Vinyl Flooring Installation | Vinyl Flooring

Introduction: Sheet vinyl flooring installation is unforgiving in nature and best left to a professional for installation. Vinyl floor installing of tiles is not as difficult to install as sheet vinyl and is a great project for a DIY homeowner to install themselves. The average room can be covered with vinyl tile in approximately four hours making it an easy weekend project.

Wherever you install vinyl flooring it is imperative that the floor surface you’re putting it down on is perfectly smooth. Any seams, bumps or raised nail heads will be noticeable through the new flooring. Applying a floor leveling compound will eliminate any installation defects.

If you are installing new vinyl flooring over older vinyl flooring you should be aware that older vinyl contains asbestos. If you’re considering applying new vinyl on top of the old, it’s best to leave the old flooring in place. Taking up the old flooring will likely release asbestos fibers into the atmosphere. Leaving it in place and covering it with the new vinyl will seal the fibers under the new floor.

Vinyl flooring can be purchased as sheet flooring 6, 9, and 12 feet wide and at nearly any length. The tile comes in 9 or 12 inch square vinyl tile. Tile is much less expensive than sheet flooring. Tile can be purchased from $1.00 - $3.00 a square foot.  Sheet vinyl flooring cost from $3.00 to $7.00 a square foot for the most expensive. Like most things, you get what you pay for. A nominal price of $4.50 - $5.00 a square foot will get a very good quality sheet vinyl covering. Vinyl flooring comes in many color and design options that will match any home. Some styles even mimic wood grains and give the appearance of expensive hardwood floors. Before visiting a tile store or home improvement center to purchase vinyl flooring take care and exact measurements of the area you want to cover. The clerk will assist you in determining the exact amount of tile you will need. For sheet vinyl covering that a professional installer will visit your home to determine the requirements including material to level the floor.

Install Vinyl Floor Tiles:

Tools and materials required:

•  Tape measure

• Vinyl tiles

• Carpenter's square

• Utility knife

•  Floor leveler compound

• Trowel or wide bladed putty knife

• Tin snips

• Flooring roller (can be rented from a tile store)

• Belt sander or grinder (can be rented from a home improvement supply center)

• Hammer and cold chisel

 Preparing the Floor and Tile Installation:

1. Vinyl tile can be installed over virtually any underlying surface to include: sheet vinyl, existing vinyl tile, and concrete if it has a smooth surface. All cracks, bumps and dips will need to be repaired before you install your tile.

2. Remove all trim around the floor edges. For a bathrooms, remove the toilet. Place the new tiles in your home a day or two before installing so they can get acclimatized to your home.

3. If covering an existing vinyl floor any dents or dips need a leveler/primer layer applied. Spread this compound smoothly with a wide bladed putty knife or a straight edged trowel. It will give you a smooth surface for your tiles and also prevent the underlying flooring from becoming noticeable under your new tiles.

4. If covering a concrete floor, patch any holes or cracks and remove any bumps or ridges using a cold chisel or heavy grit sandpaper on a belt sander. A quick sanding of the whole concrete floor will also help the tiles adhere to the surface.

5. Lay out the vinyl tiles with the pattern centered on the most noticeable part of the floor. Place a whole tile in the center of the floor and work your way out to the edges where cut tiles won't be as noticeable.

6. Start the layout by measuring to find the center point of two opposite walls and snap a chalk line between these two points. Then find the center points of the remaining walls and snap another chalk line between these two points. This will have divided the room into quadrants. Use a carpenter's square to be sure that your lines cross at 90° and adjust them as necessary.

7. Start laying the tiles at the intersection of the two chalk lines by dry placing a row of tiles the length and width of the room to determine how they will actually fit when they reach the wall. If the tiles don't end up with the proper spacing, adjust your center reference lines so it will.

8. Once the layout has been determined begin installing the tiles. Start where your reference lines cross and lay the first tile beside where the lines cross. Use the lines as a guide and work your way out to the walls. Press each tile firmly in place. After a few rows are installed use a tile roller to bond them firmly in place. Install all the whole tiles before starting to work around the edges.

9. Laying the edges will require cutting each tile. Cut straight edges in vinyl tiles using a sharp utility knife. For curves or irregular shapes use tin snips.

10. You can determine the size by placing a full tile up against the wall so it overlaps the installed tile. Using the tile as a template, mark the tile. Cut along the mark to have an exact fit to go against the wall. Roll the newly installed tile repeatedly to insure that it is flat and adheres to the floor.

11. Install the moldings and any fixture that were removed. The molding will cover the small gaps at the edges. The new tile can be walked on after installation however it is best to let the glue set up for a day before allowing regular traffic or washing the floor.

That is all there is to it.