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Let’s Talk Jewelry Store Design: The Difference Between Porcelain Wood Versus Vinyl Wood Flooring | April 20, 2022 (0 comments)
West Bloomfield, MI--When working with my clients, my design process always starts with the style, look and color of the floor. For the past three or four years, most of my clients choose a wood look for their floors.
The wood look creates a very warm and inviting feeling to the space. A common question I get is which flooring material to use. I want to make sure you are all clear on the difference so when you are choosing your floor, you are making an educated decision.
The following are some pros and cons of each floor material.
Porcelain Wood Planks:
- Pro: Porcelain tile is easy to clean and maintain, two very important factors in commercial environments.
- Pro: They are moisture resistant and fade resistant. There are many different styles and sizes to choose from.
- Pro: Porcelain tiles will not buckle, warp, or stain.
- Con: A porcelain tile floor is harder underfoot making it a little more uncomfortable when standing all day.
- Con: Installation is expensive. You will need to set the tile in a thin set mortar. Then, you’ll apply spacers in between the tiles which keeps the tiles in place so you can apply the grout. The tile needs to be cut with a wet saw. The installation of tile is more complex and time-consuming than vinyl. The best grout to use in a commercial setting is Tec Grout. See picture of porcelain tile below.
Vinyl Wood Planks:
- Pro: The vinyl material is a softer floor making it more comfortable than tile when standing all day.
- Pro: It is very easy to clean.
- Pro: The cost of installing the vinyl is significantly less expensive than installing porcelain flooring.
- Pro: When it comes to installation, it is very easy and cost effective. When installing vinyl wood planks the best method is to directly glue-down the planks are set in an adhesive. You can cut the floor with a utility knife.
- Con: The vinyl material is not completely immune to damage. It’s softer material than tile and can be cut or torn with a very sharp object.
- Con: Vinyl plank flooring may fade if exposed to sunlight for a long period.
See the wood vinyl planks for Welling & Company Jewelers in West Chester, Ohio, below, which I designed. They used vinyl wood planks.
When it comes to these two options, my overall opinion would be to go with a porcelain wood plank. The durability will last longer, making it worth the extra cost for an excellent looking floor.
See chart below regarding many issues regarding Wood Vinyl versus porcelain flooring:
About the Author: Leslie McGwire™ has over 35 years in business development, interior design, equipment, furniture sales and marketing services in retail and jewelry-based businesses. Leslie has won over 25 national design awards, including the prestigious Salon Today and INSTORE Jewelry Storeawards. Leslie has a true passion for business, design for the jewelry and retail industries. Visit lesliemcgwire.com for more information