $2 and $5 per square foot. That is a fraction of hardwood, which usually starts upwards of $10 per square foot.
Because of its affordable nature, many homeowners who might have thought a flooring spruce-up to be far outside of their grasp can now find themselves treading on new ground.
New floors for not a lot of money? Yes, please!
Con: You Get What You Pay For
As with most things in life, the quality tends to be lacking when you pay less for something, and peel and stick flooring is no exception. The greater the thickness of the tile, the better the quality tends to be. In correlation to that, the bigger the price tag will be. With a thickness ranging from 2 mm to over 8 mm, that’s a huge variance.
Additionally, because the quality may not be top-notch, they are more susceptible to damage. Wear and tear can still be minimal, and they can last quite a while if they are taken care of, but you will have to baby them a bit more than other floorings.
Pro: Installation So Easy That Virtually Anyone Can Do It
Depending on the area’s size, installation is so easy that it’s not unthinkable to complete a project in a matter of hours. There is a minimal number of materials that will need to be purchased aside from the tile itself.
The only tools that are complete must-haves for installation are probably tools you already have, such as a utility knife to cut the tile, a tape measure, and some tape to mark the middle of your room.
Beyond that, the only other recommended tool is a press to weigh the tile down to ensure it is stuck down correctly. And that is something that you can rent then return.
The super-easy steps to follow to install your peel and stick flooring include:
- Set each box of tile on the floor of the area they are to be installed - this will get them adequately acclimatized to the room’s temp.
- Ensure that the floors are clean - the tiles will not adhere properly if the surface is covered with dirt or debris.
- Figure out where the middle of your room is, and place an “X” with the tape. This is where you will start your peel and stick journey. It’s advised to lay out the tiles in the pattern you plan to place them. That will save you time and energy in the end.
- Peel and stick until your heart’s content. Or until you finish the room. You will have to cut the tiles that don’t fit around the edges. But other than pressing the tiles down, that’s pretty much the long and short of peel and stick installation.
Con: If You Are Looking To Add Value to Your Home, Look Elsewhere
Unlike classic flooring options such as hardwood, you are not investing in the value of your home by installing peel and stick wood flooring. Though more widely accepted than in years past, you probably won’t hear a potential buyer putting this flooring option on a list of their must-haves. Obviously, real wood floors are more likely that reaction sometimes.
Pro: It’s Got “The Look”
With the modern designs now available in the peel and stick world, there will surely be one that complements your home’s aesthetics. Peel and stick are fantastic for their design diversity, from far-out geometric shapes and fun colors to a wood-like appearance.
Con: Subflooring Factors
Though peel and stick can be stuck down on existing flooring, if there is something wrong with that flooring, you cannot use peel and stick until you have made those necessary repairs.
While this isn’t a bad thing, per se, no doubt you need to fix the problem anyway, but if it wasn’t budgeted into this project, you might have bitten off more than you can chew by choosing a peel and stick option.
Pro: All-Weather Option
Because peel and stick flooring doesn’t expand and contract in response to the change in temperature, for some, that makes it an option that might be favorable over wood. Wood and ceramic tile do succumb to temperature issues causing warping and cracking. Peel and stick stands strong against the ever-changing temps.
Con: You Won’t Be Going Green
In a world where many try to stay conscientious concerning their carbon footprint, peel and stick flooring isn’t doing the Earth any favors. Due to its composition, this flooring, when discarded, will end up in a landfill where it will last for thousands of years. Obviously, that’s not a great selling point for this flooring option.
Peel and Stick Wood Flooring: A Floor in Review
So, let’s take a few minutes and go over what we’ve learned here today.
In the last few years, the world of peel and stick wood flooring has grown by leaps and bounds to become a flooring choice that not just those with a small budget go for. Due to their enhanced appearance to look more like wood and the vast array of colors and designs offered, peel and stick flooring has a look that is sure to match your aesthetics and be budget-friendly as well.
As with anything, there are pros and cons to opting for peel and stick wood flooring. However, as we have already mentioned, some positives include the wide variety of looks available, the awesome affordability of the product, ease of installation, and the promise not to buckle under the pressure of the ever-changing weather.
Some of the downsides associated with peel and stick wood flooring are that the quality of the product, though it varies by cost, tends not to be top-notch, leaving it open to incurring more damage than other types of flooring.
Additionally, this upgrade will not be adding value to your home’s resale value. If your subfloor is subpar and you didn’t budget that fix into this project, you may be in for a world of hurt. Peel and stick flooring cannot be installed atop a faulty subfloor.
And, if you’re trying to go green, this is not the option for you because due to the materials they are made of, peel and stick will be spending veritable eons in the landfill.
The Appeal of Peel and Stick
The bottom line seems to be that if you are looking for a way to spruce up your home’s flooring, but you are working with a shoe-string budget, peel and stick wood flooring very well could be the answer to your design dreams. Being easy to install, light on the budget, and appealing to the eyes, this flooring option could be a fabulous fit for your family in terms of flooring.
So, check out the offerings out there for peel and stick flooring and see if you become “stuck” on any of them.
Sources:
Ultimate Guide to Peel and Stick Vinyl Plank Flooring | Household Advice
7 Vinyl Flooring Pros and Cons Worth Considering | Bobvila
Self-Adhesive Vinyl Floor Tiles Pros and Cons | The Spruce
45 Best Decorating on a Budget Ideas - How to Decorate on a Budget | Country Living
