Commercial Vinyl Floor Tiles
How To Lay Vinyl Flooring And Attain An Expert Looking Appearance
Vinyl flooring. Admittedly, not as bad as it used to be. And it is softer underfoot than it used to be, but it still isn’t great. It comes in a wide range of styles and patterns. It is best used in commercial buildings like care homes and the cheaper hotels. If you are using it within the house, I would certainly keep it in an out of the way area like a utility room or the downstairs bathroom . If you’re determined to fit it yourself, then I suggest you read on about how to fit it as it should be fitted.
I will be blunt at this point. You’re gonna need a quite a bit of kit for this job. Unless you’ve got a lot of vinyl, it may even work out less costly to hire someone else to do it for you.
Anyway, to do the task you will need a roll of vinyl (obviously), a Stanley knife, vinyl glue, a steel straight edge, a tape measure, a paint scraper (for that glue), a ballpoint pen, a roll of double-sided flooring tape. And, if you have got a tiled floor or it is made of concrete you’ll will require some self-levelling compound.
Step 1: The Vinyl:
Laying cold vinyl is a nightmare. It’s stiff and does not stretch well. So, leave the vinyl in a warm room for a day and switch on your central heating. It will make fitting it a great deal easier.
Step 2: Preparing your floor:
If you have a raw concrete floor, you will need to ensure it is absolutely flat. Otherwise the lumps will show through the vinyl. It will look horrible and present a potential safety hazard. Buy a self levelling compound, spread it over the floor to fill the holes and follow the instructions. That should do the trick.
Self levelling compound is what you will need when you are covering ceramic tiles, as well. Spread a thin layer and fill in the joints between tiles. Again follow the instructions and let it to set.
When you are covering floorboards, you will be required to lay hardboard over them to create a flat, smooth and stable surface. Don’t forget to stagger the joints and use plenty of pins to make sure they do not lift over time.
Step 3: Lay the Vinyl:
Make sure the area is clean. Get the vacuum out and give it a top notch hoovering. Take your shoes off. You will not will want them on for this job. They will just drag grit around. Now, unfurl the vinyl against the longest continual wall. Keep unrolling until the pattern is parallel with your wall. Leave a 4 inch overlap against the wall.
Now you’ll will require the Stanley knife. When the vinyl is unrolled, keep it as flat as you possibly can around the edges near to the wall by making vertical cuts into the waste vinyl (i.e. the stuff pressing against the walls that will not be covering your floor). For a neater finish, cut into the corners and trim the surplus vinyl so that you simply form a V shape.
Step 4: Fit the Vinyl:
Now that you have cut the majority of excess vinyl off, it will be more controllable. Obtain a pen and mark off more excess vinyl. Cut it away. Your aim now should be to get the vinyl into the rough shape of the room leaving a 1 or 2 inch excess all around the sides.
Step 5: Trim and glue:
Ok, press the straight edge against the vinyl and trim to fit exactly. Force any edges under cabinets, skirting boards etc. This will give you a decent, crisp finish. if you have got anything different to ‘stay-flat’ vinyl, this is the time to glue it it down to the floor. Follow the instructions on the glue container.
Step 6: Finishing:
You’re practically there. Get a soft brush and starting from the centre of the room, push out any bubbles. Secure the vinyl along at the doors and entrances to the room with double sided carpet tape. It will stop it moving.
When I say that I know how hard it may be to perform these tasks that I’ve written about in this article. I’ve carried out these tips to many projects through the years but from the beginning when I first started out in the trade there was much to learn. For my training I went to a firm called Carpet Fitter London. They taught me everything that I know.
About the Author
I have been heavily involved in the property business for over twenty years. My work ranges from gardening, electrics and diy. Gasically I can turn my hand to pretty much anything.
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