Installing Strip Vinyl Flooring

What is Vinyl Strip Flooring

Vinyl strip flooring is also known as vinyl plank flooring. It is a wonderful new product that allows you to have the look of wood and the water resistance of vinyl at the same time. Previously you could get the look of wood planks with either hard wood or laminates, but neither are good candidates for kitchens and bathrooms. You could purchase rolled vinyl with a wood pattern but it really looked fake. But the new plank products the wood looks closer to real and the flooring is waterproof. The planks are normally 3 by 36 inches long and come in 20 various wood grains and colors. The vinyl planks are thinner than hardwood and laminate flooring but much less expensive and easier to install.

Preparing the Sub-floor

When installing any flooring the one thing that is most important is that you have a dry and level sub-floor. You can install vinyl plank flooring over wood or cement but in either case you will need to level it. If you have low spots on the sub-floor, use a floor leveling compound to fill them in. If you have high spots, you can sand or grind them down. Check the sub-floor for moisture. On a wood floor, moisture is easy to see. You can find the cause and cure the problem, and then decide if the wood needs to be replaced or just left to dry out. Cement is not so easy. Tape a 15 by 15 inch piece of plastic to the concrete and leave it there for 72 hours. If there is moisture trapped under the plastic, then you cannot install flooring over the concrete. It will need more drying time and perhaps a fan or heater in the room. Once your sub-floor is ready, use a laser level and lay down a chalk line along the longest, unobstructed wall. It is very common that the walls will not be straight and you will see this in the flooring. If there is a small gap after squaring the wall, it will be covered by a baseboard or trim and you will not see it.

Installing the Flooring

Before you begin the installation; read your manufacturer's directions carefully. You can void your warranty by leaving out a step that they suggest. Start on the longest wall, where you first snapped a chalk line and lay out your first row of flooring. The vinyl pieces have a self stick backing on them that you just peel off. When beginning the second row, offset the piece so the seams do not meet up with the first row. The normally setting is two thirds of the planks are adjacent and one third is off set. When you get to an end that needs to be cut, use a utility knife with a new blade. Measure and cut the piece before you take the self stick backing off. Take your time and make sure the ends are butted up against each other properly. Some manufacturers suggest using a flooring roller when the flooring is all installed. If yours is one, you can rent them at home improvement or tool rental stores. When you are finished installing the vinyl, install base board or trim around the edges of the floor.

Resources

• Types of Vinyl Plank Flooring