In the installation, the floor tiles or sheet flooring are applied to a smooth, leveled subfloor using a specially formulated vinyl adhesive or tile mastic that remains pliable. In commercial applications, some tiles are typically waxed and buffed using special materials and equipment.

Modern vinyl floor tile is frequently chosen for high-traffic areas because of its low cost, durability, and ease of maintenance. Vinyl tiles have high resilience to abrasion and impact damage and can be repeatedly refinished with chemical strippers and mechanical buffing equipment.

If properly installed, tiles can be easily removed and replaced when damaged. Tiles are available in a variety of colors from several major flooring manufacturers. Some manufacturers have created vinyl tiles that very closely resemble wood, stone, terrazzo, and concrete, and hundreds of varying patterns