Vinyl floor

You can buy either vinyl floor tiles or vinyl floor sheets. They come in hundreds of different patterns, styles and colors. As with everything in life, you get what you pay for. Avoid the really cheap and thin vinyl floor covering – these get torn easily and they DO look cheap. Generally speaking, the thicker the vinyl sheet or tile the more durable it is. Also, make sure it has a poly-urethane coating to resist scratch marks, stains and dirt..

Actually some vinyl floor tiles can look very sophisticated and are very practical – but they then can cost almost as much as the flooring they try to imitate (like limestone, slate etc) – so you might as well go for the real thing!

Installing vinyl flooring

Vinyl floor tiles are easier to install than cutting up a large sheet, but on the other hand vinyl sheet flooring is seamless and more hardwearing. Whichever type you choose, it should be installed over a clean and dry surface. If your floor is in bad shape it is advisable first to put down (preferably water-resistant) plywood sub-floor or underpayment. Vinyl can also be glued over old vinyl, ceramic tile, concrete and wooden floor.

Before you cut up a vinyl sheet – make a template out of cardboard (but don’t forget to remove or allow for skirting boards etc). Then lay out the vinyl (overlap or match the patterns and tape the seams if necessary) – then position the template carefully. Make sure that any pattern will run parallel with the adjacent wall. Then cut out the shape with a Stanley knife and glue it with adhesive.

If you decide to use tiles, you must let them acclimatise for at least 24hours before installation. Unpack them and leave them in the room where they are going to be used. It’s best to lay tiles starting in the middle of the room. Again, make sure your pattern is parallel with the walls!

Removing vinyl flooring

Removing vinyl flooring can be quite difficult, so consider putting your new flooring on top of the old one – be that ceramic tiles, hardwood or another vinyl floor. As long as the old floor is even and flat, this is the best solution.

Alternatively you can cover your old floor with a plywood sub-floor or underpayment. If you really have to remove the old vinyl floor, you must make sure you properly remove the old adhesive. You might have to use a chemical stripper.

Read more articles about floor covering: