ᐅ Does vinyl deform under intense sunlight?

The "designer floors" have some appealing features, available in attractive designs at very affordable prices. Regarding health aspects, there are many certificates and approvals confirming their safety. One could take the position that these can be trusted. Alternatively, one can rely on their own senses and simple reasoning. How does the material smell? What exactly evaporates as the floor cures? It is undisputed that many plasticizers are unhealthy. Which one is used here? Can it be a "good" one at such a price? Maybe my assessment is wrong – but I don’t want to buy anything that makes me feel uneasy.

This type of flooring is just one option among many, neither indispensable nor unique – so why insist on it when even professionals warn against it?

Myrna_Loy schrieb:

Vinyl – short for polyvinyl chloride – is not elastic on its own.

Otherwise, records would not have been possible...

Reltaw2021 schrieb:

I am a scientist and therefore interested in facts.

The fact is: vinyl is plastic.
There is no scientific evidence – but everyone has a personal feeling about the material properties – and you have to assess for yourself where your threshold lies.

Reltaw2021 schrieb:

I am a scientist, so I am interested in facts.

That’s good. As long as you don’t have information about the composition of the material, especially which type of plasticizers are used, you don’t actually have any facts. To make a decision, you will then have to rely on other criteria.

Reltaw2021 schrieb:

For example, I’m interested in how and where it was proven whether emissions from vinyl are harmful.

Such proofs are essentially meaningless, since it is unclear which specific plasticizer variant is used in the flooring you choose. The fact is that plasticizers cannot be generally considered harmless. Therefore, it depends on the individual case. As a result, you will realistically have very little precise information to rely on.

Reltaw2021 schrieb:

Or how to tell when it is necessary to replace vinyl flooring.

That is a very good question—and scientifically, it first depends on the criteria applied and what is meant by “necessary.”

Scientists carefully consider what they want to investigate, weighing costs and benefits. A fact-based investigation for purchasing vinyl flooring—with the initial effort needed to navigate its lack of transparency—is usually not worthwhile.

Why isn't laminate flooring being considered more seriously?
It’s not just available as a budget option at 5€/m² (5.50 USD per square yard) for rental apartments, but also in high-quality versions.
I installed it on two floors and am very satisfied with it—more so than with the hardwood flooring in the living room.

Have you heard of bio flooring? For example, from Wineo. It’s basically like vinyl but made from plant-based materials (plant oil) and, according to the manufacturer, free of harmful substances such as chlorine, plasticizers, and solvents.

We have had it in the bedrooms for a year now and are very satisfied with it. It feels very comfortable to walk on.

We have floor-to-ceiling south and west-facing windows that let the sun shine fully onto the floor sometimes, and so far there have been no issues. In summer, when it’s hot, we naturally keep the blinds closed during the day to prevent the bedroom from getting too warm. So, the sun doesn’t shine on the floor all day in the summer anyway.

Tassimat schrieb:

Why isn’t laminate being considered more closely?

@Tassimat
Because I’m not satisfied with its water sensitivity between the joints, its hardness, the patterns, the impact sound insulation, and the low warmth underfoot. What I do find positive is that this, in my opinion lower-value material, can even be perceived as a full-featured flooring option.

@all I have not found any evidence of health risks related to plasticizers in high-quality vinyl since 2018. If that changes, I will update those who need to make a similar decision here.