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With the installation of any flooring there are certain points to consider to make sure your floor is fitted to the very highest standard and to ensure its longevity.
To guarantee your LVT floor stands the test of time and looks its best in your home you need it to be correctly installed, so have a look at this guide so you know what to expect!
Glue down LVT – This is as it says in the name – glued down. It glues to or adheres with peel off backing directly to the sub floor. It can be tricky to fit and is best left to the professionals.
Lock or click LVT - This clicks together and needs to be fitted on top of a special sub floor so ensure you fit this before laying the floor.
Loose lay – this has a gripped back and will grip to most subfloors.
All LVT floors are waterproof and underfloor heating compatible.
The fitting principals explained below apply to all types of floors.
As the old saying goes, ‘if you fail to prepare then you prepare to fail.’ This is why, prior to laying a floor you must ensure that the sub floor is sound.
What to check for
To lay a floor well, you need a smooth flat sub floor. This gives it the best chance of longevity. You need to ensure that there are no lumps, bumps or cracks on the subfloor, and if there are you will need to use a smoothing compound to help cover these to create the best base possible for the LVT.
You should also acclimatise the tiles in the room they are to be fitted for 24 to 48 hours before fitting takes place.
Fit your underlay if required (see click lock floor above)
Now you know you have a solid base, underlay if required and have acclimatised the tiles you can plan the layout.
Decide where you are going to start. It is advisable to start fitting all LVT types from the centre of the room, or from a prominent line to help get a symmetrical floor.
To find the centre, measure the width and length of the area and mark a chalk line halfway across both - where the lines meet is the centre of the room. Alternatively, draw two diagonal lines from the corners of the room. The cross point is the centre.
After you know where the centre of the room is, position (don’t stick yet if using glue down) two lines of tiles from the centre of the room at right angles to each other to make an L shape. This is simply to help make sure you have the tiles in the right position in the room and that they align correctly with each other and the walls.
When you are happy with the position and the symmetry, then you can think about the fitting.
Glue or click your first row together using spacers of about 1/8 of an inch. The spacers ensure a consistent space along your edges. Make sure you follow your layout plan to ensure straight lines.
With glue down floors you need to put glue on the floor using a recommended LVT floor glue and using an appropriate notched trowel, or peel off the adhesive backing on your tile. You will also need to wipe away any adhesive from the surface of the board, so it does not dry on them.
When you reach the edges at the end of a row you will need to cut the tiles. This can be done with a jigsaw or tile knife. Measure carefully.
Use a roller or a mallet to gently secure tiles down to ensure they adhere to the glue if you are using it, or have clicked into place correctly if using click lock.
When your first row is complete, start the next row, repeating the process.
If you are using plank pattern LVT, stagger your planks so that the joints at the end of each plank are about 6 inches away from the ones on the previous rows. You do not want all the end of plank joints in a line.
The edges
When you reach the edge of a room, carefully measure and cut tiles to fit. Leave a small expansion gap – this will be covered by skirting later.
When you reach door thresholds, use trims to cover the edges where they meet other flooring.
Clean and Maintain
After installation, clean the LVT and remove any adhesive residue. Follow the manufacturer's care and maintenance guidelines to keep your floor in good condition.
The finish
Install skirtings to cover the expansion gap and create a finished look.
Fitting an LVT floor is methodical and logical as long as you follow the rules. Make sure your sub floor is sound, it is critical to the success of the floor. Then fit the planks from the centre of the room working in rows, ensuring tiles are fitted tightly together, tapped down. Also make sure expansion gaps are left, and obstacles are worked around.
The result will be a beautifully fitted floor.