Click Vinyl Flooring – Click vinyl flooring, comprised of rigid core click and click options, is a versatile plank and tile flooring option. To install click flooring, simply snap planks or tiles into place using the click-locking system integrated into the flooring product.
Installing Click Lock Vinyl Plank Flooring
Lay the first plank, appropriately spaced from the wall. Install the second plank by holding it at an angle and inserting its tongue edge into the first plank's groove edge. Lower the second plank to snap the planks together.
Seams occur in sheet flooring wherever two lengths join side by side. Cross joins occur where two ends meet - that is, where one roll finishes and the next one begins. It is possible to overlap two sheets where they join and simply cut through both at the same time to form a seam.
Click-lock vinyl also known as floating vinyl is equipped with a tongue and groove system that allows the planks of vinyl to click and lock together. As the planks are clicked into place, they can float slightly above the subfloor. The vinyl can be easily clicked into place using a rubber mallet.
Click (or Lock) flooring is installed using a floating method. It's similar to traditional tongue and groove wood flooring, but it has an additional interlocking profile around its edge which enables the boards to be clicked, snapped, or locked together.
With click and lock vinyl flooring, planks click easily together, providing a no mess glueless floating floor and making installation of this product a no sweat project. Suitable for areas with exposure to large amounts of water or moisture.
Vinyl plank flooring is engineered to be installed in one of two methods: glue-down or floating. For a Do-It-Yourselfer, floating or click-lock vinyl flooring is often an easier method, as there is no adhesive or mess to deal with.
The glue down method involves two distinct types of adhesives: hard set and pressure sensitive. Hard Set — Similar to a broadloom carpet adhesive, a hard set adhesive spreads along the subfloor — which in turn holds the vinyl flooring firmly in place.
One of the most well-known ways of placing these floors is gluing them down. This method uses an adhesive tape or liquid glue to bond it to the subfloor. For higher traffic areas this is generally the better option because you don't risk planks shifting in the slightest.
Side Plank Separation
Humidity and temperature changes can cause planks to contract, creating gaps along the sides. Improper installation can also be the culprit. Either way, these unsightly spaces can be easily fixed with a tube of putty.
Avoid using ammonia-based cleaning solutions. Don't use bleach as an overall vinyl floor cleaner. Keep away from highly abrasive scrubbers or detergents on vinyl. They can damage the floor, causing cracks or scratches.
Moisture. If water seeps up under the flooring from an extremely moist concrete subfloor, the adhesive can be weakened, causing buckling in the floors. During installation, run a vapor barrier under the vinyl plank flooring to help prevent buckling from moisture.
Not environmentally friendly
Off-gassed VOCs can adversely affect health and an indoor environment, particularly without windows or ventilation, will lead to higher concentrations. If this is a concern for you, we recommend avoiding high-VOC vinyl flooring and choosing a low-VOC floor instead.
Due to its greater stability, gluedown flooring is recommended for larger rooms. Such rooms will have less joint stability if they've been installed with click luxury vinyl.
The click flooring planks are locked tightly together, creating a tight seam between each plank, which results in a far more stable floor and making it difficult for liquid spills to penetrate into the sub floor. With loose lay, any spills are likely to penetrate the seams between the planking.
Vinyl plank flooring is the way to go, and it's also very easy to install. Many types of vinyl plank flooring have a floating feature, so there is no need to glue or nail them to the subfloor as the floor's own weight holds it in place.
Concrete Subfloor
For floating floors, like loose-lay vinyl sheet or rigid vinyl planks, a vinyl flooring underlayment may be required as a vapor barrier and can also add much-needed cushion and warmth underfoot. You may also want to look for an underlayment designed for moisture mitigation and insulation.
Unlike click-together flooring, loose lay vinyl flooring doesn't snap together. Instead, installers lay the planks next to one another over the subfloor, where their rubber backings—and increased weight—keep them in place.
Humidity can make your laminate floor boards shrink or expand a bit. This fluctuation in humidity levels can cause them to click loose and move, resulting in openings between the boards. Fortunately, you don't have to remove the entire floor to close these open joints.