Can You Lay Vinyl Flooring Over Concrete?
An abundance of styles, strength, and adaptability make vinyl flooring a popular choice among homeowners. You may be wondering if vinyl would adhere nicely to a concrete floor. Any type of flooring installation can be a little challenging when working with concrete floors. However, concrete can accommodate any kind of flooring. If you want to purchase patterned vinyl flooring, wood-effect vinyl flooring, or hallway flooring, check out Vinyl Flooring UK.
- Get the subfloor ready:
Although it may seem laborious, improperly preparing your concrete subfloor could cause issues down the road. For instance, flooring that are uneven or noisy, or separation.
To make sure the moisture levels are as low as feasible, first and foremost, a moisture test must be performed. Give your subfloor time to adjust if the moisture metre reading is excessively high. For every mm of thickness in concrete, drying times might reach up to one full day. So, just to be sure, give yourself around 72 hours. Select a Moisture Barrier Underlay if you discover that the moisture content of your floor is still excessive.
Making sure your floor is clean is the next thing to do after it has dried. Sweep off any dirt or debris from your subfloor first. Next, scrape off any adhesive or paint that may still be on your subfloor. If any particular substance is proving particularly challenging, use sandpaper or a scraper. After cleaning, hoover to make sure there are no bumps and your floor is spotless.
- Patch up holes and cracks:
Examine the floor and fix any holes, pits, cracks, or other uneven areas. To fix the damage, use concrete filler or a comparable floor patching material. The best course of action is to remove the majority of the slab and replace it with a new one if the subfloors have significant fractures in them.
Please be aware that vinyl planks cannot be installed over freshly laid concrete until the floor has had at least 60 days to cure.
- Grind imperfections:
The floor must be extremely level and smooth. Use sandpaper for that. Once you’re done, wipe away any remaining dust with a moist towel.
- Clean the floor:
With water and a degreaser or household detergent, thoroughly wash the concrete floor. Before you let the floor to completely dry, it should be clear of any oily patches or accumulated dirt.
- Moisture Testing:
Water can occasionally seep into concrete, which could damage vinyl flooring. To find out if the concrete has too much water, conduct a moisture test. You might need to install a barrier to halt the moisture if the levels are excessive.
Here’s how to check the moisture level on your own:
–Attach a tiny scrap of vinyl to your subfloor using tape.
–Make sure that the edges are sealed securely to stop air from escaping.
–Give the tape a full three days to go.
–Try removing the tape from the floor after three days. If it peels off too readily, there’s a chance the moisture content is too high to apply vinyl. The space needs to be dehumidified in this situation.
- Acclimate the Vinyl:
Before installing, give the vinyl flooring at least 48 hours to adjust to the humidity and temperature of the space.
- Lay an Underlayment (Optional):
For extra comfort and insulation, you may decide to place an underlayment, depending on the kind of vinyl flooring you select.
An underlay in the form of a thin vapour barrier is necessary to keep the concrete beneath your vinyl flooring dry. To install the underlay, measure the required amount and cut the material into strips, leaving at least 5cm extra to allow for personal space. Simply tape the underlay together so that no portions overlap when placed side by side. Furthermore, tape the underlay’s seams. If necessary, make sure to use scissors to trim any excess material.
- Install the Vinyl Flooring:
Installing your chosen flooring over the underlay is the only thing left to do. Even if it seems simple, there are differences in the installation procedures for various flooring types. This is the greatest approach whether you’re working with solid wood, vinyl, laminate, or engineered wood.
Vinyl flooring, or LVT, can be installed directly onto the concrete subfloor because underlay doesn’t need to be installed. However, if you leave your flooring out of its packing, give it a full day to acclimatize. When it’s ready, measure your room, unroll the vinyl flooring, and cut it to fit. It is advisable to factor in an additional 15cm for safety.
The size of the room determines the installation technique. For instance, a loose installation without adhesive can work well in spaces smaller than 12 square metres. For rooms of 12 to 25 square metres, attach the vinyl with double-sided tape. Lastly, use adhesive in larger rooms that are more than 25 square metres. Finish by adding beading with glue or a hammer and nail, just like you would with other floors.
-Place the first piece in the far corner of your room. Make sure the first piece is straight by using a level.
-After laying the first piece, get ready for the second. You might need to trim the second piece, using a miter saw, depending on how big your space is.
Should you need to make a cut, flip the piece over and use a pencil to draw the cut line.
-After cutting, align the shorter end and press it into position. Because of its click-and-lock technology, this flooring is practically installation-proof.
-If you see a gap, carefully hammer your boards together with a rubber mallet.
-To allow for expansion and contraction, you must leave a gap around the perimeter by the walls; however, baseboards will hide this gap (use the wedge spacers from the installation package).
-Carry on doing that throughout the space.
- Sealing (Optional):
For further moisture protection, you might need to seal the edges and seams of the vinyl, depending on its type.
- Give Adequate Curing Time:
As directed by the manufacturer, allow the adhesive and vinyl flooring to fully cure before moving large furniture or strolling over the floor.
