If you are looking for flooring that will stand the test of time, consider resilient, vinyl flooring. Vinyl floors are easy to clean and are resistant to scratches and scuffs. The best part is they are truly affordable!

Achieve a great look, similar to that of ceramic tile or wood, at a fraction of the price! Carolina Flooring Services offers a variety of vinyl and resilient products, but there are some things to remember that are specific to vinyl.

Here are seven tips for installing vinyl flooring.

1. Estimate how much – First you need to determine exactly how much vinyl you’ll need. Decide how much flooring to buy by measuring the area of the room in square yards.
2. Remove surrounding objects – After you have your vinyl, you’ll want to remove the furniture and appliances. Take the doors from their hinges. Remove the floor’s surroundings and have all your tools and materials on hand.
3. Secure your base – Next, make sure the ground you will be laying the floor over is dry, clean and flat. It can be used over concrete or old linoleum or vinyl flooring. You may want to use a coat of embossing leveler though if the old floor has a rough texture. An underlayment will be required if you have a hardwood, embossed, cushioned, buckled or uneven floor. Usually, 1/4-inch BC plywood is recommended as a good underlayment.
4. Cut to fit – Once you’ve laid your underlayment, cut the floor to fit. Sold in 6-foot and 12-foot widths, vinyl flooring can be cut by measuring the entire floor area or by making a template of the floor layout. When measuring, cut the vinyl about three inches wider than the floor area on all sides. It can be trimmed after it’s laid in place.
5. Sketch floor plan – Sketch a floor plan to scale using graph paper. Include areas beneath appliances and in closets. Again, add three inches to the outside if you plan on trimming it.
6. Apply the adhesive – After either trimming in place or using a template, you’ll apply your adhesive. A full-bond floor will have adhesive applied to the entire surface while a perimeter-bond will only be secured around the room’s edges.
7. Install the floor – Finally comes the exciting part. Lay the floor on top of the adhesive carefully and press firmly. Clean the excess adhesive using a solvent. Roll firmly over the floor to finish bonding the vinyl to the subfloor. Keep foot traffic at a minimum for approximately 24 hours, then you can replace your appliances and return your furniture!

We hope these tips help, but installing vinyl flooring can be time consuming and overwhelming when trying to do it by yourself. Consider allowing Carolina Flooring Services to make it easier on you. We understand how complicated it can be and are here to help you through the process. Carolina Flooring Services offers a variety of services to support our customers in their purchasing decision and in the installation of their products. Click here to learn more about our flooring services!