How to Install Sheet
Vinyl Flooring - Part 1
Sheet vinyl flooring is a durable product that makes
a great choice for high traffic areas. Sheet vinyl installation
is not for the faint of heart. It requires a good deal of
skill and patience and must be done correctly to maintain
your warranty and to achieve the quality of installation you
desire. Note, to install a no-glue vinyl sheet flooring follow
the following instructions except those regarding adhesive
application, instead follow your manufacturer's instructions
for no-glue installation. This article will cover tools and
materials you will need, how to estimate the amount of flooring
you will need and how to properly prepare the room and subfloor.
Tools and Materials
- Sheet vinyl flooring
- Adhesive
- Trowel
- Tape measure
- Manufacturer’s recommended installation kit
- Straight edge
- Utility knife
- Compass (if you did not purchase installation kit with
tools included)
- Floor roller (can be rented) and/or rolling pin
- Seam Sealer (if you will have any seams in the new flooring)
Determine Amount of Vinyl Flooring
Needed
You will need the area of the room in square yards. To determine
square yards, calculate square feet. Measure the length and
width of the room, the length times the width equal square
feet, square feet divided by nine gives you the square yards.
For example, given a 12’ x 8’ room:
12 x 8 = 96 sq. ft. (length x width = sq. ft.)
96/9 = 10.67 sq. yds. (sq. ft. / 9 = sq. yds.)
If your room is small enough, you may not require seams
in your floor. Vinyl flooring is sold in both 6’ and 12’ widths.
So, if possible, buy enough sheet vinyl in length and width
to cover your room with one sheet. If more than one piece
will be required, make sure you allow for more flooring so
matching up the pattern will not be a problem.
At least 1 day before installation, place the roll of sheet
vinyl in the room where it will be installed so the sheet
vinyl can acclimate to the room’s environment.
Preparing the Room
Remove all furniture, appliances and if room is a bathroom
remove the toilet as well. Make sure water supply is turned
off before disconnecting toilet. Once water supply is turned
off, flush toilet to remove water from tank or bowl. Set the
toilet on towels in another room until ready to reinstall.
Remove doors and shoe molding and/or baseboards.
Subfloor Preparation
If installing over concrete: Surface must be clean,
smooth and dry. Any holes or cracks must be repaired with
filler. Grind any high spots and remove minor bumps with a
masonry chisel and small sledgehammer.
If installing over existing vinyl floor: The existing
vinyl floor must be in good condition. If floor is damaged
or loose it must be removed. If existing floor has a rough
surface, smooth it out with a coat of embossing leveler. Also,
if your new floor requires a seam and if you are applying
over an old floor, avoid having the new floor seam over the
old floor seam. Try to offset the new seam at least six inches
from the old one.
If installing over other flooring materials: The
following floors will require an underlayment of plywood:
- hardwood
- embossed
- cushioned
- buckled or uneven floors.
Characteristics of the existing floor will eventually telegraph
through the new sheet vinyl. This is why the subfloor must
be smooth for installation. If it is too difficult or dangerous
to remove the old floor or embossing leveler will not smooth
out the surface, a 1/4” layer of plywood can be installed
as underlayment. Keep in mind that if plywood is installed
it will raise the level of the floor. Cut bottom of door frames
as required and if installing in a kitchen this may require
raising cabinets to compensate for the refrigerator being
higher. Stagger seams of plywood and leave a 1/32” gap between
pieces and a 1/8” gap along walls for expansion. Use floor
leveler if necessary to smooth out any uneven areas of underlayment.
Follow any sheet vinyl flooring manufacturer’s instructions
regarding underlayment installation.
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