Tips For Buying and Installing Vinyl Flooring
There are several types of vinyl flooring available. These types of flooring come in rolls that are usually ten to twelve feet wide. The rolls can be cut into any length, and they provide seamless coverage in most rooms. To get the best results, consider purchasing a flooring material with a thickness of 12 or 20 mil. You can even purchase vinyl planks that are seven 3/4 inches wide. Here are some tips for buying the right flooring for your home.
Avoid using heavy cleaning products on your vinyl floor. Heavy cleaners may damage it. Instead, use mild cleaning products to mop or blast dirt from your floor. When it comes to heavy furniture, you can use felt tips or rugs to protect your floors from dents. If you cannot find protective covers for these items, you can use plywood to move them. However, waxing your flooring is not a good idea, since it will weaken the glue bond and can cause discoloration.
When installing vinyl flooring, make sure you measure the area where you want to put it. Door jambs can be a major hindrance. You should measure these areas so that the vinyl planks can slide underneath without causing any problems. Similarly, you should remove any trim work that is present around the baseboards. If you can’t remove these with ease, you can use a putty knife or pry bar to remove them.
In addition to being completely waterproof, vinyl is also softer than laminate. As a result, it is less noisy underfoot than laminate. Hard footsteps can cause it to clatter, so vinyl can reduce the noise and clatter. For those who don’t want to risk their furniture rubbing against the floor, try installing resilient foam underlayment under the flooring. Another good option is vinyl plank flooring, which comes with embossed textures or designs.
When installing vinyl flooring, remember that you must work in rows, not across. You’ll want to leave about an inch of room between rows. When installing planks, you should leave at least a third-inch expansion gap on each side. Be sure to align each row of flooring properly by marking the edges with a razor knife. This helps to ensure that you get the right size for your space. Once you’re finished with laying the floor, you can cut the planks to match the space.
Before installing your new flooring, you should prepare the area by measuring the perimeter of the room and preparing the subfloor. After measuring the space, you can cut out the pieces using a sharp utility knife. Make sure to leave about a quarter-inch gap between adjacent vinyl sheets to avoid bunching. Once the perimeter is complete, roll it out over the floor and smooth out any air bubbles. You can then continue the process with the second half of the sheet.
Another type of vinyl flooring is luxury vinyl. These floors are made from PVC, which is heated to create thin layers. Luxury vinyl flooring features a photorealistic visual layer and textured surface layers. Both vinyl and laminate flooring can resist heavy foot traffic and moisture. The best thing about these floors is that they’re incredibly durable. Even if you’re a novice at floor installation, luxury vinyl flooring can be installed in a day.
