How to Install Vinyl Flooring: A Step-by-Step LVT Guide
Modern LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile) is available in different formats. The most popular ones being click vinyl planks and tiles and glue-down LVT while both have similar final looks, they are installed differently. This guide explains how to install vinyl flooring using these two common methods.
The preparation is similar, but the installation process, tools, and finishing depend on the flooring system you have chosen. Let’s begin.
What Do You Need to Install Vinyl Flooring?
Based on the type of LVT you are installing, here are some things you may need:
- Vinyl flooring
- Suitable underlay, if required
- Tape measure
- Pencil and straight edge
- Utility knife or suitable cutting tool
- Spacers, where required
- Tapping block and pull bar, if specified
- Rubber mallet
- Floor roller for products that require one
- Appropriate adhesive and trowel for glue-down LVT
- Safety equipment
Don’t just buy a separate underlay or adhesive. Some click LVT products have an integrated underlay. Others are designed for a specific underlay system. Glue-down LVT requires an adhesive compatible with both the flooring and the prepared subfloor.
Is Your Subfloor Ready?
Good preparation is a must for vinyl flooring. Check the surface for obvious high and low areas. You can use a straight edge or level to find unevenness and compare it to the stated flatness tolerance.
Concrete and screed subfloors should be assessed for moisture. This can affect adhesives and hence, excess moisture should be addressed before installation. Timber subfloors must be stable, flat, and suitable for the LVT system. Damaged boards, excessive movement, gaps, or unevenness require an overlay or levelling system.
Existing tiles can stay if the flooring system allows it. Make sure they are bonded and flat. Deep grout lines and height differences need to be filled or levelled first.
How to Install Click Vinyl Flooring
Once the subfloor is ready, the click installation can be completed in a series of stages.
1. Prepare the room
Move the furniture, skirting, and door trims from the installation area. Clean the subfloor and ensure it is within the installation conditions.
2. Install the approved underlay if required
If the click LVT requires separate underlay, use only an underlay approved for that flooring system. Don’t add another layer beneath flooring that already has an integrated underlay.
3. Position the first row
Have a clear starting point for the first row. You can use spacers to figure out which expansion gaps between the floating floor and wall will work.
4. Connect and check the joints
Some systems require the plank to be angled into position. Others use a different joining mechanism. Do not force a joint that is not engaging. After each plank is connected, check the joint for gaps, height differences, or visible damage before continuing.
5. Stagger the following rows
Continue across the room and stagger the end joints as per the minimum need. Keep checking the alignment as you work as small issues will compound over time.
6. Cut around doors, pipes and other obstacles
Measure around door frames and radiator pipes. It is a good idea to undercut door frames so the flooring can pass below it. Use suitable finishing collars where needed.
7. Fit the final row
Measure the remaining space and cut the final row to the right width. A pull bar is useful if you want to connect the final pieces of a click system.
8. Finish the floor correctly
Remove the spacers once the floating floor is complete. Fit skirting boards, trims, or profiles as required. Do not fix skirting or trims through the floating flooring unless the system asks for it.
How to Install Glue-Down LVT
Glue-down LVT follows a different process as each plank is bonded to the prepared subfloor.
1. Check the prepared surface
The subfloor must be smooth, clean, and dry for the adhesive and flooring. Remove dust and contamination that could interfere with the bond.
2. Choose the correct adhesive and trowel
Use an adhesive approved for the specific LVT and subfloor. The correct trowel notch and adhesive coverage also depend on the adhesive system. The same trowel size, adhesive type, or coverage rate won’t work for every product.
3. Work in manageable sections
Do not spread adhesive across the entire room unless the system is specifically designed for that approach. Work in sections that you can cover within the adhesive's stated open or working time. This helps prevent the adhesive from becoming unsuitable before the flooring is positioned. The waiting time before laying the flooring can also vary. Some adhesives need time to become tacky or reach a state before the LVT is installed.
4. Position the flooring
Lay the planks or tiles into the adhesive according to your planned layout. Keep the design and direction consistent, and avoid trapping debris underneath the flooring. Press the flooring into position as specified. If adhesive squeezes out onto the surface, remove it promptly using the method recommended for that adhesive.
5. Roll the completed section
Many glue-down LVT systems require the installed flooring to be rolled with an appropriate floor roller. Rolling helps ensure proper contact between the flooring, adhesive and subfloor. The roller type, weight and timing can vary between systems, so use the requirements specified for your adhesive and flooring.
6. Remove adhesive residue
Clean adhesive from the flooring surface before it dries. Use only the remover approved for the product to avoid damaging the surface.
7. Allow the adhesive to cure
Adhesives have different working and curing times. For example, manufacturer guidance can specify restrictions on heavy or point loads even when light access is permitted. Wait for the period specified for your adhesive and flooring before cleaning, loading, or using the floor normally.
How Do You Fit Vinyl Flooring Around Doors and Pipes?
Awkward areas need to be measured such as door frames and radiator pipes. For door frames, undercut the frame so the flooring can slide underneath it. For radiator pipes, measure the nearest fixed points and transfer those to the flooring. Cut the opening and use an appropriate finishing collar where required. The method is similar for click and glue down LVT. But the clearances and finishing details can differ between products.
Common Vinyl Flooring Installation Problems
Some issues you need to be aware of are:
Click joints are opening: Are the joints fully engaged? Is the correct installation method used? Has the flooring been allowed the movement specified by the system?
The floor feels uneven: Check the subfloor rather than assuming the LVT is defective. Uneven areas underneath can affect the finished appearance and feel.
Glue-down LVT is lifting: Test the adhesive and subfloor moisture. Insufficient adhesive coverage can affect the bond.
Adhesive is not holding: Was the adhesive compatible with the flooring and subfloor? Were the application, open-time, and curing requirements followed?
Gaps or movement appear: For click LVT, check the locking joints and installation clearances. For glue-down LVT, check the adhesive bond and subfloor conditions.
Final Tips for Installing Vinyl Flooring
If you are researching how to lay vinyl flooring, start with the flooring system. Do not treat all LVT as one installation method. If the project involves moisture problems, subfloor movement, or levelling, get it professionally assessed. Good preparation gives either installation method the best chance of producing a stable, clean finished floor.
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