In some cases, carpet may be the best flooring choice for uneven floors. The proper procedure for fitting LVT is to ensure that the subfloor is flat before laying your LVT on top.
Having an Uneven Subfloor
You can install vinyl on many types of subfloor, including concrete and wood. But that floor must be flat for your installation to be a success.
Make sure the subfloor is as clean as can be. Sweep, hoover and wash the floor before leaving it to dry. It must also be perfectly flat and level for a seamless installation. Polyflor have got a great in-depth guide to preparing your subfloor which applies to all LVT flooring.
The best flooring for uneven floors due to its attractiveness and durability is epoxy, which can also be designed to mimic a wide variety of appearances. Not only will epoxy finish out the floor, but it'll also even it out.
Prep your subfloor so that it's clean, dry and level within 3/16-inch change per 10 feet. Use a self-leveler on low spots and/or sand high spots of wood or concrete. Don't sand vinyl flooring as it may contain asbestos.
First, clean the area by sweeping or vacuuming it. Next, dampen the area by using a wet sponge to help prevent the material from drying too quickly. Then, pour the self-leveler into the low points. You'll need to use a metal trowel to make sure that the hole is filled before gravity levels it out.
Luxury vinyl tile is nothing like vinyl flooring, and is very affordable. And it's a great option for flooring for uneven surfaces in bathrooms where you want the look of tile.
In some cases, a slight slope may be normal and not cause for concern. However, if the slope is severe or getting worse over time, it could be a sign of a serious problem that requires immediate attention. One potential risk of sloping floors is damage to the structural integrity of the home.
Underlayment isn't a necessity, but you might consider it to add noise reducing qualities or additional softness to the product. If the concrete is uneven, you will have to level it out. Without being level, your flooring won't have the right conditions to form to.
What underlay is best for luxury vinyl flooring on floorboards? You need to fit plywood on the subfloor first before you lay a luxury vinyl floor over wooden floorboards.
If the floor is less than 50 ft in length or width, leave at least a ¼-inch expansion gap around the entire perimeter. If the floor is between 50–85-ft, increase the expansion gap to ½-inch around the entire perimeter.
MIXED BAG OF ISSUES
Cupping, curling, doming, edge and end lift fall under planar issues. Another issue is gapping at the sides or ends of the tile or plank, caused by the material being cut short or long as well as variations with the way the material is cut to form the tile or plank.
Underlayment sits between the subfloor and the finished floor covering. They can be made from a variety of materials like foam, cork, felt, and rubber.
Pour the liquid-like floor leveler onto the subfloor and smooth it out with a trowel. Gravity will help it settle into the low areas. Remove any excess floor leveler and feather it around the edges so it blends with the rest of the floor. Let the floor leveler dry overnight or as indicated by the manufacturer.
The degree to which your floor slopes or sags indicates whether or not you have reason for concern. Typically, floors that slope 1-1/2 inches or less in 20 feet is not a problem. Floors that sag 2 inches or more in 20 feet, though, are a cause for concern.
Laminate flooring on an uneven floor will cause many problems. One of the major problems are loud pops and cracks that will eventually surface when you walk across due to pockets of air beneath the surface as a result of the uneven subfloor.
No subfloor is perfectly level, but any signs of unevenness and high or low spots must be remedied. Please follow these requirements: Subfloor unevenness cannot be greater than 3/16 of an inch over a 10-foot span or 1/8 inch over a 6-foot span. Subfloors must not slope more than ½ inch per 6 feet (25 mm per 1.8 m)
One of the main causes of the rippling of vinyl flooring is the expansion and contraction of its material. If the material becomes warmer, it causes slight expansion resulting in the flooring buckling. In colder climates, the opposite happens and the flooring contracts, causing gaps between the tiles or planks.
The main reason for this is the lack of space left for expansion and contraction during installation. This can be easily remedied by trimming the planks or tiles along the wall or removing some of the mouldings to create more space.
While LVT is a little higher end than laminate, it looks more modern and is better able to stand the test of time…and water! Furthermore, when you replace damaged tile, laminate, or linoleum with LVT, you add to the resale value of your home.
Underlayment can help smooth things out, though, but the type you choose will vary depending on your specific reasoning for wanting an even subfloor. That can make choosing the right one for you rather tricky, so here's a quick guide that should lend a helping hand in getting the best underlayment for uneven subfloors.
When you're installing a vinyl plank floor or any rigid type of new flooring, it's important for the underlying layer to be both level and flat. If you're installing vinyl planks on top of a concrete floor, the standard tolerance required is for the floor to be level to 3/16” within a 10' radius.
Available in sheets and tiles, vinyl flooring is easy to install and works well on uneven surfaces. Although not as flexible as carpet, vinyl still conforms easily to the shape of the floor underneath it.