Vinyl flooring installation can be done in various ways - discover how waterproof luxury vinyl flooring stands out from the rest.
What's the most versatile, durable, waterproof, and easy to take care of floor out there?
Many would immediately think of luxury vinyl flooring. It comes in nearly every color, texture, and pattern imaginable — even realistic imitations of natural materials like wood and stone. It is reasonably priced, comfortable, warm, doesn't stain easily, and is an all-around great flooring option.
It isn't hard to see why so many people have fallen in love with luxury vinyl flooring.
Are you considering installing this gorgeous flooring in your home or business? Curious about how it's installed? Come along as we take a look.
Luxury Vinyl Flooring Installation Methods
One of the many benefits of luxury vinyl flooring is its easy installation. You have a few options to pick from, though each option is relatively easy to install.
If you feel that you're particularly handy around the house, you can even DIY waterproof vinyl flooring installation. However, having a professional install the flooring will be faster and you can count on it being done correctly, even lengthening the life of your floor, in some cases.
Floating Floor
The floating floor is easily one of the most popular methods. It doesn't require much glue or adhesives, making it a less messy installation method.
There are a couple of types of floating floor planks.
Loose Lay
Loose lay installation involves gluing down only the perimeter planks. The rest of the planks are simply laid together over the subfloor. The planks being wedged together is enough to keep them in place.
A big advantage of this method is speed. Confident DIYers can install the flooring in just a few hours, professionals are even faster.
Click-Locking
Another method of floating flooring that is a little more secure is click-locking. Your chosen tiles will come with a click-locking system built into the planks. As you install the floor, simply snap the planks into place. This is also a relatively quick installation method.
Adhesion Methods
In most homes and even businesses, floating floor methods of installation are plenty sturdy enough for the wear and tear they'll see. For some applications, you may prefer gluing down the floor for an even more long-lasting flooring option.
There are two basic types of adhesion methods.
Pressure-Sensitive
Even though it involves adhesives, pressure-sensitive planks are still quite simple to install. If you can peel a sticker and stick it somewhere, you can install a pressure-sensitive floor. Well, it might be a little more complicated than a sticker but you get the idea.
The installation process is peel and stick. Simply peel off the back and lay the plank in place, applying a bit of pressure to make a solid connection.
Hard Set
Hard set actually involves gluing down the floor. Glue is run along the entire subfloor and planks are fully glued down.
This is important in environments with a lot of rolling things like gurneys in healthcare settings.
Preparing for Installation
Whether you're taking the plunge yourself or are hiring a professional to install your flooring, there are a few things you can do to prep for the installation. Here's what you need to know.
Acclimate the Materials
For best results, the flooring may need to be acclimated to your home before installation. This is particularly important if the place it comes from has an extreme temperature difference.
This is simple to do. Just have the materials delivered at least 48 hours before you plan to install the floor to give it time to adjust.
Keep in mind that not all luxury vinyl flooring products will require acclimation. Check the instructions or ask your professional installers if your materials will need time to acclimate.
Do You Have to Remove the Old Floor?
If you already have a floor in place, it isn't always necessary to remove it before installing your new floor. You can install luxury vinyl flooring over the top of existing floors in most cases.
Prepping the Room
If it's new construction, be sure to install permanent fixtures, like cabinets or island counters, before installing the floor. If you're replacing a floor, remove all furniture from the room. Remove the wall and doorway trim.
If you're replacing the floor in various rooms, have a plan in place for how you'll be moving the furniture. You may have to juggle it around a bit as you move from room to room.
If you are installing on top of the existing floor, you may need to undercut the doors. Take your measurements and complete this task before beginning installation.
Be sure to repair any nicks or chips in the subfloor or existing floor before putting down your new luxury vinyl flooring.
After Installation
Once your new luxury vinyl floor is down, you can sit back and admire it! In most cases, you can move your furniture back in right away.
However, always check with your installer before placing heavy objects on your new floor. If adhesives were used, you may need to wait a certain period of time to allow everything to dry adequately.
We recommend mopping it down before bringing everything back in. It will be easier to clean up from the installation without everything in your way. Just don't use a dripping wet mop for a few days at least if you used glue to install the floor.
Enjoying Your New Floor
Luxury vinyl flooring is an excellent all-around flooring option for both homes and businesses. You will find it hard to find another type of flooring with such a long list of benefits and is so easy to install!
Ready to get started? Contact us today for your free in-home estimate. Get ready to fall in love with your new floor!
