Vinyl Floor Installation Atlanta
VINYL FLOOR INSTALLATION
Installation Methods
Vinyl floors can be installed in ANY room using one of two common methods:
- Full spread (the most common); or
- Perimeter glued.
Full Spread – Adhesive is applied to the entire floor.
This method is always used to install Luxury Vinyl Tile and Plank, and sometimes used to install Sheet Vinyl. A water-based, non-toxic adhesive used to affix the vinyl to the sub-floor. The vinyl flooring is laid into the adhesive and then rolled, pushing out all bubbles and securely attaching the vinyl to the sub-floor.
One disadvantage to this method is that it requires more floor preparation, including new plywood underlayment in many cases. In addition, because vinyl is not thick and has “give”, it will mold itself to the form of the subfloor. Consequently, proper subfloor preparation is crucial.
Perimeter Glued / Stapled – Only the perimeter, or edges, of the floor is glued or stapled to the subfloor.
The primary advantage over the Full Spread method is that it can be used over more types of sub-floors, including plywood, concrete and even some old vinyl. By gluing the vinyl only at the edges, the vinyl can move with the subfloor as it contracts and expands due to changes in temperature. This method also hides imperfections in the floor.
Sub-floor Preparation
Vinyl floors take on the shape of the surface beneath it, so it requires a very flat sub-surface. Consequently, whenever new vinyl flooring is installed, sub-floor preparation is required. (There are some premium quality Luxury Vinyl products, such as Adura from Mannington, that, due to their superior construction, do not require subfloor preparation unless it is being installed over existing vinyl. Thus, while the cost for such products might be higher, the installation costs are significantly lower.)
The type of sub-floor preparation depends on the “type” of floor over which the new vinyl is being installed.
Embossing Leveler – If vinyl is installed over an existing vinyl floor, the texture of the vinyl must be smoothed out (or it will show through onto the new floor). This is accomplished by applying a special compound, referred to as an embossing leveler, which fills in the low spots and leaves a smooth surface.
An existing vinyl floor should NOT be removed. An embossing leveler should be applied and the new vinyl should be installed over the existing vinyl.
Skim Coat – If vinyl is installed over concrete, a skim coat can be applied to smooth out any “grit” on the floor that would show through the vinyl.
New Plywood Underlayment – If vinyl is installed over a wood subfloor, plywood or an approved Lauan can be used to level the sub-floor and prepare it for the new vinyl. Lesser quality lauan will stain through the new vinyl.
Buyer’s Tip: Many installers cut corners to reduce their cost by ignoring the requirement to properly prepare the sub-floor for a vinyl installation. For example, they install vinyl directly over a wood sub-floor or over concrete without first applying skim coat.
Sealing Vinyl Seams
Sheet vinyl generally comes in 12’ wide rolls. If you’re covering an area that is wider than 12’, seaming will be necessary.
Vinyl seams should ALWAYS be sealed, providing a protective coating to keep dirt and moisture from getting trapped in the seam. Sealing involves fusing two pieces of vinyl together. It is important that the installer uses the seam sealer recommended by the vinyl manufacturer.
