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Which backing materials can be used for vinyl sheet flooring?
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floor covering
Axminster carpet, late 18th or early 19th century.
Vinyl sheet flooring is a versatile floor covering that can be manufactured either as unbacked material or with a variety of backing options to suit different installation needs.1
When a backing is used, it can consist of the following materials:
- Felt1
- Hessian1
- Plastic foam1
- Cork1
- Fabric1
Additionally, manufacturers can create a foamed back by adding a blowing agent to vinyl paste. This mixture is applied to the back of a premanufactured vinyl sheet and passed through a heated tunnel, which releases gas from the agent to form the foam. The choice of backing can influence the surface appearance of the flooring, and these materials are often used to provide varying degrees of thickness and flexibility.12