Laying Vinyl Flooring Tips
- The floor you are placing the vinyl over needs to be clean. Don't forget to get the corners and, if the flooring is going in the kitchen, under the appliances. Vinyl flooring can be laid directly on clean concrete, sub-flooring, vinyl or linoleum. Hardwood floors need to either be removed or plywood needs to be put over the top of it before laying the vinyl. A clean floor guarantees there are no bumps in the vinyl and also will help the adhesive form a stronger bond.
- The floor needs to be level before laying the vinyl flooring. Lie on the floor and, at eye level, look to see if there are noticeable places where the floor is not even. Then take a level and measure to see what the height difference is. A layer of cement board or plywood might need to be laid if the floor is uneven. Use cement board in any rooms where there is running water.
- Measure the area where the vinyl flooring will be placed. Exclude footage for built-ins like cabinets, but include floor space under appliances and furniture. Knowing the exact dimensions of the room can help to plan the laying of the vinyl and give you the exact amount of square footage to cover.
- Do a dry run before applying adhesive to the vinyl or removing the paper backing to tiles that come with adhesive on them. Always begin from the same starting point so there will be straight lines. This is especially important with patterned tiles because the lines will appear uneven and sloppy if they are not all started at the same place. This can also help if an angled pattern is going to be done.
- Despite what the package contents say about using a straight edge and a crafter's knife to cut the vinyl, instead invest in getting a vinyl cutter. It looks like a paper cutter with a graph on the board. It is difficult using a straight edge and crafter's knife to get a perfectly straight cut. Check with a home improvement store to see if they rent vinyl cutters, or they can be purchased for between $30 and $50.
Self-adhering tiles are easier to work with, but for vinyl that comes without it, vinyl adhesive can be purchased. Adhesive should be applied with a notched trowel to the back of the vinyl and to the floor it is going on. When laying the vinyl after putting adhesive on it, make sure to wiggle it once it is in place to secure the suction of both adhesive layers. - The lines on vinyl tiles can be tricky, especially when special cuts have to be made for cabinetry or air vents. Make sure the edges of the tiles or the sheets are not overlapped and there are no gaps between them when laying on the adhesive. If the room is irregularly shaped and has many starting points, choose one place as the original starting point. The tile should be cut down to match where it would be if laid from the original starting point.
- Once you are finished, don't neglect to use a floor roller on the tiles. Even though they look like they are firmly adhered, bubbles and such can form underneath if they are not firmly pressed down. Not all vinyl flooring may call for this in the directions they provide, but to prevent lumps and bumps, it is best to do it. Floor rollers can be rented at home improvement stores.
