INSTALLATION
Full
Spread Vinyl Flooring - Preparation
Permits
and Codes
Replacing
floors comes under the coverage of remodeling and may be regulated
by local building codes. A permit may be necessary. Many areas
require a permit if more than $100 of work will be done. Always
check your local building code before beginning work
Design
Often you
will be replacing a floor because it is damaged or worn you will
not be completely redecorating a room at the same time. In this
situation the decor aspects which you are retaining will give
you clues as to which way to go with color and pattern for your
floor.
The color
you choose will be determined by the predominant color of the
room. Neutral tones and single color dominant rooms will make
your decision easy. For an obviously multicolored space you will
need to determine which color you prefer to emphasize.
For pattern
selection, keep in mind that patterns can be combined but are
most effectively done by using one large pattern, one medium pattern
and one small pattern distributed among walls, fabrics and flooring.
These of course should be color-coordinated. If your floor offers
a wide expanse of uninterrupted space, a larger pattern may be
used. If, however, it is broken up spacially, has alcoves or is
interrupted by counters or appliances, a more pleasing effect
will be accomplished with a smaller pattern.
You can utilize
the pattern to create a visual span from one space to another
by repeating like shapes in three by three sections both vertically
and horizontally.
What
you will Need
Time.
Most vinyl floor installations can be completed in one or two
days by a single worker. If restructuring is needed, extra time
will be necessary. For a 9 x 12 room, full-spread adhesives will
require 9 - 11 work hours.
Tools.
Vinyl floor
installations require very few tools that are not in every home-
owner’s toolbox.
- Pry bar
- Utility
knife
- Handsaw
- Hammer
- Scissors
- Pencil
or ball point pen
- 1” wide
ruler
- Notched
blade or utility knife
- Notched
trowel
- Rolling
pin or seam roller
- Staple
gun
- Chalk line
- Carpenter’s
square
A hair blow
dryer might come in handy, to heat up tiles for making complicated
cuts.
Materials
- Craft or
butcher paper
- Do-it-yourself
installation kit
- Masking
tape
- Sheet vinyl
or tiles
- Adhesive
- Seam sealer
kit
- Staples
Vinyl
- wall base
If it is necessary
to restructure your sub floor before laying the vinyl, you may
also need:
- Leveling
compound
- 3/4” T
& G plywood
- 1/4” plywood
- 6 penny
ring shank nails
Most
Common Mistakes
The single
most common mistake in any vinyl flooring project is applying
the flooring over an improperly cleaned or prepared floor such
as a basement floor that has a moisture problem. The other frequently
made mistakes are listed before each step.
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