Vinyl flooring has gained popularity among homes because of its many styles and designs, affordability, and durability. It’s a great DIY project because it’s also reasonably simple to install. Vinyl flooring can be a fantastic choice for remodeling your kitchen, bathroom, or any other area in your house. This is a detailed article covering how to lay vinyl flooring.
Required Equipment and Supplies
Before beginning, collect the necessary equipment and supplies:
- Vinyl planks or sheets for flooring
- A measuring tape
- Vinyl cutting or utility knife
- Ruler or straightedge
- Carpenter’s square
- Hammer and tapping block
- Adhesive, if required
- Trowel with a notch (if using glue)
- Wheeler
- Transitional elements (if required)
- Underlayment, if necessary
Getting Ready
Take a room measurement
To determine the overall square footage of the room, measure its length and width. This will assist you in figuring out how much vinyl flooring you actually need to buy. Purchasing a little extra is usually a good idea in order to cover errors and potential future repairs.
Get the subfloor ready
Installing vinyl flooring requires a clean, dry, and level subfloor. Take out any outdated staples, nails, or flooring. You might need to use a self-leveling compound to smooth out any uneven subflooring.
Let the Vinyl Warm Up
Before installing, give the vinyl flooring at least a day to adjust to ambient temperature and humidity. After installation, this aids in preventing expansion and contraction.
If necessary, install underlayment
While some vinyl floors already have an underlayment installed, others do not. To find out whether you need to install an additional underlayment, follow the manufacturer’s directions. Roll out the underlayment and use tape to attach it to the subfloor if necessary.
Installation
Create a layout plan
Choose which way you want the vinyl tiles or planks to be laid. Professionals at Qflooring commonly advice to arrange them parallel to the longest wall or the major light source. To ensure the desired appearance and to make any necessary alterations, dry-fit a few pieces.
Trim the vinyl
Cut the vinyl planks or tiles to the desired size for the space using your measurements. For this, a vinyl cutter or utility knife are useful tools. Make sure to allow for expansion by leaving a tiny space (about 1/4 inch) all the way around the room’s boundaries. Trim or baseboards will eventually hide this gap.
Install the Click-Lock Vinyl Planks floating floor method for vinyl flooring
Take a Corner to Begin:
Start by positioning the first plank in the room’s corner so that its tongue side is facing the wall. To preserve the expanding gap, use spacers.
Join the Planks:
Click the end of the first plank and the subsequent plank into place. Proceed with this procedure, ensuring that the planks are level and the seams are tight.
Chop Boards as Required:
Once a row is finished, measure and cut the board to size. To stagger the joints, begin the subsequent row with the piece left over from the preceding row.
Proceed Installing Boards:
Continue doing this until the floor is completely covered. Utilize a mallet and tapping block to guarantee planks are securely locked together.
Glue-Down Technique (for Vinyl Tiles or Sheets)
Apply glue:
As directed by the manufacturer, apply the glue to the subfloor using a notched trowel. To avoid the glue drying up before you apply the vinyl, work in small areas.
Install the Vinyl:
Place the tile or vinyl sheet onto the adhesive with caution. To prevent bubbles with sheets, it’s advisable to begin in the middle and work your way out. When it comes to tiles, begin in a corner and proceed throughout the surface.
Smooth Out Air Bubbles:
To eliminate any air bubbles, firmly push the vinyl into the glue with a roller. Proceed outward from the center.
Final Details
Cut corners: Using a utility knife, trim any extra vinyl that has been installed at the room’s perimeter. Make sure you keep the expanding gap intact.
Put in Place Transition Strips:
To provide a seamless transition between two surfaces, place transition strips where vinyl flooring meets another type of flooring (such as carpet or tile).
Replace the trim and baseboards:
To cover the expanding gap, reattach the baseboards and trim the room’s margins. Use finishing nails to tack them firmly into position.
Make the Floor Clean:
Make sure you clean your new vinyl floor thoroughly. Dust and debris should be swept up, and any adhesive residue should be mopped with a moist cloth after vacuuming.
