Flat: All wood and concrete subfloors must be flat within 1/8” over a 6' span, or 3/16” over a 10' span. All areas of the subfloor must be checked prior to installation. High spots can be sanded or grinded down and low spots filled with appropriate patching compounds.
It's a floating floor. There is no such thing as a perfect subfloor. It is sometimes normal for there to be soft spots. As long as it does not give more than 1/8'' of an inch. If it does then the floor prep was not done properly. The subfloor should be flat 1/8'' in 6'. Which is pretty hard to achieve tbh.
Subfloors must not slope more than ½ inch per 6 feet (25 mm per 1.8 m)
Prime Importance. Once satisfied that the subfloor is sound, smooth and dry, or an appropriate moisture management solution is in place, the application of an appropriate floor smoothing compound (normally at a thickness of 2-3 mm) will create a uniform, smooth surface over which the LVT can be installed.
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.
A subfloor needs to be clean, dry, level and structurally sound. Use a level to determine if the floor is level within 3/16-inch change per 10 feet. Mark any high or low spots with a pencil or marker. If you're gluing the new floor to the subfloor, use a sander to remove oil, wax, paint, adhesives or other materials.
Floating vinyl planks, installed without adhesive, can accommodate slight floor irregularities. On the other hand, glue-down method offers a stronger bond and is ideal for more uneven surfaces, like a mountaineer who seeks a solid foothold on rugged terrains.
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.
Depending on the situation, you can either sand down areas of the subfloor that are too high, or install shims beneath the subfloor so that the entire floor is brought up to the same level.
If you don't have a spirit level, you can use a flat surface or the edge of your LVT plank. Experts advise that anything uneven over 2mm in a 1m run should be rectified with a floor-levelling compound that is suitable for the job.
Before installing the LVP, it's important to make sure that the subfloor is level and dry. Use a self-levelling smoothing compound to smooth them out. 2-3mm of smoothing compound will dry to walk on within 2 hours however will need at least 24 hours to dry sufficiently for the LVP to be adhered to it.
The Standard simply defines the required flatness of a concrete subfloor. The subfloor, or 'underfloor' as I like to call it, “shall not deviate more than 3/16 of an inch in ten feet.” Photo 1 shows a ten straight edge being used to gauge the undulation of the floor.
The acceptable tolerance for subfloor unevenness for laminate flooring is typically 3/16 inch over a 10-foot span. If any areas exceed this tolerance, they will need to be addressed before proceeding with the installation.
The subfloor surface must be smooth, flat, dry, clean and solid. Carpet staples or adhesive residue must be removed to ensure proper installation. Subfloor should be flat within a tolerance of 1/8” over a span of 4 feet. Any unevenness over 1/8” must be sanded down or filled with a floor leveler.
Check your subfloor for moisture and make sure it's level to within ¼-inch in a 10 foot span. Vinyl planks can be installed above or below grade on most surfaces including concrete and tile. Do not install vinyl over carpet, laminate and floating floors.
If your planks already have a pad-attached underlayment, you most likely won't need an underlayment. However, if your flooring manufacturers installation instructions allow for an extra underlayment, adding an extra underlayment will provide improved sound reduction, insulation, and moisture protection.
Use the proper leveling compounds to provide a flat surface – subfloors should be 3/16” in 10' or 1/8”: in 6' – the use of a 6' level can help to determine the flatness of the subfloor.
If your subfloors dip, sag, slope, have irregularities, and are uneven, your flooring will not be flat or even, too.
The main cause of warping in vinyl flooring is exposure to direct sunlight during installation, which causes the planks to expand. In the case of glue-down tiles and planks, warping can occur due to water spillage that is not cleaned up immediately and has seeped under the flooring through the seams.
In general, if a floor slopes ½ inch to 1 inch for every 20 feet of the floor, it may require you to watch the situation, but it may not be a big concern. Sloping or sagging floors of more than 2 inches will indicate a problem. Sometimes, original builders slope the floor to allow for drainage.
Does LVT really need expansion gap? Even though LVT is less reactive to temperature changes and moisture than real wood flooring or laminate, it can still expand and contract so an expansion gap is still required. The recommended expansion gap for standard rooms of up to 30m2 is a minimum gap of 2mm.
When it comes to installing vinyl plank flooring, ensuring a level and smooth surface is paramount to achieving a flawless finish. This is where self-leveling cement comes into play, serving as a crucial preparatory step that sets the foundation for a successful installation.
A flat and level floor is key so that the adjoining vinyl plank flooring don't have varying heights. Whether you'll be installing your Luxury Vinyl Flooring product over wood, tile, or concrete, the different types of subfloors require different types of preparation.
Improper Cleaning of Vinyl Flooring
Harsh cleaning methods and unsuitable cleaning products can wreak havoc on it. Here's what to avoid: Abrasive Cleaners: Stay away from harsh chemicals, scouring pads, or stiff-bristled brooms. These can scratch the vinyl's surface and leave it dull.
¼” plywood works well as a subfloor for vinyl, and you can install vinyl directly over wood. Over a wood subfloor, you need a Class II moisture retardant.