Karla News

How to Install Vinyl Flooring: Easy Tips and Tricks

Vinyl Flooring

Are the floors in your bathrooms or kitchen screaming for a make over? Are you sick of that gritty beat down carpet and are looking to make it shine? You can re-do-it with vinyl. Vinyl flooring has been around for a while and the concept of installing it yourself is easy to grasp once you have a few tips and tricks of the professionals.

If you’re removing carpet from the spot you’re going to put down the vinyl flooring, first cut the entire perimeter of the room with a carpet knife. This way you release the carpet from its nails along the edge of the room. Next cut the carpet into ten inch strips either vertically or horizontally, which ever way is the shortest run. By using an old rolling pin, you can roll the carpet onto the pin to create an easy alternative to lugging out that heavy lump in one shot. Remove the padding from the floor in larger strips of 2 feet wide, it’s not as heavy. Remove the carpet tacks with a crow bar or long flat bar. You can chop them up into smaller chunks using a reciprocating saw or old hand saw.

After you’ve had your vinyl delivered or you picked it up, unroll it in a driveway to let it stretch before you begin to cut it. Measure the room with lengthwise and widthwise at it’s to largest points. Cut that measurement out first and place on the driveway to stretch in the sun. Now you can go back and cut around for doorways. If you’re not sure and the measuring becomes too great, leave it long and cut off small pieces at a time when you get it in the room. For a more professional look, measure from the center of your room outwards from the main pattern on your vinyl. For instance if your vinyl is a brick pattern align the center of the brick pattern in the center of your room. It can give it that extra touch that looks professional. You have some extra waste that you normally wouldn’t have, so plan accordingly before you order.

See also  DIY Home Improvement: How to Paint Over Vinyl Flooring

Another great tip is to position the placing of the seams in an area that is unseen, such as along a wall and away from heavy traffic areas. Make sure if the seams are away at least 12 inches from any sub flooring seams, like plywood floors or stress cracks in concrete. Fill all cracks before hand with stretchable filler like caulk or foam.

Roll the vinyl you have warming up in the driveway and bring it into the room. Stretch it out in the room and place it in position and let it sit for at least one hour before installation. After this is done use a notched trowel to spread on the flooring adhesive. Pull up the vinyl along one edge of the room and lay adhesive. Once you have the area done fold back the vinyl on top of it and position into place. Carefully flip the other side over and continue spreading out the flooring adhesive around the rest of the floor. Cut any areas you may have to cut now.

At the place where you bought the vinyl or many rental companies, rent a floor roller. Use it to get out any bubbles or high spots that are in the vinyl. Do this until all the bubbles are worked out from underneath the vinyl. When laying down the vinyl try to get the least amount of bubbles as possible. The vinyl will bubble so don’t get fanatic that your laying down to many bubbles as you go.

With a little sweat and some good planning you should be able take an old room and turn it into a new fantastic room that you created. You can save yourself a few bucks too.