Vinyl floors are among the most popular types of flooring material for both commercial and residential properties. Not only is vinyl flooring durable and resistant to stains and scuffs, it comes in a wide range of colors, styles and textures. However, one thing that vinyl floors can’t resist is extreme heat. Like many other flooring options, extreme heat is a quick way to ruin even the most durable flooring material.
Extreme Heat Sources
There are many different ways that vinyl floors can be exposed to extreme heat. Vinyl in the kitchen can become scorched by dropping a hot pan. Other heat sources could be a dropped cigarette, lit match, tipped candle or even a high heat device like a curling iron. Appliances can sometimes generate impressive levels of heat, especially if they are malfunctioning. Refrigerators, dryers and ovens that aren’t working properly can generate lots of heat that can melt vinyl. It is unfortunate that melted vinyl can’t be fixed, just replaced.
Results of Extreme Heat on Vinyl Floors
Extreme heat and vinyl floors don’t mix. When the flooring is exposed to high temperatures, it can melt or discolor permanently. In a patterned vinyl floor, it can also distort the pattern because the heat penetrates the multiple layers of the vinyl product. Because the composition of the vinyl itself is affected, there’s no way that it can be fixed as is—it must be replaced. When the damage is done, the melted areas of the vinyl may be replaced with another piece of vinyl. Installers should take great care in matching the pattern of the patch with the pattern of the existing flooring for the most seamless look.
I have a new condo with vinyl planks, and we turned the AC off while moving in. Here in Phoenix, the indoor temp rose to 92 degrees F, and we noticed some bulges in the planking, though it disappeared once we turned the AC back on. The builder said not to let it get over 85 degrees inside. Is that normal, or is it because the planks were cut too close to the walls and it buckled from not having enough room for expansion?
It sounds likes it. There should have been an expansion gap left at the wall, along the perimeter of the flooring.
What about vinyl flooring in a garage apartment – where the apartment is only cooled occasionally (otherwise it is hot). Does the flooring trap heat underneath it? Should a more breathable flooring be used? What would that be?
Vinyl flooring is very thermally sensitive. Once it’s been acclimated to specific environmental conditions, those conditions should be maintained.
Is Stainmaster luxury 9×9 vinyl tiles safe on floors close to fireplaces?
Vinyl can burn and melt sparks land on it, so that is a bad idea. I would use a porcelain or stone tile for a hearth.
I have some leftover flooring that I would like to use as a platform between layers in an exterior container garden. My alternative is to get hardware cloth, so I do have a Plan B solution. But I’m into recycling and reusing so thought maybe these would work. The pieces will be exposed to outside temperatures but will not be seen so I don’t care what they eventually look like. What I may care about is if they can melt so that the plastic starts dripping down the sides of my garden. Or if they will eventually bubble and disrupt the container garden layers. Please advise.
That would be a bad idea.
Can LVT be used underneath a four man sauna?
The weight and heat associated with the sauna would likely damage the flooring and void the warranty.
We have a cabin in Tn. Rental company had it treated for bedbugs with a heat treatment . Floor has buckled and separated in the seams. What is the max temp LVT will withstand. Thanks
I would check with the manufacturer’s tech department. You should never have the temperature of vinyl over about 85 degrees.
That being said, if it’s properly installed, it might not be a problem. My main concern would be expansion. Vinyl will expand when it’s warmed up, so if there is not wide enough expansion gaps around the perimeter of the floor and other obstacles, like kitchen cabinets, it could peak/buckle. If it did, the damage may or may not be permanent.
I have a summer place only used on weekends, which is a concrete floor. I installed vinyl plank flooring. How will it react to the summer heat and air conditioning only on wet.
Vinyl is very thermally sensitive. It expands and contracts with temperature. Once you acclimate a vynyl floor to a particular temperature and relative humidity level, it should ALWAYS be kept there. I personally would not recommend vinyl for a weekend or seasonal vacation house for that reason.
We have recently installed Luxury Vinyl planks in the house (adura) and due to a bed bug infestation the home needs to be heat treated. This involves an ambient temperature in the house of 120 to 140 degrees, which is maintained for about 8 hours. Can this damage the flooring?
I would check with the manufacturer’s tech department.
That being said, if it’s properly installed, it might not be a problem. My main concern would be expansion. Vinyl will expand when it’s warmed up, so if there is not wide enough expansion gaps around the perimeter of the floor and other obstacles, like kitchen cabinets, it could peak/buckle. If it did, the damage may or may not be permanent.
I am considering vinyl plank flooring over an existing old wood floor. My home is located in the Northeast part of the country where it can get up to 100 degrees sometimes. I do not have air conditioning. However, the installation would only be on the main floor with 2 floors above. Is it okay to install or would it buckle?
It would really depend on a few factors, such as the subfloor and HVAC systems. I would recommend that you have a few flooring professionals look at the site conditions and make a recommendation.
We are building a house and the builder told us that the Air conditioner needed to be installed before the vinyl plank could be installed. However they ended up putting the floors in about 2 weeks prior to the AC being installed. We love in TX and it’s hot. Temps have been around 100 degrees every day. Should I be concerned about the floors?
Your HVAC should be operational and set at the expectations living conditions prior to bring in the flooring materials to be acclimated.
We have a new vinyl floor / planking. The floor is electrically heated from beneath and we had foam pads in some areas where we stand a lot. The vinyl has become red/orange discolored under the pads. The pad backing is black. What did this? Did the vinyl change or did color leach from the pads or was it heat buildup. Can anything be done? Thanks.
Discoloration in vinyl floors is common problem. It could be one of two causes:
1. Vinyl floors can chemically react with other rubber and foam materials which can cause the discolorations.
2. Mats placed on top of floors with radiant heating can cause heat build up, which can damage and discolor the flooring.
I’m allergic to the odors of new vinyl flooring. Can I use the radiant floor heat to cure the problem? And speed up the outgassing? I already have fans going and open windows. What would be an ideal temperature to set the thermostat at? Thank you.
Radiant should never be abruptly turned on at the start of the heating season, it’s best to turn the heat up slowly over the course of a few weeks. Always follow the manufacturer’s protocol for radiant heat. Most manufacturers don’t warranty the floors after when temperatures exceeds a certain temperature, usually in the 80s.
Absolutely not. Vinyl floor are very heat sensitive. Applying hot steam to them will damage them.