Floor and wall coverings
Floor and wall coverings - Vinyl Council Australia
| Floor coverings |
| PVC is the main polymer used for sheet and tile flooring. Over 5 million square metres of vinyl floor covering are laid in Australia annually. PVC resilient flooring is widely used in Australian hospitals, schools, sporting clubs and commercial kitchens where slip resistance and high levels of safety and hygiene are required. It is hardwearing, warm underfoot, cost-effective and easy to keep clean as it has a pore-free surface. Vinyl floors are low maintenance, need no polishing or treating and are hygienic and fire resistant. Sheets are joined together by heat welding which prevents water or moisture from seeping through gaps. They are ideal for wet floor areas such as in healthcare facilities. In design terms, PVC floor coverings are available in a wide variety of colours and finishes. |
| Wall papers |
| Vinyl coated wallpapers and fabrics offer durable, washable wall coverings. They are long lasting and available in a wide range of colours, patterns and textures. Vinyl coated wallpaper is made by applying a liquid coat of hot PVC over a paper base. A second type of vinyl wall covering has a solid sheet of decorative vinyl fixed to a paper backing. Both of these layered coverings are easy to clean and resistant to heat and humidity making them a good choice for kitchens and bathrooms. They are also easy to strip from walls. Fabric is also used in some vinyl wall coverings. Fabric coverings, which have been laminated with a solid sheet of vinyl (rather than being coated with a liquid film), are considered the most durable of all wall coverings. |
