How to lay luxury vinyl flooring

This section provides an overview of key installation information, with additional detail provided in the sections that follow. If you have any questions regarding any aspect of how to lay luxury vinyl flooring, please contact Harvey Maria or your authorised retailer for support.

On arrival any transportation packaging should be removed and the packs stored indoors horizontally on a flat and firm surface, in neat stacks, not overhanging and never vertically. They should not be stored in damp, cold (below 7°C) or very warm conditions (above 35°C). The ideal storage temperature is between 15°C and 25°C.

The flooring should be acclimatised for 48 hours prior to fitting by placing packs in small piles around the room on the dry floor where they are to be fitted, avoiding any cold or hot spots – this process allows time for the tiles to settle and adjust to room temperature. Throughout acclimatisation, while fitting, and for 72 hours after fitting, the room temperature should be kept stable between minimum 18°C and maximum 27°C, with no sudden changes or any changes greater than 5°C within this range.

Harvey Maria luxury vinyl flooring should be fitted onto a well prepared and permanently dry subfloor of flooring grade plywood (minimum 6mm) or a solid screeded floor, finished with a latex smoothing compound. All pre-existing floor coverings e.g. vinyl, tile, textile should be removed prior to preparing the subfloor. Contact our adhesives and underlayments partner F.Ball & Co for subfloor advice and recommended products.

Subfloors should be permanently dry within the moisture tolerances for the floor (< 65% RH plywood subfloor; < 75% RH all others).

The British Standard for maximum surface subfloor temperature is 27°C which is well within the tolerance of Harvey Maria luxury vinyl tiles. Consult the system manufacturer for advice when fitting with LVT floors. Underfloor heating should be switched off for 48 hrs prior to fitting, and 72 hours after, and then only returned to full temperature gradually over 7 days.

Rooms such as conservatories or any rooms with glass roofs and/or large windows or walls of glass require measures to control the heat and UV through the use of suitable shading and ventilation to avoid the risk of discolouration and damage to the floor.

If there is a wood-burning stove or open fireplace, the proper protection must be used so that the floor is not exposed to extreme heat in the immediate vicinity of the heat source.

Batch numbers on the packs should be checked to ensure all the material is from the same batch. Shade variation can occur from batch to batch so it is advisable to avoid installing material from different batches, especially within the same room. Note that the product may vary in shade from samples so check suitability prior to fitting.

All luxury vinyl floors are checked carefully before leaving the factory but it remains important to check prior to fitting and to put any tiles with imperfections to one side and to notify Harvey Maria or the authorised reseller immediately for replacements. Harvey Maria is not liable for defects in fitted products where defects were visible before installation. Small imperfections known as inclusions which are not visible to the naked eye at a standing height in normal lighting conditions are deemed acceptable and are a standard feature of all LVT production.

The quality and preparation of the subfloor, testing for moisture content and relative humidity, and installation methods must be in accordance with Harvey Maria installation guidelines and country specific standards; BS8203 and BS8204 for UK, VOB Part C, DIN 18365 in Germany and the EU; ASTM F710 in the United States and Canada; and to the appropriate national standards in all other regions.

* Acclimatisation allows time for LVT to release any possible distortions or bending caused during transport or storage, while adapting to the steady temperature in the controlled room environment.

** ASTM standards require installation in the range 65-85°F in the US; elsewhere the temperature should be 18-27°C.

*** Seek guidance from your adhesive/levelling compound supplier in case of structural or design-related moisture problems.

The success of laying luxury vinyl flooring is dependent on having a well prepared subfloor on which to fit the tiles.

Suitable subfloors include flooring grade plywood (minimum 6mm) or solid subfloors covered with a smoothing/ levelling compound (minimum 3mm). In all cases, the subfloor surface should be permanently dry, firm, smooth, clean and free of movement, and in line with the relevant country specific standards (BS 8203 & 8204 for the UK). Unevenness in the subfloor should be avoided and may adversely impact the finished floor. British Standards state the subfloor should be measured using a 3m straight edge placed in contact with the sub-floor and measuring any gaps underneath which should be less than 3mm (SR1).

Prior to preparing the subfloor, all previous floor coverings (e.g. ceramic, older vinyl) should be removed or, if not practical, then these should be covered over with a new suitably prepared subfloor taking appropriate professional advice. Advice on subfloors including moisture protection, primer, levelling compound and screed preparation is also available from our adhesives and underlayments partner F.Ball & Co.

Flooring grade plywood provides a suitable subfloor with minimum thickness of 6mm and as required to provide a level, stable top surface. The plywood should be acclimatised appropriately to site conditions as recommended by the manufacturer and be in good condition, undamaged and dry.

The plywood sheets should be suitably fixed to prevent movement starting from the centre of each sheet screwing or stapling at 150 mm intervals, and 100 mm along perimeters, approx 12-15mm from the edge. Fixings should be finished flush with the surface. To optimise stability, sheets should be laid staggered, and if covering over a timber base, then effort should be made to off-set the sheets to prevent joints mirroring the joints beneath.

For optimum finish, plywood joints can be smoothed over as necessary using a skim coat or primer and levelling compound. Consult your underlayment supplier for recommendations. Vacuum to remove debris and dust prior to application of adhesive.

Most solid subfloors, including concrete, will need to be smoothed over with a suitable levelling compound / smoothing coat to create a stable, smooth and level surface on which to lay the tiles. Some screeded floors such as anhydrite and power floated screeds may require additional mechanical preparation. In all cases it is important to select the right compound and primer as required for the particular circumstances based on the nature of the surface to be covered and environmental conditions. Consult an underlayment specialist such as F.Ball & Co for recommendations and advice.

Subfloors must be suitably dry before Harvey Maria luxury vinyl can be laid or else risks failure of the adhesive bond – this includes plywood as well as solid subfloors. The subfloor should be moisture tested using appropriate equipment for the type of subfloor. The subfloor should be considered dry when the moisture content in the subfloor, measured by Relative Humidity (RH), is:

65% RH or below for plywood subfloors
75% RH or below for all other (non-wooden) subfloors

It is important that the base subfloor (e.g. concrete slab) should be tested for moisture prior to the application of smoothing layer(s). Smoothing layers should be allowed time to dry and moisture tested as necessary prior to commencement of fitting. In all cases, moisture readings should be taken from several different areas and the readings recorded.

Underfloor heating and artificial drying aids (dehumidifiers) should be switched off for at least 4 days prior to testing and throughout the test period. Where excess moisture exists then the source of the excess moisture should be assessed and time allowed for the floor to dry or else measures taken to create a permanently dry subfloor.

Some types of subfloor can be coated with a liquid damp proof membrane to prevent excess moisture affecting the floorcovering (always consult the DPM manufacturer for suitability). Other structural measures may need to be taken to provide a permanent moisture free subfloor. Always seek professional advice.

Possible causes of higher moisture readings include:

– In plywood floors common causes of high moisture can include poor conditioning of the plywood itself, lack of ventilation under the suspended subfloor (e.g. due to blocked air bricks) and moisture transfer from walls.

– Older properties (constructed prior to the 1970’s) are unlikely to have an effective structural damp-proof membrane (DPM) installed, leading to excess moisture levels particularly at ground floor levels.

– In newly constructed buildings or extensions, consider that a new concrete slab / sand & cement screed will contain considerable residual moisture, and drying time will depend on thickness, temperature/ humidity and location. Typically it will dry at a rate of 1mm per day for the first 75mm and 0.5mm per day up to 100mm. Thickness greater than 100mm can take several months to dry. Anhydrite screeds dry at a similar rate providing the surface laitance has been sanded off to allow evaporation and power floated screeds will usually take longer to dry and require additional mechanical preparation prior to moisture testing.

– Rooms that are below ground level are particularly vulnerable to high moisture levels. Ensure these areas are suitably ventilated to prevent a build up of humidity and to reduce the risk of condensation.

Luxury vinyl flooring can be installed over underfloor heating providing the subfloor surface is controlled to a maximum of 27ºc (81ºf) which is the British Standard maximum surface temperature for underfloor heating. The heating system should be switched off for 48 hours before and after installation of the flooring, and then brought up slowly to full operating temperature over the following 7 days.

Electric/ mesh systems are typically bedded within an appropriate reinforced fibre smoothing compound/ screed and finished with a second smoothing layer to a depth recommended by the manufacturer to insure appropriate insulation. Always consult the heating manufacturer to confirm suitability and advice for fitting with LVT floors.

For underfloor heating pipes within concrete prime the surface and apply an appropriate smoothing compound to the appropriate depth. Maintain surface temperature within the guidelines to avoid damage / discoloration to the floor and prevent hotspots e.g. rugs and furniture which can restrict the flow of air causing a build up of excess heat.

Laying luxury vinyl floors without proper acclimatisation risks unwanted movement occurring in the tiles after being laid into the wet adhesive (most commonly from the expansion or contraction due to temperature imbalance). Movement before the adhesive has fully dried can force tiles to lift up along their edges causing irreparable damage.

The acclimatisation should begin two days before fitting and is designed to allow time for the LVT material to settle and adapt to the temperature of the room environment.

To acclimatise luxury vinyl tiles, the room temperature where it’s to be fitted should be set and maintained within the range of 18°C and 27°C, and the packs then placed flat in the room on the dry floor, in small stacks for the 48 hours prior to commencing installation. The packs should be kept away from sources of extreme heat or cold as they adjust to the ambient temperature of the room.

An ambient room temperature in the range of 18ºC to 27ºC (ideally around 22ºC) should be maintained throughout the acclimatisation, installation and 72 hours after installation. The temperature must not be allowed to fluctuate by more than 5°C during this time and never outside of the 18°C to 27°C window.

The most important factor in temperature control is to avoid big and/or sudden changes in temperature as these changes are likely to cause the LVT to quickly expand or contract which in turn will destabilise the semi-bonded adhesive as it is curing and cause the tiles to lift up.

The floor surface temperature must be above 15ºC and within 5ºC degrees of ambient room temperature throughout acclimatisation, installation and while the adhesive cures. For installation in warmer spaces consider reducing the temperature by using fans, blinds, etc. and take measures to prevent excessive daytime peaks.

Take measures to prevent colder overnight temperatures: Fitting tiles first thing in the morning that have been stored overnight in a cool room, risks the tiles expanding as daytime temperatures rise. And if well acclimatised tiles are fitted at the correct ambient temperature during the day, but the night time temperature then allowed to drop, then there’s the risk of tiles contracting and lifting up overnight. Colder planks/ tiles are also less easy to handle and less flexible making the material harder to cut.

When looking to lay luxury vinyl flooring, it is advisable to draw up a working plan beforehand showing how the planks or tiles will be laid in order to optimise the appearance and minimise cutting wastage. Select the preferred laying plan based on the product and room orientation.

Finding the centre of the room is important as this will usually dictate the starting point. To do this, firstly measure the edges of the room and strike a line using a pencil, chalk line or laser down the middle of the width of the area and another line at right angles across the first line at the middle of the length. These lines can be used to find the centre, and will be your starting point for setting out the tiles.

From the centre, dry lay rows in both directions using the lines to work out the optimum starting position. Move the tiles off the central lines as necessary to identify the best starting point. Once the appearance at each wall, entrances and other significant features (e.g. kitchen island, fireplace) has been worked out to achieve the best overall appearance then use the central line or draw a new adjusted line to start the fitting.

With standard planks it is usual to start fitting along the perfectly straight line through the middle of the longest length of the room, then working to the left and right and ending towards the exit of the room. With square tiles, once the optimum starting point has been agreed, it is more usual to start from the central point, then working in sections towards the furthest corners of the room and then working back to finish at the exit. In odd shaped rooms and when creating borders and feature areas, take extra care to choose an optimal starting position to ensure the best overall look.

Note that it is never advisable to start directly against a wall with the first row of planks/ tiles as rooms are rarely completely symmetrical and they can be uneven and therefore negatively affect the installation.

To create the authentic hand-made appearance of a true handmade tiled floor, it’s important to note that the patterns/ motifs of tiles in the Harvey Maria Design Series collections are printed ‘off-centre’ of the tile. This creates different size ‘borders’ around each tile (the area between the edge of the tile and the commencement of the pattern, or the border pattern itself if there is one) so that a wider border on one side will have a narrower border on the other and vice versa. This feature creates a more pleasing, less engineered overall appearance closer to the original artisan floors which inspired these collections.

Note that the border measured from the edge of a tile to the printed pattern should be no less than the following in millimetres: Check 4.5, Dovetail 5, Lattice 3.5, Parquet 4, Pattern 4, Northmore 8, Walbrook 3. Tiles with a smaller border would be classed as faulty and should not be fitted.

Lattice Design – The nine smaller motifs in this design mean that where a more symmetrical, engineered appearance is required, then tiles should be selectively laid to create more uniform border sizes from tile to tile. This is achieved by pairing adjacent tiles, so that a tile with a larger border is laid next to a tile with a narrow border.

Wood strip or plank tiles are usually laid in a random pattern. Rectangular or slab tiles should be installed in an offset or brick pattern. Square tiles with patterns should be laid side by side and those without a pattern should be laid offset. See Laying Patterns for recommendations.

It’s recommended to use material from the same batch in each room and, with wood and stone designs, mixing the packs together will create an optimum overall appearance. Some tiles are directional and will normally have an arrow on the back to indicate the required direction of lay. For professional installers it is advisable to agree the final layout with the customer prior to wet laying.

Spread the adhesive onto the subfloor covering an area that can be fitted based on the open time of the adhesive. Once the adhesive has become receptive (see manufacturer’s instructions) place the first tile and press down in the centre working outward until all the air is expelled. Place the next tile in position. Tiles should be butted cleanly, evenly and snuggly, but never with tension, against the adjacent tile. To achieve a tighter finish consider taping adjacent tiles together to prevent slippage as the adhesive dries.

To ensure optimal adhesion, bed the tiles into the adhesive in sections using a hand roller, being sure to flatten the adhesive ridges so that adhesive is transferred to the whole of the back of the tile. After 20 minutes roll the whole area or larger sections with a heavier roller of at least 50kg, or hand roller in smaller rooms, to ensure full adhesive contact. Remove excess adhesive from the surface of the tile with a damp cloth during work in progress. Never use solvents for removing adhesive residue.

Keep foot traffic and heavy items off the tiles while the adhesive begins to dry for a minimum of 24 hours and remain cautious during remaining adhesive curing time of up to 72 hours. If unavoidable, place a plywood board over the tiles to distribute the weight. Never cover tiles with a plastic sheet prior to the setting of adhesive as this will adversely affect the curing.

Harvey Maria recommends using only wet-set adhesive from Harvey Maria or wet-set adhesives recommended by F.Ball & Co for securing Harvey Maria LVT to a suitable subfloor. Follow the instructions on the adhesive packaging. Spread adhesive evenly using a suitable trowel. Do not use worn trowels. Only spread small areas to allow for the restricted open/working time for the adhesive, so that it stays receptive for the time required to fit the tiles in that section.

Open/ working time will be affected by environmental conditions. Dry and warm atmospheres will reduce the time, conversely cold and moist conditions will prolong the open time. Dry laying and cutting tiles in advance will optimise the working time.

Wipe away excess adhesive with a damp cloth. Never use solvents or abrasive sponges etc. on the surface of the tiles as this can damage the surface coating. If required use a wet wipe (hand wipe type) cloth to remove wet adhesive. Ensure no adhesive residue remains on the surface or else it can attract dirt and make the floor difficult to keep clean. The scrub solution in the Harvey Maria FloorSpa Kit will safely remove any dried-on adhesive.

For optimum protection of your floor after installation, carefully read and observe the cleaning & care instructions for the floor. Protect the floor by fitting the felt pads from the FloorSpa kit to the legs of chairs and all sliding furniture and for busier environments use more permanent (rubber-free) protection such as end caps from Scratch no More.

Use indoor matting specially designed for luxury vinyl floors at all entrance ways and robust matting to the outside to prevent dirt getting onto the floor. In more demanding environments with high footfall and in busy homes and commercial spaces such as bars and restaurants, reduce the need for day to day cleaning and add extra protection against scuffing and scratching by sealing the floor with an LVT sealant such as PU Anticolor from Dr Schutz.

Sealing the floor is required for applications such as industrial environments, laboratories, showrooms (for cars, motorcycles, mopeds, bicycles, etc.), hairdressing salons and all other applications where chemicals, pollutants and staining rubberised products can discolour the surface of the floor.