DIYers Confused by Flooring Installation

submitted by /u/adnankan01 [link] [comments]

“My girlfriend and I are trying to install flooring in an off room in our new home. I ripped out the carpet and found it to be concrete. From the best of my knowledge it's not bare concrete so what can I use to clean and prep the floor? Is there a specific latex primer I should use? Can the primer I purchase go over whatever is already on the floor? Will regular concrete degreaser work to clean it before anything is applied? Not my first time doing flooring but first time using peel and stick”

“Hello im installing some LVP over concrete soon and the manufacturer recommends a vapor barrior under the lvp. The lvp im using has a pad on the back already so im concerned with using too thick of a pad and possibly causing issues with the new flooring Im considering a basic 6mil plastic vapor barrier, or Roberts airguard with micro ban 2mm thick (79mils lol) vapor barrier The concrete stays dry year round i just want to prevent possible mold/mildew issues without compromising the integrity of”

“Hi all; getting some mixed messages from my neighbor versus flooring forums about whether or not some sort of vapor barrier (otherwise known to me as a moisture barrier, thick millimeter plastic sheeting, etc.) and just want to do this floor project right. We found some moldy plywood subfloors in our bathrooms, which will be removed. Underneath that are diagonal wood boards that run over our joists (1950s home). Under all that, insulation, a short crawlspace, and ‘vapor barrier’ i.e. thick plast”

“I really need some opinions on what to do with my floors. I have been given completely different advice by three different tradesmen. Looking to install either laminate or LVP (more on this below) in bedroom and open plan living room/kitchen. I live in a flat, concrete floors, currently have glue down soft LVP (about 2mm). Almost everyone has told me to install on top. Then: 1) Can't have laminate over it, must be click LVP. Refusing to do laminate over it. 2) Can have either click LVP or la”

“Have you ever done this? Would this be too thick and create too much cushion/flex? submitted by /u/Fix-stuff-34468 [link] [comments]”

“I’m renting commercial space and I’ve decided on glue down lvp over floating. The subfloor is tile and it looks like there’s a very small amount of residue left from a past floors life which was probably a couple decades ago. I’ve read that old adhesive can be a problem, but this is a barely noticeable amount. Is this going to be an issue? If it is an issue, what are my options? It’s about 1000 sq ft. Scraping or grinding isn’t really an option because the tile type is unknown. Self leveling ove”

“Looking for professional advice. AI only takes me so far. Need to fact check. Haha. Installing vinyl sheet flooring over concrete in basement. Wanting to install via releasable adhesive. Following instructions moisture was 4.955 vs 5 or below for ASTM 1869 test. PH within range. The 4.955 passed numerically but being so close to 5 is giving me concern. Will this be ok? Or should I go permanent install to be safe instead? submitted by /u/KLDZJ4 [link] [comments]”

submitted by /u/weyesfk88 [link] [comments]

“Can i install one side and move the furniture over and finish the order side? Anybody done this before? Thanks submitted by /u/lampin_larry1 [link] [comments]”

“I’m replacing the subfloor in my bathroom and I’m about to put down 3/4” tongue-and-groove subfloor. I’m curious which layout would be stronger. The total distance across is 60”, and either way the sheets will be installed perpendicular to the joists and joined with tongue and groove. Would it be better to use one full-width 48” sheet and then a smaller 12” piece, or split it more evenly with two 30” pieces? I’m mainly looking at this from a strength/stiffness standpoint. Is there any advantage”

“Just ripped up my old tatty floor and want to know what I should from here. The room in question is a bathroom floor and had loft boards as the subfloor. It lasted ok but thinking about making the floor a bit better for wear. The boards were 22mm thick, so need to be somewhere around there. What are your thoughts submitted by /u/Ok-Hunt-7336 [link] [comments]”

“This is my living room, dining room, breakfast nook, and kitchen all open layout. Going to lay flooring down, but don’t want to do all the work of taking up old linoleum flooring. What’s your professionals advice? submitted by /u/Popular-Stay-6516 [link] [comments]”

“Planning on laying LVP with baseboards still on. I am going to cover gap betweeen LVP and tile with a transition strip, but how do I get it under the door frame there? Can I just slide a tiny rectangle of LVP underneath? submitted by /u/sn1ckl3fr1tz [link] [comments]”

“I used a 6 feet baseboard as a straight edge over concrete, i found a few spots in the middle of the board that have a crest of 4mm reducing over next foot or two. See the picture if my explanation is not quite clear I also tested the area all over using a 4ft level and the bubble always showed a good reading. I laid (not installed) my lvp over the concrete and there was basically no wiggle. Can this be considered level to install dmx 1 step underlayment and then lvp floors? I have a bag of self”

“Hello I've moved into a new house and the floorboards are large ply sheets, I'm planning on laying LVT click flooring on top but do I need to put more ply down first? The ply is about 20cm thick, and the LVT will be 5.5mm. The floorboard seems quite level, can't see a gap of more than 2mm when using a 1200mm level across it. submitted by /u/autumn_conker [link] [comments]”

“I’m tearing out my entire house of ceramic flooring and wanting to install LVP. I’ve got an 80 pound active dog otherwise I’d go with hardwood. I am seeing mixed messages about floating the floor versus glue down. It’s a one story, I live in Sacramento area of California. This will go in entire house. The ceramic tile is so cold and hard underfoot, even in hot summers. I want it to look and feel as close to hardwood as it can get, given the limitations of LVP. Can I get some opinions on glue or”

“Starting out the LVP in my bathroom and had a few questions if anyone can help, photos attached. 1) My saw got away from me and I cutout this big ole chunk. It seems like the wainscoting should be able to cover it up, but is there any issue? 2) Because of the size of the bathroom and having to match the black and white, I’ve had to make the decision to cut the edges. This results in either not being straight flushed on the bathtub, or not have a straight line of the planks. Is it ok if that plan”

“Can anyone tell me if this plywood underlayment is rated for lvt glue down flooring? We've typically used Home Depot's 5mm underlayment and it's always been basically the same as Lowe's with all the blue Xs on it just minus the Xs. Recently the stuff at depot seems like an entirely different product. It says 5mm underlayment, and it's been prepped/filled. But it's not nearly as smooth as the old stuff. All I can find online is that lvt underlayment should be sanded and AP”

“Hey all I am in the process of putting down a polly vapor barrier before LVP in our basement which has a concrete subfloor. Leveling / flatness has already been done so this is the next step. One thing I can't seem to get a definitive answer on is whether the walls should be taped with paper tape to make sure no vapor comes up to the floors. As you can see from the pictures I'm already in the process but before I go too much further wanted to make sure I'm not doing anything I would”

submitted by /u/ChickenMongoose [link] [comments]

“I’m getting ready to redo my kitchen floor and this will be my first tile installation. I used to install flooring professionally for about a year (LVP, glue-down vinyl, laminate, hardwood, etc.), but I’ve never installed tile. I pulled up the existing LVP and found what appears to be an old wood plank subfloor with some type of gray material/underlayment over part of it. The floor feels very solid. I’ve walked/jumped on it and there’s no noticeable movement. There are a couple of small holes/ga”

“As the title states. Installing this 11/32” underlayment grade plywood for lvp to go on top of. There is the original wood floor and under that is the planking. I only want this underlayment to go into the wood floor layer correct? All my subfloor is already attached to the joists. I should be good with narrow crown 7/8 18 gauge staples right? Or do I want screws? Also what about thin layer of vapor barrier over this underlayment, under the lvp. The LVP states only over concrete, BUT There is cr”

“Hello everyone im planning to lay lvp flooring soon but im not sure which way to lay it, im doing everywhere but the kitchen dining room and bathrooms, my biggest concern is the hallway on the right, any advice? submitted by /u/SilverPlatimun [link] [comments]”

“Has anyone used Wakol moisture barrier instead of plastic 6 mil underneath vinyl flooring? Getting installed in the basement on top of concrete. submitted by /u/Temporary_Drag_6725 [link] [comments]”

“I’m looking to install lvp in this room and I’ve never dealt with flooring before but I would call myself decently handy. Am I being too over confident or is this relatively easy to just remove all the appliances and cut around the water heater? submitted by /u/No_Vast7697 [link] [comments]”

“Converting a half bath to a full and the plan was always to add infloor radiant heat before laying LVP. The subfloor is plywood, the room is maybe 55 square feet, and I already bought a mat system from a brand that gets reasonable reviews. What I can't get a clean answer on is how much the wear layer thickness on the LVP actually affects heat transfer in a space this small. Most of what I find online is either manufacturer marketing copy or forum posts from 2017 that cite nothing. The LVP I”

submitted by /u/whenny17 [link] [comments]

“Should I put this to the side or could I still use this piece of flooring? This is my first time doing flooring im not too sure. submitted by /u/Used-Consequence1337 [link] [comments]”

“I essentially have a basement condo (about 900 sq ft) with concrete subfloor. After a lot of research I've landed on LVP flooring but it seems like everything has some risk (or downsides) in this environment. HCLA & I've gotten a couple of install quotes (labor only) for $7-8K (ouch) I notice a lot of LVPs are marketed as DIY friendly. How feasible is it to install solo will little to no background in DIY home projects and power tools? I don't really have anyone dependable to ask”

“Hi all, Starting out a bathroom remodel. I have never done flooring, but I found these super cool LVP black and white checkerboard and the wife and I are stoked. I read the manual that came with it and it made me confused because it stated: Begin the next row with the cut piece from the previous row, creating the necessary stagger. This piece should be a minimum of 8” (20cm) long and the joint offset from the previous row should be at least 10” (26cm) apart. To attach, tilt the plank you are ins”

“Going to install LVP in my daughter’s bedroom. Is this the best method or is there a better way? I also read the end piece can’t be smaller than 6inches. submitted by /u/Inside_Chocolate_179 [link] [comments]”

“I'm putting 1/4 plywood where the snips and measuring tape are to level the floor on the left and right of the door (there was 1/4 parquet flooring in that section) , then I'm putting 3/8 plywood underlayment over everything and crossing over all the joints. How should I secure the 1/4 ply where the snips are? Should I just screw it since it will be covered anyways? Or should I narrow crown staple it, then narrow crown staple the 3/8 ply over it? submitted by /u/Interr0gate [”

“Hi all! been doing research for a DIY LVP floor in the kitchen (over conditioned basement) over the adhered old vinyl sheet. I’ve done LVP before over hardwood in the past (don’t kill me, it was to preserve the good wood that they couldn’t afford to refinish!) What I’ve researched says that the old vinyl sheet could have asbestos due to age, so encapsulation is recommended regardless. What I’m trying to verify is that if the LVP likely should not have any backing due to the vinyl already acting”

“I installed lvp in my living room and didn’t think the gap had to be so wide for a standard T molding transition so I purchased a lower profile aluminum transition just curious best way to glue down if anyone has input. Thanks submitted by /u/scott33777 [link] [comments]”

“Is it ok to glue down floating lvp floors assuming I glue everything? submitted by /u/buiya [link] [comments]”

“My original post: https://www.reddit.com/r/Flooring/s/ciJ4OtK8zY To recap: Remodeling old house. 2nd bedroom had peel and stick vinyl planks ontop of 1/8" fiberboard. Thanks to advice on my first post, I got all the old flooring up. I am down to original t&g planks ontop of joists. There is 1 hole for an old register and 1 hole that was possibly rot. I cut the wood back to make sure it all dry and good wood. Subfloor is rough. Seems sturdy enough but rough. So my question is what should”

“hi, we are putting down 7.5" wide engineered wood floor over a plywood subfloor on the 2nd floor (not ground level). The directions seem to have a section for nail down and a separate section for glue down, but I am reading where a "glue assist nail down" method might be the best. Watching some videos, it appears they put a blob of glue every 12" or so and trowel it out. I had pictured in my mind the entire floor would be glued. Is the every 12" or so the std way a glue”

“Doing a large room (bathroom,kitchen,living room, laundry room) with all one continuous floor. Wondering if I can door living room portion, then move kitchen stuff on top of it and continue to do kitchen portion. If that makes sense? submitted by /u/Icy-Roll5013 [link] [comments]”

“I think it more of a sheet than it is a tile bc I haven’t found any edges other than the ones on the wall. The house is from 88. I’m trying to understand if I should remove or just install LVP or tiles over it. It’s a small laundry and it’s my first time laying any flooring. submitted by /u/WorldlinessSavings30 [link] [comments]”

“First time installing LVP. Finishing basement bedroom. How'd I do? Life proof LVP from HD. Montrouge Oak 22 MIL. 11.7 ft x 13. 4 ft. Concrete with vapor barrier. Planning on guest room/Lego room for kids. I'm happy overall but there's one area that I had to concrete patch to make level prior to install, and it'll squeak a little. But that area is in the corner where the bed will go. submitted by /u/Double_Jaguar_8051 [link] [comments]”

“My bathroom had some rotted subfloor so I ripped everything down to the original subfloor which is in good shape, I received 1,000 SQFT of glue down vinyl that was left over from a job a year ago so I would like to use it but the problem is I don’t know who the manufacturer is to check their specs. Does anyone have any recommendations on what to put down over my subfloor to make it level and “water proof”? The current subfloor is just 1x6 planks Would cement board and self leveler do the trick?”

submitted by /u/Such_Bat_6615 [link] [comments]

“I was thinking a bath and tile caulking, as I don’t like the look of those quarter rounds at all. I left a little room for expansion but not the 3/8 as called for since that would be a pretty big gap to cover next to a tub. Flooring is Mohawk from Costco, fully waterproof. Thanks! submitted by /u/JPKaliMt [link] [comments]”

“Do I need to remove linoleum in this situation? Plan to run flooring straight through. I use to have carpet where the new underlayment is installed. I had to match the kitchen underlayment height by installing 3/16” underlayment in the living room (where the new underlayment is shown). When I read the lvp literature it says things like no rise greater then 3/16” in 10’ etc. doesn’t say anything about abrupt changes. submitted by /u/running101 [link] [comments]”

“This is a bathroom. I was hoping to replace this linoleum floor with vinyl plank but the corners between the floor and the wall aren't corners at all, they are rounded at about a inch and a half radius curve that goes up to the wall. All I can think is to stop the floor where it starts to slope and put a thick baseboard, but that's a lot of baseboard. Is that my only option? Will it look stupid? Side question, why did they build it this way? submitted by /u/Ezeek173 [link] &#”

“Bathroom. I’m adding 1/2” BCX underlayment to this existing subfloor. I will install LVP on top of that underlayment. Will I need a moisture barrier between LVP and the BCX underlayment? I was thinking of installing a 6mm vapor barrier. submitted by /u/PlantZaddy69 [link] [comments]”

“I had sheet vinyl installed in 4 kitchens by a flooring fitter. I supplied the vinyl and the installed. In one of the kitchens I had to take the washing machine out after it was installed. When trying to do so the back legs had stuck in to the vinyl (as they sometimes do) and I could wiggle any cardboard under or anything. I tried pulling it forwards and it just pulled all the vinyl up beneath it. Anyway to cut a long stressful story short, the vinyl got damaged removing the machine. It then was”

“I’m about to lay down LVP in my bathroom over the existing linoleum. I noticed there is a 1/4” wood underlayment that the linoleum is laid on, but it doesn’t extend all the way to the horizontal wall plate (bottom stud). This creates a 1/4” drop-off, along with about a 1/2”–1” gap before reaching the stud. My question is: will I be okay leaving the recommended 1/4” expansion gap against that stud, even though about 1/4” of the LVP would be unsupported because of the drop-off? Or would it be bett”

“this is for upstairs bedrooms and hallway) submitted by /u/Public-Practice-4032 [link] [comments]”

“I’m in a new build small apartment complex on a concrete slab. Flooring was installed around February of this year. It appears to be either Adura Max or Adura Flex by Mannington, but I’m not 100% sure. There are a few large hollow sounding spots in the corner bedroom. It slightly flexes when walked on, enough to give me a hint of vertigo. My state is relatively dry. The apartment sits around 50% humidity on a dry, hot summer day, often needing the help of AC and a dehumidifier to keep it at 50%.”

“Want to lay lvp over old wood floor but the floor squeaks in the hallway and you feel your feet sinking slightly in some areas. What can be done to make the floor more leveled by an unprofessional like myself. It will be the first Lvp I’ve laid. Don’t even want to dig out any of the old wood floor to start working on the subfloor from fear of asbestos and the likes. submitted by /u/Lazy-Town-7730 [link] [comments]”

“Ripping up the porcelain tile and I've got the original 1953 linoleum underneath exposed obviously. I'm going to be installing 5 mm WVP (ik - 5 mm is 💩 and asking for future trouble but this install is only meant to be temporary (2-5 years) and it's only a 100sf kitchen with at best 30sf high traffic area) of Lowe's style brand #1857680 w/ 12 mil wear layer with a quiet walk 1.4 mm underlay. Pic 1: is there such a thing as too much space on the perimeter? The grout was the suppo”

“First time homeowner trying to save money doing DIY. Initially, I just wanted to replace sink vanity. Now I want to do the flooring. I’m trying to install new lvp flooring (pic4). I’m not sure if I should install on top or replace the hardwood flooring with plywood. Certain pieces are raised probably due to moisture so it is not flat throughout. But for the most part it is fairly flat. I have an orbital sander and a shop vac. I also have a carbide scraper. Now my question is should I remove this”

“Ello- I know there are instructions on the box of LVP I’m getting, but what should I do to hardwood besides clean and remove nails? I haven’t measured yet but I’m fairly certain it’ll be mostly level, maybe a few low spots here and there to fix. Have 3 rooms this size, all fairly square and I am confident in myself to lay the LVP correctly and do it right (contractor quotes 1,000 a room). But should I sand and seal? Should I lay a layer down even though the instructions for my LVP say it isn’t n”

“Hey im laying down tile for the first time and need info on the process. There used to be vinyl flooring and i ripped it up to find a glue layer and what almost looks like cork board. Now the question is to i have to put down anything over that cork looking board or just use the primer for self leveler and then self leveler after so that wait i can tile over a flat surface? Thanks in advance i hope you guys csm help out! submitted by /u/Awkward-Earth9389 [link] [comments]”

Am considering installing LVP in the basement (yes, basement flooded, cause has been addressed). Basement floor previously had sheet vinyl glued on it, this has been removed. What's left is the paper…

“I have a 1st floor condo with concrete subfloor that seems to get a lot of moisture. Currently have carpet but planning on installing 8mm LVP. Definitely going to level first. After leveling, I'd like to add a roll-on liquid moisture barrier AND a plastic vapor barrier, to ensure NO moisture gets through. Some pros tell me this is fine, some pros tell me to only do one, some pros say you can't add the plastic barrier under LVPs that have attached underlayment because moisture will get ca”

“I have a newer home, no moisture issues. Did the bag tape check and it was bone dry so I don't foresee any kind of moisture being a problem. That said, I am installing LVP in some rooms and I want the floor feel to not kill your feet standing on concrete. I'm hoping others have been in my situation too and found something great. Ideally I don't want something that is going to be super thick like OSB and other layers etc, and something more DIY friendly. I was considering the dricore”