Full
Spread Vinyl - Preparing the Floor
Margin of
Error: Floor should be level within 1/8”, with gaps no Larger
than 1/4”.
Most
Common Mistakes
- Not
leveling the floor and/or applying an underlayment if needed.
- Not
making the needed repairs before beginning the job.
When laying a new floor, you will need to remove
all furniture and appliances from the room. Do not attempt to
merely move. Furniture from one side to the other because you
will need space in which to maneuver. Also, the floor will need
some time to set once it is installed. So move out anything that
isn’t attached. Remove the shoe moldings, trim pieces, door thresholds,
and floor grates carefully, using a pry bar and a scrap of wood
for a leverage wedge so as not to mar the baseboard. This will
enable you to fit the flooring right up to the baseboard. Any
minor imperfections along the cut edge of the new flooring will
be hidden underneath the molding when you replace it. Also, the
underlying floors need to be smooth and free of grease, dirt,
and any irregularities. Clean the floor well.
A scrap of cardboard will support your handsaw so
you can undercut the bottoms of the doorway moldings to allow
for the flooring to slip underneath. Keep the saw blade flat against
the cardboard when doing this. If your floor is level, dry, and
structurally sound, with an even finish, you will need no other
prep work than to sweep and vacuum thoroughly, then mop the floor
with a mild cleaner. If the flooring will have a seam, the 6”
strip of floor directly under the seam should be very dean and
free from any wax or finish so the adhesive will have something
to hold on to. Use a heavy-duty detergent or wax remover to dean
this strip. If the floor is badly sloped or dipped, fill those
areas in with leveling compound. Install an underlayment of 1/4”plywood.
Plan the seam so they do not match those of the flooring underneath.
Over an open joist system, first apply a layer of 3/4” tongue-and-groove
plywood as a sub floor. Check local code for specific recommendations.
Nail the underlayment with 6 penny ring shank nails every 4” to
6” around the edge and every 4” in the middle. Check local code
on this requirement as well. Leave 1/4” gap at the baseboard and
1/16” between sheets to allow for expansion and contraction of
the wood.
