How to Install Vinyl Flooring in 5 Easy Steps
If you want stylish, durable, and affordable flooring options, vinyl flooring is a good choice. It imitates natural wood or stone but is cheaper and requires minimal maintenance. Many homeowners even self-install to save on labor costs.
Why Vinyl Flooring?
Durability and water resistance settle the top positions for this category of flooring. It will serve well in kitchens, bathrooms, and basements, where moisture is usually not a concern. The cost of installing vinyl plank flooring varies from one to the other, based on the kind of material to use and the method of installation. This is not complicated when you install it yourself.
Another advantage of this kind of flooring is its versatility in design. It comes in many styles, which include vinyl plank flooring, vinyl sheet flooring, and vinyl-click flooring. Although different from each other, all types are easy to install regarding where and how they are to be used.
Step 1: Prepare the Subfloor
Now you have to prepare a subfloor so that the process can begin. The surface must be smooth and clean as perfect results should be sought. Remove any kind of old flooring used like carpet or tile, and check for bumps, cracks, or uneven areas. Where necessary, level out imperfections with a good leveling compound.
If you want to know how to install vinyl plank flooring on concrete, ensure that the entire surface is completely dry. The underlayment or moisture barrier could protect the new floor.
Step 2: Measure and Manage Your Layout Plan
Measure accurate measurements for flooring, purchasing sufficient material. Measure the room length and width to calculate the square footage. Overbuy flooring slightly, though, to allow for errors in measuring or cutting angles.
The longest wall of the room should be the starting point for installing vinyl plank flooring. Before cutting vinyl sheet flooring, roll it out and position it carefully.
Step 3: Cut and Fit the Vinyl Flooring
Cutting vinyl flooring is as easy as slicing it with a sharp utility knife. For the vinyl sheet, lay over the subfloor and cut along the edges with a straightedge.
Step 4: Install the Vinyl Flooring
The installation method will depend on what type of vinyl flooring you choose.
For click-lock planks: Just align planks into place, snap them together using the locking mechanism, and push them down forcefully to lock them down further.
For glue-down vinyl: Spread the adhesive on the surface with the help of a trowel. Lay each piece carefully and press it down to remove air bubbles.
For loose-lay vinyl: Some vinyl sheet flooring does not require glue. Lay it out, cut it to fit, and trim edges with baseboards.
If installing cut vinyl flooring, know that each manufacturer has specific requirements that should be strictly adhered to to avoid gaps between planks.
Step 5: Finish the Edges and Clean Up
When the flooring is in place, spacers can be removed alongside walls. Baseboards or quarter-round moldings complete the expansion gap finishing and add beauty to a room.
Finally, clean up the dust and adhesive residue and brush off the floor after the damp mop cleans it. Understanding how to install plank vinyl flooring will be very easy when these simple steps are carefully performed.
Final Thoughts
Installing such vinyl floorings is always a wonderful act to improve your home without incurring huge costs. Always precise cuts at an angle and good preparation would lead to getting that professional look. It doesn't matter whether it's vinyl plank flooring, vinyl sheet flooring, or vinyl click flooring; all are pretty straightforward and fulfilling.
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