The Price Difference Between PVC Floor Covering and Vinyl Flooring
1. Raw material differences
Floor coverings are mostly made of recycled PVC (such as recycled waste plastic products) with low cost, while vinyl flooring are mainly made of new PVC (virgin polyvinyl chloride synthesized for the first time), with higher material purity and stable performance. The cost of raw materials is 2-3 times that of floor coverings. PVC floor coverings also add composite materials such as glass fiber layers and foam layers, further increasing the cost.
2. Structural complexity
Floor coverings usually have only two layers (surface printed film layer + bottom layer/felt), and the process is simple; while vinyl flooring uses a multi-layer composite structure, such as UV layer, wear-resistant layer, glass fiber layer, foam base layer, etc. Some products even contain antibacterial coating or anti-slip treatment layer, and the production process is complex and requires precise lamination. The multi-layer structure not only improves performance, but also significantly increases manufacturing costs.
3. Thickness and physical properties
Thickness: The thickness of PVC floor coverings is generally ≤2 mm (commonly around 1 mm), while that of vinyl flooring is usually ≥2 mm, and commercial or sports products can reach 3-10 mm. The difference in thickness directly affects the amount of materials used and the cost.
Wear resistance: The surface of the vinyl flooring has a 0.1-0.7 mm pure PVC transparent wear-resistant layer, and the wear resistance coefficient is 30 times that of ordinary floors; PVC floor coverings have no special wear-resistant layer and only rely on a thin surface layer to resist wear, which is prone to scratches or fading.
According to tests, the service life of vinyl flooring can reach 5-15 years, while that of floor coverings is only a few months to 1 year.
Anti-fouling and antibacterial: The surface of the vinyl flooring is UV-treated, has anti-fouling and antibacterial capabilities, and is easy to clean; due to the lack of a protective layer, stains are easy to penetrate and difficult to completely remove.
4. Application scenarios and functional requirements
PVC floor coverings are mainly used in temporary places (such as construction sites and short-term rental houses), emphasizing low cost and fast installation; while vinyl floorings are used in long-term and high-frequency scenarios (hospitals, schools, and stadiums), and must meet strict standards such as fire prevention, anti-slip, sound absorption, and impact resistance.
For example, medical-grade vinyl flooring must pass antibacterial certification, and sports products must have high elasticity to reduce sports injuries. These additional functions greatly increase the technical threshold and cost.
5. Environmental protection and safety standards
Most PVC floor coverings complies with international environmental certifications and has low harmful substance release; however, VC floor covering uses recycled materials that may contain pollutants such as formaldehyde and lead, which poses a health hazard in long-term use. Environmentally friendly production processes further widen the cost gap.
Conclusion
Behind seemingly similar products, differences in core elements such as raw material quality, structural design, performance indicators, and usage scenarios lead to completely different costs and values. Consumers can choose according to their budget and needs: for short-term, low-intensity scenarios, PVC floor coverings can be selected to save costs; for long-term, high-frequency or professional venues, it is recommended to invest in vinyl flooring for better durability and safety.
