A guide on how to lay vinyl flooring and how much it costs for labour and resources.
This article will outline the work needed to fit vinyl flooring and examines all aspects of carrying out this surprisingly easy task and detail any refurbishments that have to be carried out on the underflooring so that the new floor can be laid.
Flooring is not changed regularly and is usually carried out as part of an overall update to a room, and should ideally be carried out after all other decorating has been completed to ensure minimum damage to the new covering. However, when you do come to lay the new flooring finally, this guide will help you understand each stage of the procedure to ensure a perfect finish every time.
Again, that actual cost of the materials will depend upon the size of the room, with the average cost of mid-range flooring being approximately £13 to £18 per square metre. You will need to determine exactly how much you need in order to work out a purchase cost for your room. This will not, however, include any ancillary items that may be used, nor contractor hours if you don’t plan to do the job yourself. To hire a flooring specialist you should expect to pay between £200-£400 depending on the condition and size of the floor.
Fitting new flooring requires a good deal of background work to ensure that it can be fitted quickly and smoothly. The job will entail planning out the floor area, removing the old floor covering, making good any imperfections in the underfloor, and finally placing the new floor. There will also be some cleaning up to do once the floor is finally down.
If you are taking the flooring up completely, you have the perfect opportunity to inspect the underlying structure and determine whether it needs any restorative work carried out on it. This is also a great opportunity to decorate the skirting boards without any risk of getting paint on the new flooring.
In common with all DIY jobs, carrying out the correct preparation is essential to ending up with a final creation that not only looks professional but will serve you well for many years to come.
Preparation should start with you removing all of the furniture and anything that impinges on the floor so that you have a completely clear area in which to work. Laying the floor may take several days if you aren't particularly skilled so you will need to ensure that you have somewhere dry and safe to store everything for the duration of the job. You will also need to ensure that everything you remove doesn’t block your way into the room as you will need to get the old flooring out and the new flooring in.
You need to work out exactly how much material will be required so that you don’t waste money on too much material. The complexity of measuring a room normally depends on its shape. It’s recommended that you divide the room into rectangles and calculate the area of every rectangle by multiplying the length by the width to get the whole size.
You will have to allow an extra 5 to 10 centimetres on each edge to allow for slight miscalculations and to ensure that there is enough material to go under the skirting boards and do a professional-looking job. Once you have finished your plan, and check that everything is correct.
Select your vinyl flooring type, paying attention to any issues that may be associated with it, such as the need for underlay and whether it can be used with underfloor heating.
When fitting vinyl flooring, you should roll it back as you get to the edges of the room and cut it so that you have sufficient material to then insert under the skirting board when it is flattened out. Heavyweight flooring does not usually require any means of securing it, but lightweight flooring may need an adhesive to hold it in place.
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Here is a list of commonly asked questions regarding laying vinyl flooring.
Most of the work associated with fitting vinyl flooring is actually associated with preparing the area and removing the old flooring. Once the area is prepared that actual fitting of the new flooring is a fairly quick and straightforward task. The preparation work will depend upon the size and complexity of the room being considered, but usually, the actual fitting of the new vinyl flooring can be fitted in a couple of hours.
Flexible vinyl flooring requires the subfloor to be completely flat and free from imperfections as they may translate through the flooring. Rigid vinyl flooring is capable of absorbing small imperfections and marks in the subfloor; however, it does need to have an expansion joint fitted at 13-metre intervals to take up any movement. In addition, flexible flooring can be set as either floating or glued in position, whereas ridged flooring is always floating.
You will need a tape measure to determine the dimensions of your surface and as well as a pencil and chalk or chalk to draw out the measurements and proportions of each vinyl section. You will also need a strong and sturdy utility knife for cutting up the vinyl and corners, as well as a carpenter’s square to check that the material is square to the wall.
It’s suggested that you should lay the flooring proceeding away from the main light source, which in the majority of instances means running it from any door; however, it’s generally all down to personal preference and how you want the floor to appear.
It’s recommended that you use specifically designed cleaners diluted in water as per the directions on the packaging. This should be applied with a lightly damp mop to ensure you being too harsh on the floor. It’s not suggested that you use any bleach-based or simple soap-based products on your vinyl floor.
