Are you ready to install vinyl flooring in your home? If so, it will help to know the following tips for installing the flooring on your own.
Consider Vinyl Flooring With A Plastic Backing
If you are installing vinyl flooring on a concrete floor, such as a basement, it may be worth upgrading to a vinyl flooring material that has a plastic backing on it. This is going to act as your moisture barrier with it being built into the board itself so you don't have to go through the hassle of installing an additional moisture barrier.
Use Spacers For The Edge
A floating floor can shift over time. That's why it is crucial to put spacers around the floorboards that touch the wall. This gives you enough room for the floorboards to expand and contract, and you will not have issues with the flooring buckling on the floor because it has nowhere to go.
Mix Up Your Vinyl Flooring Material Boxes
You are going to purchase several boxes of laminate flooring material. Be aware that there may be slight differences in the flooring material when it comes to the color. It is best to open up the boxes and mix up the floorboards so that any different pieces are mixed up when you install them. If not, you may have a clear shift in color when the flooring changes from one box to another.
Cut Vinyl Flooring Edges That Touch The Wall
Vinyl flooring is unique because it has interlocking edges that connect to each plank of flooring material. However, this means that you need to pay attention to which side you cut. You should only be cutting the edges of floorboards that touch the wall or other objects. The other sides must keep their interlocking edges so that they connect to the surrounding boards.
Stagger Each Row Of Flooring Material
You'll need to cut the first piece of each row of flooring material that you install so that the floor is staggered and the seams are all not next to each other. The amount that you stagger each row is up to you, but it needs to be done consistently across the entire floor. For example, if you cut the floorboards in half, it is going to create a pattern where the seams match up between every other row.
Reach out to a vinyl flooring expert if you prefer to have them install this type of floor for you.
Contact a company like KC Marble & Tile to learn more.
Choosing flooring can be quite a challenge, mainly because you have so many options. On the lower end of the cost spectrum, you have things like sheet vinyl and vinyl tile. On the higher end of the cost spectrum, you have stone and ceramic tile. Then, there's carpet. It's installed over a subfloor, but most people do consider it to be a separate type of flooring. You can read more about flooring on this blog, equipping yourself to make a better decision about the flooring that's right for your home. You'll then have a better idea of what questions to ask and what factors to consider as you choose a floor.