The floor gives the house a unique look. You too can transform a simple concrete floor into a high-end floor by installing the vinyl floor. A vinyl tile is made by putting PVC vinyl over the fiberglass base. It is then coated with a plasticizer. The final look is given by printing the design over the surface.
The vinyl sheets are meant to be used as a floating floor. They come as planks or tiles of thickness ranging from 1.5mm to 5mm. The high-technology use for design embossing makes these tiles/planks look very realistic. You can go for a wooden look or marble look or some 3-D design.
Installing them is easy and they have got multiple benefits:
1, Water-resistant: Being made from PVC with wax in-between the multiple layers, these tiles/planks are water and moisture-resistant.
If your house is in a damp area, you face the danger of a wooden or laminate floor getting damaged. Vinyl floor solves this issue. It is perfect for use in bathrooms, kitchen, balcony, and all other rooms.
2, Fire-resistant: PVC and fiberglass are highly resistant to heat. Australia is susceptible to wildfires and extreme summer heat. Vinyl flooring resists fire. It is resistant to melting from high heat. So, it keeps your house safer without investing in specialized fire-safety equipment.
3, Aesthetic appeal: Vinyl flooring adds an aesthetic touch to your home. You can choose the design that appeals to you. This diversity is not available in any other flooring option.
4, Easy to maintain: Cleaning is the pain point for many flooring variants but not with the vinyl floor. You can use a broom, wet mop, or even scrub it clean like a stone floor. And, it will not go bad. You can use all sorts of cleaning products without damaging them.
5, Anti-slip surface: Most vinyl sheets come with an anti-slip top layer. This adds friction between your feet and the floor and prevents slipping.
6, Durable: Conventional wooden or laminate flooring needs replacement every 5-10 years. They begin to face issues like sheet flaking, and discoloration. Typically vinyl sheets come with a warranty extending 15-20 years and they do last that long.
How to install DIY vinyl flooring?
Changing the flooring transforms the house. If you are looking to uplift the interiors, you should consider the vinyl floor. These are easy to install without any professional help.
If you intend to get the vinyl flooring done, follow these steps:
1 Smoothen the floor: If you have a concrete or stone floor, you need to make it smooth. Look for irregularities. Do not forget to check behind the shoe molding. Cover up the cracks, crevices, and uneven areas with patching compound.
Let the compound dry completely before proceeding further. If you are living in the house, try doing one room at a time. Make the room empty before repairing it.
2, Measure the dimensions: Once your room has even surface, measure the dimensions. You must take the area under the door into consideration. Take this measurement to your vinyl flooring supplier.
Finalize the design and take the planks/tiles as per the need. Having measurements beforehand saves money. You do not end up buying extra sheets.
3, Create the floor plan: This is important to make the installation easier. Also, vinyl flooring can be done as vinyl planks, vinyl tiles, and vinyl sheets. All three have different procedures.
We will discuss all three separately here.
I, Installing the vinyl sheet:
Vinyl sheets are thin. They can be spread out on the floor just like a thin carpet. Here is the guide to install it properly:
1, Spread the sheet evenly on the floor and look for cut points: After making the sub-floor smooth, spread out the vinyl sheet all over the floor. Use narrow duct tapes to mark the areas that need trimming. Include shoe molding folds as well. Ensure that the whole sheet is even with no air bubbles.
2, Attach the sheet to the floor: Use double-sided tape or strong adhesive to stick the perimeter of the sheet to the edges of the wall. You can also opt for a peel-off vinyl sheet.
3, Re-attach shoe molding: After the perimeter is firmly fixed, attach shoe-molding or wall borders back. Use a hand roller to firmly fix the sheet all through the floor. It removes any leftover air gaps and spreads the adhesive evenly.
4, Let the room dry: Allow the adhesive to dry completely before moving your furniture back.
II, Installing the vinyl planks:
1, Arrange the planks: Make a floor plan and arrange the planks accordingly throughout the room. Trim out the edges and corners properly.
2, Layout the vinyl planks: Vinyl planks come with ridges. They fit perfectly over one another. So, there is no need for any extra adhesive or nailing. You just need to ensure that the ridges fit perfectly without any space crunch. Always leave a little room for expansion during the summers.
3, Re-install the shoe moldings’ and trims: After laying out the planks, put back the shoe moldings’ and trims. Use a pneumatic brad nailer to fix them firmly to the wall. Avoid using nails and hammer. They tend to damage the planks.
III, Installing the vinyl tiles:
1, Make the floor plan: Make a floor plan keeping the room dimension and tiles’ dimension in mind. Cut out tiles that are along with corners or doors.
2, Spread adhesive: Vinyl tiles need acrylic adhesive to stick to the surface. Spread the adhesive evenly over the area and wait for it to set. Once it gets sticky enough, put the vinyl tile over it.
3, Layout tiles: Spread adhesive and lay out tiles for the rest of the room.
4, Set the tiles: Once you have laid out the tiles completely, use a 100-pound roller to set them in place. It ensures that the adhesive spreads evenly and tiles fit together beautifully.
5, Wipe-out extra adhesive: Rolling can cause the extra adhesive to come out of the gaps. Use an absorbent dry cloth to wipe them out. You are left with a clean and shining vinyl-tiled room.
Vinyl flooring is the easiest way to uplift the look of your home. It is durable, cheap, and easy to install. If you are looking for expert advice and best suppliers, just click this link https://www.timberflooringmelbourne.net.au/vinyl-flooring/.
