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With a little preparation, the right tools, and some patience, anyone can install a beautiful new vinyl floor. Vinyl flooring is a great choice for several rooms in the home, and for the experienced do-it-yourselfer, installing vinyl makes an affordable flooring option even more affordable.
Before beginning the project, gather together all the tools you will need for the job. These include:
- masking tape,
- a pry bar,
- vinyl flooring adhesive,
- a seam kit,
- a hammer,
- a notched trowel,
- a rolling pin,
- a 1” wide ruler,
- craft paper, pencil,
- scissors and a utility knife
- and of course, the beautiful new vinyl flooring
Begin by emptying the room in which the new vinyl will be installed. This allows you free movement, and adequate room to prepare the floor. Remove any moldings along the wall, and thoroughly clean the surface on which the new flooring will lay. If the floor is not level, you may wish to use plywood sub-flooring to raise the unevenness to the proper lever. You can secure the plywood underlay with 6 penny shank ring nails.
After the surface is prepared, you are ready to make the pattern from which you will cut the vinyl flooring. This may seem an unnecessary step, but it will make the entire installation much easier (and cutting more accurate) than working simply from dimensions or a measured drawing. Use craft paper to make the pattern, physically laying it out on the floor space to be covered. Attach the lengths of paper together with tape, and use smaller pieces to pattern around difficult objects, such as pipes, baseboards or vents. The template should allow ½ inch between its edge and the wall on all sides – just remember to add the inch when cutting the final pieces. Mark each edge of the pattern indicating which wall it will abut, and you may also want to note on the pattern where difficult spots are located. At this point, you should have a perfect fitting floor covering made of paper.
After the pattern is built, carefully lay the vinyl flooring on a clean surface, face up. If more than one width of the flooring will be necessary for the job, overlap the vinyl so that its design aligns perfectly. When all is aligned, tape the pieces together and lay the pattern on the vinyl, making sure it is laying in the right direction, and using the utility knife, cut the flooring. Don’t forget to add an extra 1 inch to the length and 1 inch to the width. You may want to practice cutting on a scrap before cutting out the flooring from the pattern. Also, where possible, align the pattern so that your cuts will be on a line or on a place in the design that is not as noticeable.
Double check your work by carefully placing the vinyl where it will be laid. If any adjustments need to be made, make them now. If the fit is good, remove the vinyl, and apply the flooring adhesive to the vinyl’s reverse side, following the adhesive manufacturer’s recommendations. Lay the flooring back in place, and press the entire floor using the roller. If seams are present, use the seam sealer kit to secure them.
It may take at least a full day for the adhesive to set, so allow enough time out of the room for everything to dry. When at least a full 24 hours has elapsed, you can reattach the baseboards, replace the furniture in the room, and enjoy the satisfaction of having installed a beautiful new vinyl floor.
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