This guide is to assist you in installing your vinyl floor. Please note that these directions are a basic guideline to vinyl floor installation. For more detailed instructions, contact us or follow directions that are included with your vinyl sheet upon shipping.
For information on caring for your vinyl floor, visit our vinyl care page for detailed instructions.
General Installation Information
The full-spread professional installation method is the required installation process for all fiberglass sheet vinyl
products. This installation method provides optimal performance of the vinyl and should be used in any area over
25 square yards, in heavy traffic areas, kitchens and home offices.
Materials Needed
- 3/8” short nap paint roller
- Pressure Sensitive Releasable Adhesive
- Premium Seam Bond
- Acrylic Double Face Tape
- Sharp Utility Knife
- Straight edge
- Push broom
Floor Preparation
Floor must be clean, smooth, flat and dry. Remove all foreign substances such as wax, grease, dirt and any substance
or chemical that would interfere with a good bond. Fill all holes and cracks with a cement-based patching compound.
Sand high spots to eliminate the possibility of telegraphing. Prime floor if needed to prevent overabsorption of adhesives, contain dust, and to insure a better bond of the adhesive to the subfloor.
Inspection of flooring material prior to installation is required. Any defects should be immediately reported to VinylFlooring.org before installation. The installer is responsible for labor costs to repair or replace material with defects that were apparent before or noticed at the end of an installation.
Step 1
Prepare substrate in order for the surface to be clean, smooth, flat and dry. Under cut all door jambs to maintain a 1/8” relief gap.
Step 2
Place acrylic double face tape at all doorways where a transition strip is needed, next to sliding doors, in front of tubs and shower stalls, and similar areas where an expansion gap will not be covered with trim. Place double face acrylic tape around all floor vents to eliminate air migrating under vinyl causing bubbles. Do not tape along walls or around perimeter of room.
Step 3
Align the pattern with the most dominant wall to achieve the best appearance in the room. Using a sharp utility knife, trim away excess material along the walls, at cabinets, etc., leaving approximately 2” of vinyl at these areas to be trimmed off later (rough cut).
Step 4
If a seam is required, please follow instructions for seaming.
Seaming Instructions in a Full-Spread Installation
1. After adhesive is rolled on and completely dry, position the flooring by over-lapping the seam edges. (Make sure to match pattern.)
2. With a straight edge and a sharp utility knife, cut through both layers of flooring material (double-cut) at the designated match point. Make sure the utility knife blade is held in an upright position for a clean 90 degree cut.
3. Remove and discard waste material.
4. Fold back about 8” of the vinyl on one side of the seam and apply a small bead of Premium Seam Bond to one edge of the vinyl that is on the floor.
5. Tuck the seam edges together and wipe off excess sealer with a clean, damp cloth.
6. Use a resilient flooring type hand roller (or wallpaper seam roller) to squeeze out any remaining sealer from the seam. Immediately clean seam with a damp cloth followed by a clean, dry cloth.
7. Protect the seam and allow it to dry (approximately 6 hours).
Step 5
Make relief cuts at corners and projections to allow the material to lay flat before the final cuts are made. Final trimming should be done by cutting in with a utility knife or trimmer leaving a 1/8” to 1/4” expansion gap. The gap allows for sub-floor movement caused by changes in atmospheric conditions. The vinyl flooring should not touch the wall or corners at any point or bubbles or wrinkles may occur. The material must lay flat to stay flat. Final cuts must be made prior to applying adhesive.
Step 6
LAP fold back material one half at a time and roll on a thin consistent layer of Pressure Sensitive Adhesive with the 3/8 inch short nap paint roller.
Step 7
Before laying material back, make sure the adhesive is completely dry (should be tacky to the touch). There should be no transfer of adhesive to material. (If needed, a fan can be used to accelerate drying time.) If the adhesive is not completely dry before installation of vinyl flooring, the adhesive will continue to release gasses causing bubbles under the vinyl material.
Step 8
Starting in the center of the floor, remove air from under vinyl flooring using a push broom (broom method). Do not use any type of flooring roller, i.e. 75 or 100 pound. Do not twist material when placing it onto the adhesive.
Step 9
Use quarter round or base board to cover the exposed expansion gap. When installing quarter round or any moldings, make sure that they are fastened only to the wall, and do not pinch the vinyl floor at any point.
Additional Instructions
• DO NOT slide heavy appliances or furniture over or across the flooring. Always lift objects and place them on the flooring or reposition appliances and furniture using professional moving glides or carpet with the pile side down.
• Always inspect the flooring thoroughly before installation.
• DO NOT slide heavy appliances or furniture over or across the flooring. Always lift objects and place them on the flooring or reposition appliances and furniture using professional moving glides or carpet with the pile side down.
• In-floor heat/AC registers may rest on the vinyl floor, but leave space under registers that are attached to the floor or wall. They should not pinch the flooring material.
• Use permanent 100% silicone caulk next to bathtubs, showers, sliding doors or similar areas.
• For bathroom installations, it is not necessary to remove the toilet. Make relief cuts around the perimeter of the toilet and make sure the vinyl flooring is laying flat before trimming off the excess material. Apply permanent flexible 100% silicone caulk around the toilet, next to bathtubs and showers to prevent moisture from getting under the vinyl. Note: if there is ceramic sanitary cove and no place to install trim mold, you can apply caulk around the walls.
• Make sure furniture legs have large surface, non-staining floor protectors. Replace small, narrow metal or dome-shaped glides with smooth, flat glides that are in flat contact with the floor.
• Do not use a trowel for application of pressure sensitive adhesive.
• Never use tape around the perimeter of the room.
• Never apply IVC Flooring to wet adhesive. This could cause permanent bond or wrinkling.
• For Metal door jambs that can not be undercut, leave an 1/8” expansion gap and caulk with 100% silicone caulking
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