Click Vinyl: Making Costly Mistakes with a Self-Installation

Click Vinyl: Making Costly Mistakes with a Self-Installation

Many articles and blogs claim that laying vinyl click flooring can be done easily in a day with self-installation, cutting on costs of a professional installation. Whilst that is true to some extent, they do not highlight what can go wrong in that scenario.

At Galloway Flooring, we have seen many self-installation nightmares where trying to save some money has gone the self-installation route. From not figuring out the layout to making a right hash of cutting around obstacles, there are plenty of issues that can require a complete overhaul and restart. It is more cost-effective to hire a professional fitter at the very start, regardless of the cost - but here is our shortlist of the most common vinyl click installation errors.

Ignoring Your Subfloor

One of the most crucial steps is one of the most criminally ignored during a self installation - making sure the subfloor is completely level.

If you find that you have gaps between your planks or hear a click when you are stepping into them, you are guilty of the above. Preparation is very important, it is not just a case of unbox and go. Once you have pulled up your existing carpet or tiles, check the flooring firstly for any cracks or holes. These will need to be filled in and smoothed over.

Uneven Subfloors

You will also need to ensure that the entire floor is not uneven or buckled. It should be easy to spot if you have a floor level measure, but as we all know - the human eye can be deceiving.

If your subfloor is uneven or buckled, you need underlayment to smooth it out. If you ignore the need for underlayment, you can expect that your click vinyl floor will soon resemble whet you are covering up. If the damaged subfloor cannot be removed, you should look into plywood underlay which will avoid imperfections showing through.

Leaving Moisture

One of the biggest mistakes that we see from self-installation comes from leaving the subfloor wet when beginning to lay the flooring.

Whilst it is advised to clean your subfloor of any grit and debris before an installation, many eager DIY warriors want to get straight into the task following a quick mop of the area. Whilst vinyl flooring is 100% waterproof, installing it on an already wet or damp surface is not going to go well. A wet subfloor will start damaging your floors straight away, requiring a costly fix in the long run after they showcase signs o of buckling or warping. Therefore it is imperative that you make sure that subfloor is fully dry before getting to work.

Not Planning Those Corners

This is so frustrating to come across because it is such an easy mistake to make without realising it. Typically, it occurs when you come to a hump in the room that forms a corner and your board comes up short to traverse that gap.

It usually results in one of those scratching the head moments, but the good news is that LVT is very adaptable. It is a common problem when someone has not correctly measured the room beforehand and provided those details to the supplier. LVT can be specifically cut to fit these areas before you start installing. A professional installer would have that accounted for.

Laying Similar Patterns

Yikes! The ultimate schoolboy error in a self installation is laying planks that run side by side in the same laying pattern. 

This also comes from a lack of preparation or proper planning. LVT is designed to be laid in different patterns and when those patterns seamlessly line up, it looks less natural. Part of the problem comes from people self-installing, getting bored and trying to get it finished quickly. When you don't randomize your planks, the overall visual appearance will be one that looks shunted.

Thinking You Know Better

Guidelines are given for a reason - they are not tips! Every vinyl flooring supplier has given guidelines on how to install vinyl click flooring properly and professionally without cutting corners or damaging the product.

A carefree attitude to guidelines always spells trouble - and expense that could be avoided.  See them as rules instead of guidelines. One of the biggest rules that gets ignored is not allowing your click vinyl floor to fully settle after installation before walking on it. The room should be avoided by heavy foot traffic for a minimum of 24 hrs after installation. As sure as paint needs to dry and sealants need time to become solid, vinyl flooring needs its space to acclimatize to its new surroundings.

Of course, these are just the simple mistakes. We have seen plenty of problems and repair work come from substandard self-installation.  That is why it pays to pay for a professional fitter to handle all aspects of your flooring project, from measurement to installation - saving you a lot more money than you initially believed you were saving by doing it yourself.

Save yourself the stress and disappointment in your flooring by hiring a professional at Galloway Flooring today, your expert service in domestic and commercial flooring solutions.