How Do I Choose Sheet Vinyl Flooring?

But when you open the product pages, you see thickness in millimetres, wear layer in mils, backing, and glue down or loose lay. This guide explains those lines one at a time, using three real Tarkett sheet vinyl products sold on FloorBox.

New to vinyl? Start with our overview of the types of vinyl flooring, then come back here for sheets.

What is sheet vinyl flooring?

It's a flexible vinyl floor sold off a roll. The three products below come in rolls 12 feet wide. That width is the big advantage: in a room narrower than 12 feet, one piece can often cover the floor without a seam. Fewer seams means a cleaner look. Each seam is also one more spot that needs tape and seam sealer.

You can browse every roll in the sheet vinyl category.

What do thickness and wear layer change?

Two numbers matter most.

• Thickness is the whole sheet, top to bottom. In this guide, the thicker products are also the ones with the longer warranties.
• Wear layer is the clear protective layer on top. It takes the scuffs and foot traffic. A thicker wear layer lasts longer before the pattern shows wear.

Wear layer is often shown in mils. One mil is a thousandth of an inch, so 10 mil is about 0.25 mm and 20 mil is about 0.5 mm.

How do three Tarkett sheet vinyl products compare?

Tarkett CustomPro, White Oak Natural, 12'

• Thickness 1.4 mm, wear layer 0.25 mm (10 mil). The thinnest of the three.
• Waterproof: Yes, and the page lists kitchen, bathroom, living areas and basement.
• Urethane topcoat to help it resist scuffs and common household stains.
• Static load limit 75 lb per sq. in. (technical data sheet). This tells you how much steady weight, like a furniture leg, it can carry before it marks. Use wide furniture rests.
• 7 year residential warranty.

Tarkett TruTEX, Corawood Barley, 12'

• Thickness 2 mm, wear layer 0.25 mm (10 mil).
• Textile backing (fibreglass reinforced with a polyester backing, per the data sheet). The page says this backing helps manage moisture, from bathrooms to basements.
• Can go directly over most existing floor coverings, according to the page, which saves prep time.
• Glue down or loose lay. Loose lay means it lies in place without adhesive over the whole floor.
• Waterproof: Yes. Mildew resistant: Yes. Lifetime residential warranty.

Tarkett Lifetime, Brentwood Barley, 12'

• Thickness 3 mm, wear layer 0.5 mm (about 20 mil). Twice the wear layer of the other two.
• Static load limit 175 lb per sq. in. (technical data sheet), more than double CustomPro. Better for heavy furniture.
• Residential and light commercial traffic. Moisture resistant.
• Glue down or loose lay.
• Lifetime residential warranty, 10 years light commercial.

Should I glue sheet vinyl down or loose lay it?

Both are possible for these products. Here's what the Tarkett documents say:

• Loose lay (glueless) is quicker. CustomPro and Lifetime ask for a 1/4" gap at walls, pipes and cabinets, hidden later by baseboard or moulding. The Tarkett installation guide says not to install cabinets on top of a glueless floor.
• Full spread (glued) fixes the whole sheet. The data sheets say it's required for heavy traffic, rolling loads like a cart on wheels, or a tight fit right against walls.

If you plan a kitchen island or built-in cabinets, ask about glue down before you order.

Can I put sheet vinyl on a basement concrete floor?

Yes. The CustomPro and Lifetime data sheets list below grade, on grade and above grade concrete. The Tarkett installation guide adds a few conditions:

• The concrete must be dry, clean, smooth and level.
• Moisture must stay under 3 lb per 1,000 sq. ft. per 24 hours, or 75% relative humidity, when tested.
• Keep the room between 18°C and 30°C for 48 hours before, during and after the install (CustomPro and Lifetime).

If your slab is uneven, read what a subfloor is in a basement.

Can I install sheet vinyl over my old floor?

Sometimes. The Tarkett guide allows the glueless system over up to two layers of existing non-cushioned sheet flooring, and full spread over one layer. Repair curled edges first.

One important safety note from the same guide: do not sand, scrape or grind old resilient flooring or its glue. Some older floors can contain asbestos. If you're taking the old floor out, see how to remove vinyl flooring.

What that means for you

• Want the simplest, thinnest option for a low-traffic room? CustomPro.
• Want to go over an existing floor in a basement or bathroom? TruTEX, with its textile backing.
• Want the toughest top layer for a busy family room or heavy furniture? Lifetime.

Questions about your room? Contact us.

Frequently asked questions

Is sheet vinyl waterproof?

CustomPro and TruTEX are listed as waterproof on their pages. Lifetime is listed as moisture resistant. Check the line on each page, and read our guide to waterproof and water-resistant flooring.

How is sheet vinyl sold?

By area. Each page shows the unit (square feet or square yards) and the full roll size. All three products here are 12 feet wide.

How do I clean sheet vinyl?

The data sheets recommend a neutral floor cleaner, mats at entrances, and hard plastic or metal glides under furniture. They say not to use felt pads and never to slide heavy appliances across the floor.

Can I lay sheet vinyl myself?

The data sheets describe a loose lay method with no adhesive over the whole floor. Seams need the right tape and seam sealer. If your room is wider than 12 feet, or you're unsure, contact us first.