Floating vinyl plank floors are a great choice for bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and bedrooms. If you are laying floors in a large and expansive area, a glue down flooring application can provide more durability. Of course, glue-down applications are appropriate for smaller rooms as well.
Generally, commercial spaces — like office spaces, restaurants or retail stores — experience heavier than normal foot traffic and therefore can benefit from vinyl flooring that is glued down (since the glue provides extra support in keeping the flooring in place).
If the subfloor isn't suitable for use of adhesives, then a floating floor might be the best option. If the room or environment is subjected to inconsistent temperatures or the substrate is uneven, a direct glue installation will be the best.
A floating floor isn't glued to the subfloor. Instead, it will hover above the subfloor after installation. Separate LVP planks click together to form a floor. Installers use specialized tools to snap the planks into place while trimming the edges as needed.
On average, peel and stick vinyl flooring lasts up to 20 years, making it an affordable and long-lasting flooring decision for your home. This, of course, also depends on a wide variety of factors.
After laying glue-down vinyl plank flooring, roll the floor with a 100-pound roller. This step will help to secure the floor and adhesive to the subfloor in every area. Using a roller at the initial installation will help to prevent the buckling of vinyl plank flooring down the line.
Water can seep into the seams and “washout” the adhesive. If this does happen it can be fairly easily remedied, if only a few planks are affected.
Overall, glue-free vinyl flooring installation can be done as a DIY project as long as the subfloor is suitable, the room is relatively small, and doesn't have a lot of obstacles. Just follow the tips and steps above to ensure a perfect finish. Call now for a quote.
When you have a bump or dip in your subfloor, the uneven surface can cause vinyl planks click-lock-systems to become uneven. This will cause creaking or “popping” every time you walk over the floor. An underlayment can help fill in subfloor imperfections and leave your flooring a smooth surface to lay on.
Simple installation
You do not need to use any kind of glue, staple or click-lock system to install this flooring. Instead, this flooring's back uses friction to get a grip of the subfloor beneath it. Installers that are putting in loose lay vinyl flooring literally just have to set it into position.
Installation methods for vinyl flooring
A floating floor is one way to go glueless, although some methods do utilize glue around the edges to secure those pieces in place. But a loose-lay vinyl is a perfect way to ensure no adhesives are used at all.
Loose-lay sheet vinyl flooring is unique because it doesn't require adhesive. Once you cut it to size and put it in place, it's installed. It's an ideal solution for covering surfaces such as painted concrete, which adhesives don't adhere to well.
The lower cost to install vinyl flooring is one of its many advantages, but there are also several problems that can occur if it's not cared for. Scratches can happen easily that will make the floor look dull. The corners of the floor can also start to peel with age.
Preventing Vinyl Flooring from Coming Up in the Future
Try to keep the temperature and humidity levels in your home consistent. Avoid exposing vinyl flooring to extreme temperature fluctuations, which can cause it to expand, contract, and eventually lift.
For higher traffic areas this is generally the better option because you don't risk planks shifting in the slightest. Gluing your LVP is also more permanent so if you are not planning to continuously redo your floors, this is a great choice. It is also less of a hassle to replace planks if they get damaged.
Some types of peel and stick vinyl material also have a relatively thin wear layer, making it susceptible to nicks, chips and deep cuts, particularly in high-traffic spaces. Gaps may also start to appear between tiles or planks over time.
Generally speaking, vinyl sheet flooring will last anywhere from 10 to 20 years, while vinyl plank and tile flooring will last 15 to 20 years. The thickness of its wear layer vastly impacts vinyl flooring's lifespan, so pay attention to this detail when purchasing your flooring.
Sheet vinyl is among the most affordable flooring options, and it's very durable, too. You can buy sheet vinyl for as low as $0.50 per square foot, and it can last you 10 to 20 years.
Despite being pitched as a durable and DIY-friendly product, vinyl plank flooring can be hard to install and is not waterproof. It's important to note that vinyl plank flooring comes in a variety of installation options, with some being more DIY-friendly than others.
If you are trying to decide between the two, then for engineered wood flooring floating is usually the best option as you can install it quickly and don't have to worry about which glue to use and how long to wait for it to dry. If you are installing hardwood flooring then using glue may give you a more stable result.
Adhesive failure
When an adhesive doesn't bond properly to the substrate, the problem is often due to dampness in the subfloor, a curing compound on the surface, or weak material or dust on the surface.