DIY Vinyl Flooring Installation

Published on Wednesday, March 10th, 2021

If you decided to go with vinyl flooring for your new home upgrade, you should rest assured you made a smart choice. Vinyl is a durable and easy-to-maintain floor type, ideal for busy homes with heavy foot traffic. No matter what you toss on it, from water to excessive dirt, this flooring will survive and provide comfort at every step. On top of that, vinyl comes at an attractive price, and you can install it in various rooms in the house. 

Speaking of installation, vinyl flooring allows DIYers to show their skills and brag with their talent. You don’t have to spend money on flooring contractors to lay your new floor. Vinyl is easy to set up with the use of a few simple tools and a little patience. We are here to guide you every step of the way and ensure a successful DIY vinyl flooring installation. 

Types of Vinyl Flooring

Vinyl flooring comes in three types: vinyl roll flooring (vinyl sheet flooring), vinyl tiles, and vinyl planks. As the name suggests, vinyl roll flooring is available in rolls that are 6 to 12 feet wide. This type is easy to install and fits perfectly in high-moisture areas such as bathrooms and kitchens. You can put it over concrete, tile, wood, or any other subfloor. 

Vinyl tiles and planks are similar in design but have different patterns. Vinyl tiles come in squares of various sizes you can assemble and arrange in a desired pattern. They give the appearance of stone tile at a much lower cost and easier installation. On the other hand, vinyl planks give the floors the appearance of hardwood at an attractive price but also come in squares for convenient installation. 

Pros and Cons of Vinyl Flooring

If you’re here for our DIY vinyl flooring installation list, you probably know what makes this option so attractive. Still, let us go over the pros and cons of vinyl flooring to ensure we have all the needed information. 

Pros:

• Vinyl floors are easy to install. Whether they come in tiles and planks or sheets, they are easy to cut, trim, and lay on any subfloor. If you’re wondering how to lay vinyl flooring, jump to the next section, and read through our installation guide. 
• One of the best things about vinyl floors is the price. You can get a hardwood and stone floor look without being hard on your pocketbook.
• When talking about vinyl, we all tend to think about the old and out-dated style no one ever wants to see in the house. However, there are many unique patterns and textures to choose from these days. You can opt for wood-like finishes or hand-scraped versions and complement your house to the fullest.  
• People also love the fact that vinyl sheet flooring is water-resistant. Made of materials such as PVC, this flooring option is perfect for water-prone areas in the house. 

Cons:

• Unlike with the installation, vinyl floors can be difficult to remove. The adhesive hardens over time, and the removal might require quite some elbow grease. 
• There are different types of vinyl flooring to choose from, and some of them are rather thin and flimsy. One has to be extra careful when choosing this flooring and pick the extra-thick and rugged material. 
• Vinyl flooring is prone to discoloration as well. Lower-quality material becomes yellowish over time, especially when exposed to sunlight. 

DIY Vinyl Flooring Installation

One of the best things about vinyl flooring is the easy installation. DIYers can finally take the matter into their own hands and lay the flooring themselves. Just in case you need help, we provided these step-by-step instructions for installing vinyl flooring. 

Purchase Vinyl

One of the first things you want to do is to get the perfect vinyl flooring type and size. After you pick the pattern and color that works for you, make sure to get the proper sizing. Measure the room where the vinyl will be installed and add a few inches to the calculated dimensions. The extra inches will allow you to cut and trim the material properly, and you will be able to center the pattern in the room. 

Prepare the Subfloor

Before installing new vinyl flooring, check the subfloor. If it’s flat and smooth, you can start with the installation right away. On concrete subfloors, you may need to fill in holes and smoothen certain areas. Once you finish up with patches and tweaks, make sure the subfloor is completely clean, and you can move on to the next step. 

Cut Vinyl Flooring

You will be cutting the vinyl flooring several times until you get the perfect fit. The first cut is the easiest one. You only need to spread the roll of vinyl and cut it to the size of the room, allowing for a few extra inches to stay on each side. Don’t worry, you will make final adjustments later on. 

Use Craft Paper

Once you lay the vinyl flooring and cut it, roll back the material to reveal the subfloor. Use craft paper to place it along the length of the wall so it fits perfectly. Then, tape down the paper to the floor with masking tape and apply a strip of double-stick tape on the top of it. The next step includes rolling back the vinyl over the craft paper, so it adheres to it. Seems odd? The paper actually works as a ruler, allowing you to cut and trim vinyl exactly to each wall. 

Spread Adhesive and Seat Flooring

Once you finish cutting and trimming, roll back the vinyl again to spread adhesive material along the wall. Now you can finally lay the flooring. The only thing you may need is a tool for seating the flooring to the adhesive. However, you can also use wood wrapped in a cloth to go over the material and make sure it sticks to the adhesive. 

Setting up the Room

The vinyl flooring may take several hours to dry. After that, we recommend you clean it with a damp mop and eco-friendly cleaner. When the floor is wiped-clean, you can move furniture back in and enjoy your marvelous DIY piece of art. 

Get Professional Help 

If you love a good DIY project, vinyl flooring installation will be an easy job for you. You don’t have to be particularly handy nor hold many specialized tools for getting the job done. As you can see above, vinyl requires only a little patience through the cutting part and overall accuracy for proper adhesive use. The rest of it is a piece of cake. 

Still, if you have any extra questions and need support throughout the installation, don’t hesitate to contact us. Scottsdale Flooring America is there to provide guidance for passionate DIYers and install all flooring types for those who don’t have the time to bother with DIY installation.