heavy film covered with a UV-cured urethane that makes it scuff, stain and scratch resistant. Sometimes the term "luxury vinyl tile" is reserved for products that mimic stone and ceramic, whereas the term "luxury vinyl plank" is used for products that mimic wood. Karndean Design Flooring is an excellent example of luxury vinyl flooring, featuring wood and stone effect tiles and planks. PVC tiles Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tiles are a commonly used floor finish made from polyvinyl chloride. Due to the small size of the tiles, usually 150 mm (6"), 225 mm (9") and 305 mm (12"), any damage can soon be repaired by replacing individual tiles (as long as some spares are kept). The tiles are made of a composite of PVC and fibre, producing a thin and fairly hard tile. PVC tiles are prone to some issues. The glues used on self-adhesive tiles sometimes give way, causing edges to lift and get broken by foot traffic. The surface wears, in time causing difficulty in cleaning, then loss of the coloured pattern layer. Finally, a very smooth sub-floor is required to lay them on, otherwise they gradually become cut by the foot pressure above and the shallow edges below. The main advantages of PVC tiles are low cost, ease of replacing individual tiles, and the fact that the tiles can be laid with only brief periods available. In fact, a DIYer with assorted ten-minute slots in otherwise busy days would have enough time to get a floor laid gradually, and thus could avoid professional installation costs. Asbestos health risk Vinyl tiles manufactured in the 20th century frequently contain asbestos fibers, which are today referred to as Vinyl-Asbestos Tiles (VAT). Asbestos fibers were added to vinyl tiles for their outstanding insulative properties, a desirable attribute in regions with cold winter weather. They also improved the tensile strength of vinyl tiles, increasing their service life. An ASTM procedural textbook states that 42% of commercial and public buildings contain vinyl-asbestos floor tiles. 9×9 inch dimension tile almost always contains asbestos. Although vinyl-asbestos floor tiles are not particularly dangerous when properly installed and undamaged, they should only be removed by trained professionals. There is a significant health risk posed by toxic dust dispersal during the removal of vinyl-asbestos tiles. Uncertified individuals should never attempt to remove floor tiles and should always seek to have their composition determined by a licensed professional. A New