Home Flooring Guides Top tips on how to lay LVT flooring

Top tips on how to lay LVT flooring

Highly durable, low-maintenance and compatible with underfloor heating, LVT is a great choice when it comes to updating your flooring.

5 min read

12th Jun 23

how to lay luxury vinyl flooring

When it comes to installing your brand new LVT flooring, a qualified fitter will often be the best option, but if you are up for the challenge and want to know how to lay vinyl flooring yourself, here are our top ten tips for how to install in your own home:

1. When selecting which LVT design or pattern you want, check its suitability for the space you’re planning to fit the flooring. For instance, LVT is not designed for outdoor use and care should be taken to shade from extreme heat in conservatories and around fireplaces where high temperature adhesives should be used. The subfloor onto which the tiles will be fitted must be free of damp. Ensure that tiles are in good condition before you start laying.

2. Acclimatisation is really important; make sure that before you start installing, your flooring has been stored flat and in dry conditions between 18-27°C in the room where they will be fitted for at least 48 hours prior to fitting. This is a really important step as your LVT needs time to acclimatise to its new environment.

3. Underfloor heating must be turned off 48 hours before installing your LVT flooring and remain off during the fitting process and for a further 48 hours after the tiles have been installed; this is to allow the adhesive to begin to cure and fix your luxury vinyl flooring firmly in place. Then gradually bring the room up to temperature over the next seven days.

4. It’s important to maintain a steady room temperature between minimum 18°C and maximum 27°C, before, during and for 72 hours after fitting, and to prevent fluctuations within these limits of more than 3°C in any 12 hour period. Take measures to ensure a constant temperature throughout, such as shading the room from direct sunlight and preventing nighttime temperature drop..

5. Subfloor preparation is key when laying LVT flooring. Use either a latex screed over a solid, concrete floor, or flooring grade plywood, with a minimum of 6mm. If needed, you can smooth over plywood with a suitable fibre reinforced smoothing compound, which may be required over uneven joints, known as ‘feathering’. The floor must be free of moisture; if you have any doubts, a trained fitter should test moisture levels using professional equipment before the flooring is laid. Make sure that the finished surface of your subfloor is completely flat, smooth, rigid and dry before moving on to the next step.

6. Ensure you’ve agreed on your laying pattern before you start to lay your LVT flooring. It’s also important to locate where cuts will be made at this stage, particularly around doorways, kitchens islands etc. It’s often best to dry-lay first and then start fitting from the centre of the room.

7. To achieve that stylish, hand-made finish, our designer LVT patterned floors are not printed centrally on the tile, so each differs from the next. To make sure you get that optimum finish and the beautiful design you’re after, follow the product’s installation advice.

lvt floor laying and installation tips

8. Using the correct adhesive when fitting your LVT flooring is important. You can purchase our recommended flooring adhesive here. Always use wet-set adhesive application rather than pressure sensitive adhesive. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions using the correct trowel to apply the right amount of adhesive, and prime the surface first if necessary.

9. When you start to lay the tiles, make sure you follow the arrows printed on the reverse of each tile. Apply even pressure with a hand roller as you bed the tiles into the adhesive, wiping away any residue with a clean, damp cloth as you go, rolling larger areas with a heavy roller straight after. Spread only smaller areas of adhesive at a time to ensure it is fresh when receiving the tile. After laying, it’s important to leave it for at least 24 hours before use, and to be cautious for a further 48 hours to allow the adhesive to fully dry.

10. Caring for and cleaning your luxury vinyl flooring will reward you with a long-lasting, great looking floor; regularly sweep and mop your LVT floor to prevent the build up of dirt and scuffs, and any spillages should be removed as quickly as possible to prevent the risk of staining. It’s also advisable to use good entrance mats if you’re installing luxury vinyl flooring in your hallway or boot room where there’s direct access to the outside. Following the cleaning and care regime will ensure you enjoy your beautiful LVT floor for many happy years to come!

How to clean luxury vinyl flooring

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how to clean lvt flooring