. Find the answers to your home improvement questions. Installing Vinyl Plank Flooring on Concrete: Step One: Figuring out what direction you want to floor to run.This is a matter of preference, and often people opt to run the flooring the length of the room – makes for fewer cuts and faster installation, but it’s really up to you. Once down, vinyl flooring is incredibly resilient. If a section of the floor becomes damaged, it can be replaced. Wait 3 days and try to pull the vinyl off the floor to check if it is easy to leak. Layout pattern. Vinyl is a popular choice because it holds up to both dry and wet spaces, allowing it to be used continuously from a living room into a kitchen or from a bedroom into a bathroom. Strike a second line at a right angle from the first line, dividing your room into four equal quadrants. Vinyl planks, which are often categorized as "luxury vinyl," are wide strips of flooring that snap together to create a continuous layer that floats over the concrete. Pro tip: … Call: 1-877-631-2845 Tape a large piece of plastic over the concrete floor, securing all edges with duct tape. Different Ways to Install Vinyl Plank Flooring Using Glue or Adhesive While vinyl sheets can be glued to the floor with the seams welded in solvents, vinyl planks will either need to have an adhesive material applied to it that allows you to use it with a peel and stick method, or you may have to glue it down separately. Because it is waterproof, vinyl plank flooring can be used in any room of a home, including kitchens, bathrooms, and basements that are usually off-limits for hardwood floors. 3. Even with professional installation, vinyl flooring is more affordable than most other types of flooring. Then, slide a putty knife behind the boards, prying them lightly to loosen them. Heat up your vinyl planks with a hair dryer or heat gun just before you peel off the backing, then stick it to the wall. You can lower high spots with a grinder. Prep floor for installing threshold by drilling holes into the concrete. Different brands can vary slightly in construction and the instructions provided for proper installation should be strictly followed. And then baseboard is another leap forward… it’s so exciting! Get your vinyl flooring adhesive out, and get a notched trowel. It should not, however, be installed over cork, carpet, a floating floor system, laminate, or vinyl with a cushioned backing. Many vinyl plank floors require a glue-down installation process. Next, move about 12 inches to the right or left and cut a strip parallel to the first. To install AirStep Evolution vinyl flooring without adhesive: Remove Molding: Take up any shoe molding and door thresholds around the perimeter of … If the plywood is porous, prep the subfloor by applying a primer that fills the pores and makes the floor ready to accept the adhesive. No matter which type of flooring you select, make sure to save a box of planks for making repairs or adjustments down the line. One thing that really helps make vinyl stick to floors is using heat. The noise is determined more by the construction of the material than by the installation process. Includes planning, equipment and material acquisition, area preparation and protection, setup and cleanup. These acceptable levels may vary slightly by the type of adhesive used, so make sure to check the manufacturer instructions. Luxury vinyl plank flooring price is mostly determined by how it is made and how well it is made, but there are a few other factors affecting cost.. Quality. You can't do that with glue-down vinyl. of floor filler. If you are installing vinyl plank flooring over a wood subfloor, make sure that you have on hand a self-leveling compound to create an even surface for installation. Use heat. The concrete floor must also be free of cracks, or the vinyl tile will eventually sag into the gap. Vinyl plank flooring is a great choice for installation over concrete subfloors. All Floorté luxury vinyl products (Floorté Classic Series, Floorté Pro Series & Floorté Elite Series) boast the following installation benefits: Fill in the Low Spots. One of the most enticing benefits of this flooring product is the fact that it can easily be installed as a home project and does not require a costly professional installation process. If professional installation is used to complete the glue-down process, the total cost of product and installation could far exceed floating vinyl plank flooring. The differences are more in the nuances. The baseboards and quarter round should be installed after the vinyl plank flooring is in place. This cost-effective flooring can offer the look of real wood in rooms that hardwood flooring is not an option. If you have some experience with installing flooring or are DIY hobbyist, it shouldn't take you more than a day to install vinyl plank flooring on concrete. Measure the gap from one end of the first plank to the other, add 1/4 inch, draw a line on the plank and cut along the line with a knife. Your email address will not be published. Generally a 1/16 inch trowel is used for spreading the adhesive, some adhesives may also be applied with a short-napped paint roller. Cutting … Some floors will call for a paint-on primer prior to installation. Glue down vinyl plank flooring utilizes an adhesive tape or liquid glue product to adhere the planks to the subfloor as opposed to each other. Email: customerservice@builddirect.com, Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window). For the case of concrete floors, an underlay is … This is the second time we’ve done our concrete basement using vinyl plank flooring (see the last place here!) For the best results, select a product designed for commercial use and make it a foundation of your room for many years to come. A few floor preparation steps will get the subfloor ready to accept the vinyl plank floors chosen. For quiet floors, look for vinyl flooring with noise-dampening layers, such as cork built into the design. The Floorté family of rigid core products are our top-selling luxury vinyl floors for good reason - they are beautiful, durable and easy to install. Concrete: Sheet vinyl can be installed over concrete if the surface of the concrete is clean, smooth and dry. By continuing to browse this website, you agree to the use of cookies for the collection of traffic statistics and to improve the quality of our website. Vinyl plank flooring has become a popular option in homes and businesses because of the wide range of styles and the incredible durability of the flooring. They provide all the style and elegance of hardwood while remaining durable enough to use from the front door straight through the bathrooms of the home. Find the answers to your home improvement questions. This is the tricky part. Floating vinyl plank floors are a great choice for bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and bedrooms. They are easy to attach using a rubber mallet, making them an ideal choice for a quick do-it-yourself installation process at home. Even out the floor surface. You can glue down vinyl plank flooring over appropriate existing flooring to eliminate hours of work peeling up the floor. Start in a corner of the room (following your pattern), and scoop out some of the glue onto the trowel. Roll the flooring in both directions to firmly seat the plank into the adhesive. Many of the factors below are about quality. The holes … Call: 1-877-631-2845 Use the utility knife to cut straight down the middle of your vinyl floor. To install each piece, peel the adhesive backing off the plank … Of course, glue-down applications are appropriate for smaller rooms as well. With proper installation, it will become a fashionable foundation for your room for many years to come. It can be used in wet and humid spaces, making it suitable to run from the front door clear through the bathroom and even in basements. First, clean the subfloor to ensure there is no dust or dirt that will prevent the adhesion of the vinyl planks. Floorté Floating Floor. Determine whether this flooring type is a good choice for your space by taking a look at the subfloor and doing some simple prep work to get ready for the vinyl plank floors to go down. Simply remove the baseboards and start the installation process, replacing the baseboards after the vinyl plank flooring covers the previous layer of flooring. Stick a small piece of self-adhesive vinyl on the concrete floor. However, you need to assess the condition of the surface on which you want to put the vinyl plank. This is because it is thicker and stiffer than standard vinyl flooring, which allows installation using only double stick tape around the perimeter to hold it in place. Suspended, on-grade, and below-grade concrete subfloors need to be moisture tested prior to installation. If you’re wondering how to install vinyl plank flooring on concrete, the process is similar, but make sure that you have a concrete leveler to even out the bumps. The flooring product should have instructions for the maximum number of square feet it can cover without a threshold. Floating. When applying this flooring over concrete, take note of the grade level. In general, vinyl flooring should be installed with a quarter-inch to half-inch perimeter where the flooring meets the wall, allowing for proper expansion in warm months. Concrete slabs of any kind have the potential to contain moisture and require initial moisture testing. Vinyl Tile Flooring Installation Labor, Basic Basic labor to install vinyl tile flooring with favorable site conditions. Vinyl Plank Flooring Cost Factors. If carpet has been removed, use a floor scraper to work up any lasting staples or glue residue. Running continuous flooring can help a home appear larger and more open because there aren’t threshold lines breaking up the visual space. Even though both products are incredibly durable, sometimes repairs are necessary. Install moisture barrier for concrete floor Clear debris from level, clean floor or subfloor. The floating nature of the floor makes it suitable for use over a subfloor that has some imperfections. Once the subfloors are prepped, it is time to acclimate the floors to the room and provide an initial inspection of the floors. Installation for planks is easier for beginners than laying down sheet vinyl because you're working with small pieces, and if you make a bad cut, you can simply cut a new piece. Click Vinyl Flooring – Click vinyl flooring, comprised of rigid core click and click options, is a versatile plank and tile flooring option. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. CAUTION. Born out of the DIY generation of home improvement, vinyl plank flooring is an affordable surrogate for traditional hardwood floors… Make sure the results are no more than 5 pounds of moisture per 1,000 square feet in 24 hours. A well-prepped subfloor is key to easy installation and a long-lasting floor! The humidity of the concrete floors should not exceed 80% RH per ASTM F2170. The most asked question is on whether you need underlay for vinyl plank flooring or not. When you glue down vinyl plank flooring over a wood subfloor, a double layer construction of the wood subfloor is required. Take note of those instructions when deciding how often transitions are needed. Repair any holes or cracks. Here are the step-by-step instructions for installing … Fill low spots in the old floor with up to 5/8-in. Today I’m sharing some tips, tools, and tricks to installing vinyl plank over concrete. Purchase a Calcium Chloride Moisture Test. Do not install under permanent kitchen cabinets when floating; Do not install on concrete unless proper moisture testing is … Cut, fit and attach vinyl tile. Vinyl vs. Laminate: What’s the Difference? Next, remove the base moldings and undercut doorways to the thickness of the flooring. Remove the baseboards if your walls have them. This is slightly easier to do with glue-down flooring because it does not have the same click-in mechanism as floating flooring options. To learn more, please consult BuildDirect's, How to Glue Down Your Vinyl Plank Flooring. Do not store the flooring on concrete while acclimating. Tips on Installing Vinyl Plank Flooring. Glue-down installation holds up to high-traffic areas while reducing the chance for the floors to roll or lift up, especially if things are frequently moved or rolled across the floors, such as carts and furniture. Running continuous flooring can help a home appear larger and more open because there aren’t threshold lines breaking up the visual space. When it comes to transforming the look of your home, both glue-down and floating vinyl flooring make great options. The room plays a big role in determining the correct flooring product. Of course, professional installation is also an option. The floor preparation and layout are the same for peel-and-stick vinyl planks as they are for floating vinyl plank floors. Vinyl plank is designed to connect through click and lock and glue down techniques. Consider the actual construction of the product and select one designed hold up to the way the room will be used. Any minor bumps can be removed with a masonry chisel and small sledgehammer.Wear safety glasses. Most vinyl glue-downs will need to be rolled with a minimum 100-pound, three-section floor roller immediately after installation. Vinyl is a popular choice because it holds up to both dry and wet spaces, allowing it to be used continuously from a living room into a kitchen or from a bedroom into a bathroom.