Today, a reader asks:
Diva, I am giving serious thought to installing Armstrong vinyl flooring. I have opted for Armstrong largely due to the fact that I hear they offer some kind of installation kit. Really would like to avoid any “vinyl flooring frustration” here, to quote another one of your articles. What would I be looking at if I decided to do this myself?
Compared to installing carpet, vinyl is often times much easier to tackle. And if you are doing multiple rooms, you will soon find that installing vinyl becomes a little less intimidating with each complete room.
Get your tools together.
Before starting the vinyl installation project, you are going to need some basic tools.
- Your vinyl
- Adhesive
- Trowel to apply the adhesive
- Tape Measure
- Straight Edge
- A sharp utility knife
- Floor roller
Considerations before the installation.
- Installing on concrete – surface must be smooth and well swept of debris before an installation.
- Installing on a floor needing underlayment – floors that are uneven for any reason or just hardwood flooring. If the surface is not even, you will need underlayment.
- Installing over existing concrete – whether you can install over the top of existing vinyl greatly depends on how healthy and smooth the existing vinyl is. If it is smooth to the touch for the most part, you can use an embossing leveler and a straight edge trowel to smooth up the surface of the existing vinyl before laying down the new stuff. If the vinyl is cracked, coming apart, etc – just remove it and start fresh.
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Prepping the room before installation.
- If it is a bathroom, remove the toilet.
- If it is a kitchen, you will want to remove the appliances.
- In any room, after removing the doors from their hinges, you will want to utilize a pry bar to remove any molding along the walls so your vinyl installation will be ‘flush’ (even/straight).
Rough cutting vs using a template.
Many experts use a technique called rough cutting. It is simple to do, once you have seen it done a few times. For first timers, I recommend using an Armstrong vinyl flooring installation kit. For one thing, the installation kit provides you with instructions on how to transfer a template onto your vinyl to be installed. For the installation instructions alone, Armstrong is worth every penny.
Some things to remember.
- Take it slow, go big rather than try to cut things too close. You can always rough things in if you are too long later.
- Measure twice, cut once.
- Make absolutely positive that you are working on an even, well swept floor before applying adhesive.
- Roll things out evenly to avoid air pockets. Should some appear anyway, do not panic. Just do the following.
- Locate what would looks like a “grout line”, if this was tile. With a utility knife, carefully cut down the fake grout line nearest the bubble area, making an X in two of the fake grout lines. Carefully squeeze out the air by applying pressure to the vinyl flooring. If you navigate the air out of it smoothly and the adhesive is still fresh, it will seal up to the degree where no one will be able to tell the vinyl was ever cut.
Installing vinyl flooring is not actually as difficult as most people think it to be. Just take things slowly and when it doubt, ask for assistance from a trusted professional.
Do you have questions about the selecting or the installation of: tile, carpet or wall treatments (blinds, etc)? Then email me your tale of woe and perhaps I will be able to answer your questions right here at the Flooring Diva Blog!
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