Vinyl Click Flooring 101

Want to know if vinyl click flooring is right for you? We’ve put together this comprehensive guide, answering all of your need-to-know questions for considering the best flooring for your home.

 

What is vinyl click flooring?

Vinyl Click flooring is a type of flooring that combines traditional Luxury Vinyl Tiling (LVT) with the benefits of click installation. It’s an innovation that allows for the appearance of real hardwood, stone and ceramic flooring. All without the hefty cost of installation and maintenance of the real thing. The ease of click installation means you have a floating floor suitable for any room in your home.

Don’t worry, as there is no loss of warmth, robustness, or water resistance. Like the kinds that come with traditional flooring types. Vinyl click flooring has different layers. Each of these serves a different purpose. From adding a glossy finish to providing cushioning and texture.

Is it waterproof?

As mentioned, this kind of flooring is made up of layers that protect your home from water damage and humidity. The waterproof core provides an impenetrable, more resistant barrier to daily wear than other floorings.

Unlike traditional laminate, where water would be a concern, you can safely choose this flooring for your bathroom or kitchen.

Can I remove and reinstall click vinyl?

Both vinyl plank flooring and vinyl click flooring can be removed and reinstalled. Yet only if it is installed using the floating floor technique. This system means that wherever you’ve installed your flooring, it can be easily removed and reinstalled elsewhere.

Also, thanks to its impressive durability it’s going to look great even after the removal process. It makes this type of flooring a cost-effective and environmentally friendly option when compared with laminate flooring or ceramic tiles for example.

It should be noted that if it has been glued down, once removed will be difficult to reuse. The glue tends to rip and peel, causing damage to the layers in your vinyl.

Will I need underlay flooring?

This kind of flooring has been designed with this in mind, so you no longer need to go through the extra step of adding underlayment. Some might think adding it can increase insulation and cushioning, but this isn’t the case.

For direct installation, you need a smooth, clean, and free-from-damage surface. Adding underlayment before installation can cause the floor to become unstable, as well as create gaps. Also, so much vinyl click flooring comes with an underlayer pre-attached, so you will find the benefits of sound absorption and cushioning all in one.

Installing directly over tiles

Both vinyl click and plank flooring can be installed over tile. Though it is important that before installing, you ensure the surface is flat and well levelled to avoid bumps or grout lines underfoot. If it isn’t, the vinyl can wear easily, and craters can form.

Therefore, we would recommend something with underlay pre-attached. You can place this directly over the tiles without having to rip them up. This can be costly and time-consuming, as well as unnecessary with such robust materials available.

So how do I install my new vinyl click flooring?

First off, you need to measure your room and make sure you’ve ordered the right amount of material. Then you’ll need your tools:

Start off by removing all the clutter and furniture, clean your floor and ensure it’s as smooth as possible. If you’re using an underlay, then you’re going to want to unravel this now. Our KlickerFloor vinyl doesn’t require this, so you can skip this step.

Decide which direction you want the pattern to be in your room, then place the board tongue side against the wall. For the first piece, you want to cut a board in half with your Stanley knife (from the underside using a ruler!), and then a saw if necessary.

Get yourself some spacers- anywhere between 7 to 10mm will do- and position them along the wall. This allows for any expansion. This same gap needs to be the same throughout the whole room to ensure nothing touches the wall or anything attached to it.

In the corner of the room, slot in your first half board and join your next full-length board into the short end. Use your rubber mallet to tap them together, and you’ll hear a click when they’re fitted. Repeat this process until you reach the parallel wall. You may need to cut your last board, so you should measure this distance and cut accordingly.

For the next row, you can start with a full length, or an even smaller sized board, as long as it’s a different size, you’ll achieve a staggered appearance. Repeat the same process as the first row. Once all the short ends are joined, you need to click the second row, into the first row. Repeat the process throughout the entire room.

To complete, grab some floor edge trims to fill in the gaps along the walls. This will give your vinyl-click flooring a clean and professional finish.

How to get a clean cut

As you may have noticed, to stagger your vinyl and ensure it fits properly into place, there are going to be instances you need to cut it.

The best way to safely cut the boards is to first, make sure you aren’t cutting over anything you’ve already laid down, as you could end up damaging your new flooring. The best surface would be a workbench, with a mechanism that holds it firmly in place.

Flip your board upside down, and using a ruler, place your Stanley knife along the edge, allowing it to guide your blade.