How to lay LVT flooring

LVT Flooring or Luxury Vinyl Tiles is a hard wearing waterproof floor that can be installed in practically any room and it gives the appearance of conventional tiles but without the usual cost or hassle. LVT also known as vinyl click flooring is designed with a click system so they are easy to install and don’t necessarily require professional fitters. Vinyl tiles don’t require any bonding, they simply click together, edge-to-edge, like a jigsaw. What’s more, because they are vinyl, moisture isn't a concern, making them suitable for the kitchen or bathroom.

 

Let’s dive straight in with our step by step guide on how to lay LVT vinyl click flooring.

 

Project Overview

 

Working time: 2 to 4 hours

Level of skill: Intermediate

Cost: £150 to £250

Room size: 120 square feet

Total time: 2 to 4 hours

 

Tools And Materials Required

 

To complete your project, you will require the following tools and materials:

 

• Pencil
• Tape measure
• Ruler or straightedge
• Rubber mallet
• 7-10mm Spacers
• Spirit level
• LVT underlay
• Mechanical sander

 

Step by Step Instructions

 

01 Prepare Your Floor

 

Before you lay any LVT, you’ll first need to prepare the floor. Start by vacuuming the area you want to cover with a high-powered vacuum cleaner and then brush the sub-floor before vacuuming again to remove any additional particles.

 

Check the evenness of the floor with the spirit level. If the floor is not even, it will affect your results. Place the spirit level or straightedge on the ground in multiple locations and at different angles, looking for any humps or troughs in the underlying material.

 

If you notice any deviations greater than two millimeters on a wooden floor, use your mechanical sander to even them out. If the floor is concrete, make sure that you wait at least two months for it to fully dry out before laying any LVT.

 

02 Acclimatise Your Vinyl Flooring

 

Unlike many other flooring materials, LVT requires acclimatisation before laying. To do this, leave the material in the intended installation room for 48 hours before applying, ensuring that the temperature remains between 18 and 28 degrees C at all times. Doing this makes sure that the vinyl floor tiles behave as expected under normal room temperatures.

 

You can apply LVT on top of underfloor heating. However, its advised that temperatures must not rise more than 29 degrees C.

 

03 Apply The LVT Underlay

 

Before laying luxury vinyl flooring, you first need to put down the underlay. Only use approved LVT underlays for this process, not any other type.

 

LVT underlay is typically a 1.5mm-thick foam that provides cushioning and acts as a moisture barrier. The actual thickness will depend heavily on the type of tiles you use, and the manufacturer’s specifications.

 

Some underlays require you to apply adhesive manually; others come with self-adhesive for quick and easy installation. Underlays are anti-slip and help to make your installations stronger.

 

Tip

 

Make sure that you roll the underlay at a right angle to the direction you want to install the floor. Also, ensure that any moisture barriers on the underlay overlap as you roll new sections.

 

04 Lay The LVT Flooring In The Correct Direction

 

Start by laying the LVT vinyl click flooring from the wall at 90-degrees to the angle that you rolled out the underlay. As you lay each new section, place 7 to 10mm spacers provided by the manufacturer to maintain an even gap. Don’t lay flooring in any single direction for more than 7 metres as this will compromise the strength of the installation. If you need to span a gap of more than 7 metres, use threshold strips to hide expansion gaps.

 

Tip

 

Make sure that you maintain the 7 to 10mm expansion gap throughout the installation. Don’t allow tiles to touch radiators, door frames, or any other room features. Rely instead on beading, skirting boards, and threshold bars to hide expansion gaps.

 

05 Proceed With The Installation

 

Start the installation by installing the first row first and then connecting the next row. How you connect tiles depends on the manufacturer’s design. Some require you to “tap down” until you hear a click, while others use a fold-click mechanism. You will need to consult the instructions on the tile pack before proceeding.

 

When installing the LVT flooring, ensure that the female (inward-facing) part of the board faces away from the wall. Install the end joints first and then place the female click on the ground before attaching the male click. Traditional systems require you to hold the male element at 45-degrees to the female before pushing it down and flat. Continue joining each tile to the next until you reach the adjoining wall. Then check the length of the final tile, cutting it to the right size with your pocket knife if it requires adjustment.

 

06 Cut The Final Tile

 

When cutting the final tile, ensure that it has a straight edge. Do this by comparing the cut to your ruler. If the cut is incorrect, keep removing material until it is flush with the opposing wall.

 

When starting the second row, ensure that you stagger your tiles so that the joints don’t line up. Then click each piece together in the same way as the first row. Once you join all the short ends, angle the second row and press it into the first. Keep adding new rows until you cover the entire floor space.

 

Tip

 

The width of the boards may not perfectly match the width of your room. Therefore, you will need to cut some narrower boards.

 

When cutting boards for the opposing wall, make sure that you leave a 7 to 10mm expansion gap. Always mark the area for cutting on the underside of the LVT to avoid any unsightly scratches.

 

07 Reinstall Skirting Baseboard

 

Once you finish laying the LVT click flooring, reinstall the baseboard skirting, and trim. You can do this manually with a hammer and nail, or you can use a brad nailer for a more consistent finish.

 

When nailing manually, use a nail set to recess the nail heads below the trim’s surface. Then trim door and case mouldings to fit the height of the new floor.

 

Tip

 

When reinstalling the skirting baseboard, you may want to take the opportunity to replace any damaged shoe mouldings or other floor trim. Sometimes simply repainting can give you an elegant, polished-looking finish.