The sheds at the backyards of houses or the factories are used for a variety of reasons. They are used for recreational activities, for installing a mini-workshop, storage, and other purposes.
Many don’t consider flooring a shed to be mandatory. But experts believe that flooring makes sheds more maintainable and beautiful. Vinyl flooring for sheds can be a good option to consider, depending on the functionality of the shed.
In this article, I will explain to you all the advantages and disadvantages of vinyl flooring, when used in a shed. This article is a result of my experience of more than 20 years in the real estate business.
How Do You Install Vinyl Flooring In A Shed?
Before installing vinyl flooring in a shed, you need to prepare the ground of the shed. You have to start with the joist system. The joist system works as the base of the floor. Follow the following steps to install vinyl flooring in a shed:
Step 1- Install The Floor Joists:
To make the joist structure, you need to set the rim joists parallelly, keeping eight feet distance between every two joists. Now fit seven 2 x 6 inches boards to the rim joists at a 90-degree angle.
After the floor joist is made, set it onto the foundation rails and nail down joists into the rails.
Step 2- Install The Underlayment:
Now you have to set the underlayment layer over the joists. I suggest using plywood as underlayment for vinyl flooring.
Fit the plywood sheet into the joist system. It should be attached with the joist frame at a 90-degree angle. You have to nail down the plywood on the rim joists.
Step 3- Install The Vinyl Layer:
Now that the subfloor is ready, you can lay the vinyl sheet, plank, or stripe over the plywood. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for each type of vinyl option.
Clear and clean the whole shed floor before installing the vinyl layer. Cut and prepare the vinyl materials to adjust them into the shed floor area.
Using recommended adhesives, make the vinyl layer stick to the subfloor. Use a 100-lbs roller to get all the bubbles from beneath the vinyl floor. Now the shed floor will be ready for use after a rest of two days.
6 Advantages Of Using Vinyl Flooring For Sheds:
Top-quality vinyl flooring materials can take up any challenges of a high-functioning shed. For recreational sheds, vinyl flooring can be the best option. Here I have listed all the advantages of vinyl flooring, used in sheds:
1. Affordable:
Compared to many other flooring options, vinyl flooring can be very cost-effective. In most cases, sheds in the backyards are meant for recreation. In that case, spending on sheds needs more motivation.
That is why the low cost of vinyl flooring makes them a good candidate as a flooring solution for sheds. But you have to do the estimation carefully.
In the USA, you can buy vinyl materials to be installed as a flooring solution of your shade of 200 sq. ft. from $400 to $2,800. The price varies with the quality of the vinyl material.
2. Easy Installation:
In most cases, people build sheds as a hobby. They are likely to install the floor themselves. Besides, the level of joy also heightens in a shed, when they are built by the user.
Installing vinyl flooring in a shade is so easy that a layman can do it all by himself. All he will need is a little skill, vinyl materials, some adhesives, and common sense.
3. Fashionable:
The designs and patterns of most of the vinyl flooring materials are printed on digital printers. That is why vinyl floorings come in so many colors and high-end designs.
If your shed is for leisure time, your pleasure times will be more colorful in the shed if you choose the most fashionable vinyl flooring for it.
Another wonder of vinyl flooring is it can mimic any natural type of flooring, like wooden floors, marble floors, etc, very successfully.
4. Easy To Maintain:
While having fun in the shed with your family members or friends, you are likely to make the floor dirty frequently. If the floor of the shed is made with vinyl materials, it will be very easy to clean and make them shine again.
You can use an ordinary mop and a mild detergent-based cleaning agent to do the regular cleaning of the vinyl flooring of the shed. The fact that vinyl flooring is water-resistant, makes the cleaning of any type of spilling very easy.
It is also very easy to clear the hardest type of stains from vinyl flooring. It is very helpful for a shed if it is used as a workshop area.
5. Durable:
Unless you are using your shed to store heavy machinery, you can feel risk-free by installing vinyl flooring for it. Vinyl floorings can last from 10 to 20 years, depending on the maintenance they get.
To keep the durability of the vinyl floor intact in your shade, regularly seal the flooring with refinishing. The main threat to the durability of vinyl flooring is an accumulation of water beneath the floor. It only happens when the sealing of the floor is broken.
While installing vinyl flooring in your shed, you should buy the best quality woven type vinyl materials. They might be a bit pricier but in the long run, they will prove to be cost-effective with the extra durability.
6.Weather-Resilience:
Vinyl flooring is made in factories from synthetic chemicals. That is why the chemical compounds of vinyl floors make them waterproof. This feature enabled the capacity of vinyl flooring to deal with any kind of weather without being affected at all.
Though the popularity of vinyl flooring is much higher in hot and humid weather. Because it is not comfortable to walk over vinyl flooring in winter. In some areas, you cannot walk bare-footed on vinyl flooring in cold weather.
However, vinyl flooring loses color with constant sunlight. Since shed floorings will hardly get sunlight, it is safe to install vinyl flooring in a shed without any risk of discoloration.
6 Disadvantages Of Vinyl Flooring For Sheds:
Now let us have a look at the opposite side of the coin. Despite all the positive sides of vinyl flooring, there are also some negative aspects.
1. Vulnerable Sealing:
With a sudden hit or scuffing, the water sealing of the vinyl floor can be broken. When the sealing is broken, moisture is accumulated beneath the vinyl floor. The result is the growth of molds and mildews and finally ruins the whole flooring.
While having fun or practicing band music in the shed of your backyard, it is very natural for the floors to get hit with sharp or heavy objects. If you are thinking of such activities in the shed, you should not choose vinyl flooring.
2. Not Compatible With Heavy Furniture:
Placing or moving heavy furniture, tools, or instruments over vinyl flooring will make its lifetime very short. If you have a workshop or a band practice pad in your mind, do not go for vinyl flooring for your shed.
Some precautions can save vinyl flooring from heavy furniture. A solution to the problem could be the usage of glides and slides. But they cannot always protect your vinyl floor. A momentary carelessness can permanently damage the vinyl floor while handling heavy furniture.
3. Not For Heavy Traffic:
If you have plans to hold occasional dance parties in the shed, think twice before installing vinyl flooring. High heels are a compulsory part of parties and they are also a common enemy of vinyl flooring.
Regular heavy traffic or dance parties will make you regret your decision to install vinyl flooring in the shade.
4. Costly Repairs:
If you are using vinyl sheet flooring in the shade and it has got a hole in a particular area, you just cannot cure that damaged floor area alone. The solution would be a total replacement of the flooring.
This makes the overall maintenance cost of the vinyl flooring very high. So, do not get excited about the low installation cost of vinyl flooring. Think of the long-term consequences too.
5. Risky For Health:
It is now scientifically proven that vinyl flooring discharges many harmful gases into the air. These harmful gases are known to cause fatal diseases, like cancer, asthma, imbalances in the physical and mental growth of a child, etc.
So, if you are cautious about the health of your near ones you should not install vinyl flooring for sheds, especially if you are likely to have children in the shed.
The main element of vinyl flooring, PVC, is so harmful to children that using that component in toys is officially banned in the USA.
6. Bad For Environment:
From production to disposition, vinyl flooring materials release many harmful gases in the air abundantly. Therefore the environment around a vinyl material factory is always found contaminated with hazardous gas and chemicals.
The overall global warming and the depletion of the ozone layer of the earth are partially caused by the gases released by vinyl materials. So, there is a strong campaign against vinyl flooring around the world.
Commonly Asked Questions:
Is Vinyl Flooring Good For Sheds?
There are strong arguments for and against vinyl flooring when used as flooring in a shade. The overall functionality of the shed determines whether vinyl flooring is good or bad for it.
If the shed is not used for heavy traffic or heavy machinery, you can have vinyl flooring for it. It is affordable, easy to install and maintain, and durable. Though vinyl flooring is known to be harmful to the human body and the environment in the long run.
How Much Does It Cost To Install Vinyl Flooring In A Shed?
The cost to install vinyl flooring in a shed will vary depending on the state you live in, the size of the shade, and the quality of vinyl material you are using. The following table shows the average price of vinyl flooring material in the USA for covering a floor area of 200 sq. ft:
| Vinyl Quality | Price |
| Low | $400 |
| Average | $1,400 |
| High | $2,800 |
If you are not installing the vinyl floor yourself, you have to add installation cost with the price of the vinyl flooring material. The installation cost may vary between $1.5 to $6 for each sq. ft. in the USA.
How To Make The Vinyl Flooring Warm In A Shed?
People frequently complain about the difficulty of walking over vinyl flooring in the winter. They can become brutally cold in the winter. But you can make the vinyl flooring of your shed.
To make the vinyl flooring of your shade warmer you can place an extra layer of pad under the vinyl flooring. You can also install a radiant floor heater to get the result.
How To Clean Stains From Vinyl Flooring In A Shade?
With all the high-functionality in the shade, it is not rare for the floor of a shade to have stains that cannot be cleaned with regular cleaning.
To clean the stain from the vinyl flooring, you need to use nail polish remover and a warm, wet, and clean cloth. You have to wet the clean cloth in warm water to make it warm.
First, clean the area of the floor with stains with a vacuum cleaner. Apply a little nail polish remover right on the stains. Now, slowly but forcefully rub the stains with the wet and warm cloth. Repeat the process until the stain is removed.
Vinyl Flooring Or Concrete Slab: Which One Is Better For Shed?
It comes down to personal preferences if you have to choose between vinyl flooring and concrete slab. Because both of the flooring solutions have their advantages and limitations for being used in sheds.
Vinyl floorings are good-looking, low-priced, easy to install and maintain. But they are harmful to health and the environment. At the same time, they cannot get along with heavy furniture.
On the other hand, concrete floors are most durable for shed flooring. They eliminate the risks of damage by water or mites. They also need less maintenance. But concrete floors are the most unattractive ones. They are not comfortable stepping on too.
Vinyl Flooring Or Carpets: Which One Is Better For Sheds?
Vinyl flooring can be good for your shed if there is no heavy furniture or machinery in the shade. Vinyl is not recommended for those sheds which have high traffic.
Otherwise, vinyl flooring is a wonderful idea for sheds. Because they are affordable, easy to maintain, and stylish.
On the other hand, stepping on a carpet is more comfortable than doing the same on vinyl flooring. But cleaning and maintaining a carpeted floor is very difficult. They are not durable in a shade either.
Should You Use An Underlayment With Vinyl Flooring In A Shade?
It is always recommended using an underlayment with vinyl flooring. This is more applicable when you are using them in your shade.
Usually, sheds do not have any subfloors to lay vinyl flooring on. So, using an underlayment ensures an even ground for the vinyl flooring.
If the foundation is not properly cleaned, the durability of vinyl flooring comes under challenge. Using an underlayment also makes sure that the ground is clean enough for the vinyl flooring. I suggest using plywood as an underlayment of vinyl flooring.
Final Words:
Finally, the function of the shed will determine whether you should use vinyl flooring for the shed or not. If you know that there will be heavy instruments or furniture in the shed or there will be high traffic there, you should not have vinyl flooring for your shed. Otherwise, go for vinyl flooring. They are fun!