For floating vinyl flooring, there are both types with a vinyl core layer (solid vinyl) and those with an HDF core layer (vinyl on HDF backing).
Construction:
Wear-resistant polyurethane coating, vinyl wear layer, vinyl decorative layer, stabilization layer, and then either another vinyl layer or HDF.
Vinyl is suitable for wet rooms, expands less, and the product consists of fewer different materials, each with its own properties.
Sometimes the same manufacturer sells both vinyl with an HDF core and solid vinyl with a vinyl core.
Why choose an HDF board at all instead of solid vinyl, which expands less and is more water-resistant? The construction described above (wear layer, etc.) is always the same.
Construction:
Wear-resistant polyurethane coating, vinyl wear layer, vinyl decorative layer, stabilization layer, and then either another vinyl layer or HDF.
Vinyl is suitable for wet rooms, expands less, and the product consists of fewer different materials, each with its own properties.
Sometimes the same manufacturer sells both vinyl with an HDF core and solid vinyl with a vinyl core.
Why choose an HDF board at all instead of solid vinyl, which expands less and is more water-resistant? The construction described above (wear layer, etc.) is always the same.
B
Bau-Schmidt26 Aug 2017 15:13Different installation techniques.
Hello "Grym".
Just as "Bau-Schmidt" described, that’s exactly the case.
To be a bit more precise here:
The thin PVC planks with locking systems should be handled with some caution. PVC flooring tends to experience thermal expansion and contraction, like all elastic and textile floor coverings. To prevent the usually 3mm (1/8 inch) thin plank from warping, the joints are either fully glued on the underside to the smoothed screed surface or, if necessary, held in place by a loose-laid adhesive strip ("roll fixation").
Much thicker constructions with a carrier board are less prone to such deformations. That’s why they can be installed loose, as a floating floor (possibly over an underlay).
So, if we have the build-up height specified and it’s a rental apartment that I want to install flooring in, only the carrier variant is recommended!
If, on the other hand, it is a property I want to improve and there is underfloor heating, then thin PVC planks (with or without locking, which is irrelevant if glued) should be glued down.
As you can see, there are reasonable reasons to choose one system over the other.
------------------------------------
Regards, KlaRa
Just as "Bau-Schmidt" described, that’s exactly the case.
To be a bit more precise here:
The thin PVC planks with locking systems should be handled with some caution. PVC flooring tends to experience thermal expansion and contraction, like all elastic and textile floor coverings. To prevent the usually 3mm (1/8 inch) thin plank from warping, the joints are either fully glued on the underside to the smoothed screed surface or, if necessary, held in place by a loose-laid adhesive strip ("roll fixation").
Much thicker constructions with a carrier board are less prone to such deformations. That’s why they can be installed loose, as a floating floor (possibly over an underlay).
So, if we have the build-up height specified and it’s a rental apartment that I want to install flooring in, only the carrier variant is recommended!
If, on the other hand, it is a property I want to improve and there is underfloor heating, then thin PVC planks (with or without locking, which is irrelevant if glued) should be glued down.
As you can see, there are reasonable reasons to choose one system over the other.
------------------------------------
Regards, KlaRa
Floating vinyl flooring with a vinyl backing = 8 mm (0.3 inches)
Floating vinyl flooring with an HDF (high-density fiberboard) backing = 8 mm (0.3 inches)
Both from the same manufacturer.
Vinyl with a vinyl backing requires a 5 mm (0.2 inches) expansion gap and practically does not expand.
Vinyl with an HDF backing requires an 8 mm (0.3 inches) or larger expansion gap and does expand.
Vinyl with a vinyl backing is moisture resistant.
Vinyl with an HDF backing is moisture sensitive!
Both from the same manufacturer. Same price.
WHY would someone choose HDF instead of vinyl as the backing?
Floating vinyl flooring with an HDF (high-density fiberboard) backing = 8 mm (0.3 inches)
Both from the same manufacturer.
Vinyl with a vinyl backing requires a 5 mm (0.2 inches) expansion gap and practically does not expand.
Vinyl with an HDF backing requires an 8 mm (0.3 inches) or larger expansion gap and does expand.
Vinyl with a vinyl backing is moisture resistant.
Vinyl with an HDF backing is moisture sensitive!
Both from the same manufacturer. Same price.
WHY would someone choose HDF instead of vinyl as the backing?
Full vinyl has advantages again, right?
Vinyl is warmer underfoot than laminate or hardwood flooring, so full vinyl must also be warmer than vinyl with a wood-based core (HDF)?
However, I don’t think it really makes much difference. It mainly depends on the surface material and the thermal conductivity. I have various samples at home and can tell that vinyl feels warmer than hardwood, but I don’t notice any difference between the types of vinyl (full vinyl and HDF-core vinyl).
Vinyl is warmer underfoot than laminate or hardwood flooring, so full vinyl must also be warmer than vinyl with a wood-based core (HDF)?
However, I don’t think it really makes much difference. It mainly depends on the surface material and the thermal conductivity. I have various samples at home and can tell that vinyl feels warmer than hardwood, but I don’t notice any difference between the types of vinyl (full vinyl and HDF-core vinyl).
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