Vinyl flooring is manufactured from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) combined with plasticizers, stabilizers, and pigments. The production process varies depending on whether the final product is sheet vinyl, vinyl composition tile (VCT), or luxury vinyl plank and tile (LVP/LVT).
Sheet vinyl is produced by layering materials including a felt or fiberglass backing, a PVC core, a printed design layer, and a clear wear layer. The design layer uses advanced rotogravure or digital printing technology to create realistic wood, stone, or abstract patterns.
The wear layer is critical to the floor's durability. Thicker wear layers (measured in mils) provide better protection against scratches, scuffs, and wear. Residential vinyl typically features wear layers ranging from 6 to 20 mils, with commercial products going even higher.