How to lay luxury vinyl flooring in a bathroom

A professional LVT floor fitter will usually be your preferred option for laying luxury vinyl tile flooring in a bathroom to ensure the best and most long-lasting results. But if you are looking at fitting LVT in a bathroom yourself, here are some essential appliances and tools you will need:

• A suitable utility knife with plenty of spare blades
• LVT adhesive, such as the Harvey Maria universal adhesive available here
• A suitable trowel for applying the adhesive (see instructions on the adhesive label)
• Tape measure
• A clean and damp cloth in case of glue residue that needs to be removed from the surface of the tile

Before you start laying LVT in a bathroom, it’s important to ensure everything is fully prepared; from knowing what flooring you want and in what laying pattern, to subfloor preparation and moisture testing the area for excess moisture levels.

All our luxury vinyl flooring is suitable for use in a bathroom and so choosing what design or pattern you want is down to you! Choose from our Design Series that includes Victorian-inspired and geometric patterns such as the Northmore collection or Parquet by Neisha Crosland, or browse our range of authentic wood floors to discover plank, herringbone and parquet styles that will bring elegance to your bathroom. For more inspiration on floor laying patterns, read our guide here.

Before you place the order for your new flooring, it’s important to make sure that the room itself is ready for the luxury vinyl tiles; this includes checking you have a suitable subfloor (that’s the base onto which you lay the tiles) and preparing one if not, and also ensuring there’s no damp. Testing the subfloor for moisture is especially important in older properties. You can read more on moisture testing and subfloor preparation in our guide on how to lay luxury vinyl flooring. Skipping any of these steps could result in your luxury vinyl tiles not bonding to the adhesive correctly or mean your floor becomes damaged in the future, so be sure not to overlook these important factors.

Acclimatising your luxury vinyl tile flooring is key. Before installation begins, you must make sure your LVT has been stored flat and in dry conditions between 18-27°C in the room where they will be fitted at least 48 hours prior to fitting. This is really important as luxury vinyl tiles need time to acclimatise to their new environment. It’s also crucial that a stable temperature is maintained within these limits throughout the fitting and for the following 2-3 days after fitting too. You should also ensure that any underfloor heating is turned off 48 hours before installing LVT which will allow the adhesive to properly cure and bond to the tiles.

When the time comes to install your LVT bathroom floor, follow these steps:

1. Once your subfloor is fully prepared and your LVT has been acclimatised, start by referring back to your preferred laying pattern to visualise how the flooring will look in your bathroom. You will then need to find the centre of the room as this is usually the best place to start laying.

2. When using the Harvey Maria universal adhesive, hold your trowel at an angle of 60 degrees and spread the adhesive evenly over an area of subfloor. Wait approximately 10 minutes for it to become tacky before laying the first tile; make sure you’re following the arrows on the reverse of each tile to lay them the correct way – this waiting time will vary depending on climatic conditions, absorbency of the subfloor and temperature in the room so bear this in mind. Note the working open time of the adhesive and spread in small areas at a time to ensure it’s fresh when receiving the luxury vinyl tile.

3. Lay the tile into the adhesive and press from the centre outwards to exclude any air bubbles and ensure good contact with the adhesive. Roll with a hand roller as you go, and later with a heavier flooring roller at the end from side to side and end to end to affect good overall contact with the back of the tile.

4. Be sure to wipe away any adhesive residue from the surface of the tile with a clean and damp cloth as you go.

5. Ensure a water-tight finish by sealing the edges of the floor where it meets with skirting board, toilets, sinks and baths/showers with a sealant to prevent water getting beneath the tiles.

5. It’s important to make sure that the flooring is protected from general traffic and furniture for at least 24 hours after installation.

6. Once your new luxury vinyl flooring is installed in your bathroom, be sure to regularly clean the tiles to keep them looking fresher for longer. You can find handy cleaning and care tips here.

There are many benefits to having luxury vinyl flooring installed in your bathroom:

• • Waterproof – LVT is waterproof and therefore a great choice for bathroom flooring. It’s also slip-resistant which is a great feature of vinyl flooring when using it in a room that can get wet from time to time.
  • Durable – Vinyl flooring is hardwearing and robust, meaning it will last for longer in your bathroom and be resistant to scratches and other damage, so long as it’s taken care of properly.
  • Compatible with underfloor heating – If your bathroom has underfloor heating installed, you can still fit LVT with no issues. Just be sure to turn it off 48 hours before and after installation, and then gradually increase the temperature over the following seven days. Check with the heating manufacturer for any special guidance. Read more on underfloor heating and LVT flooring here.
  • Style without the price tag – Luxury vinyl flooring is an affordable way to bring style and elegance to your home without paying the price. If you want the look of an authentic wood floor that is budget-friendly , our range of wood-effect tiles are a great choice.

If you’re wondering how to lay vinyl flooring in a bathroom, we hope this guide proves to be helpful and insightful. An experienced LVT floor fitter will save you the work and guarantee a good job when it comes to installing LVT in a bathroom, but you can complete the project yourself by simply following the steps in this guide.