About the vinyl...at first I had a heavy weight clear vinyl that I got from Joann's (pretty cheap, I think). But then I replaced it (strictly for looks) with some heavy weight oilcloth that's wonderful. It's much heavier than what you get at fabric stores. There are a lot of sources online but I got mine from Mendel's
http://www.mendels.com. It's $7+ per yard. I've had it on a makeshift kitchen counter for 8 years (remodeling is slow work) and on a picnic table for 1 year and it's in perfect shape. But get a solid or print without directional lines....the lines were too distracting.