How to lay sheet vinyl flooring

Linoleum, or lino for short, is a type of flooring that comes in rolls and is made using natural materials. It comprises a jute backing with a coating made of linseed oil, cork, wood flour and natural resins. Unlike lino, sheet vinyl flooring is made from synthetic materials. While these products look alike and are installed in the same way, they are completely different.

Vinyl sheet has come a long way from the PVC floors of the past. These days, you can find a range of finishes on the market, including:

• faux wood;

• faux tile;

• faux azulejos;

• faux cement tile;

• faux mosaic.

In terms of budget, renovating a floor with vinyl roll can be much more cost-effective than other types of flooring. When it comes to laying the floor itself, you shouldn't come across any major issues. However, a bit of attention and care is required, especially with regards to preparing your surface. Finally, be sure to choose the right type of vinyl flooring – as with any type of flooring, you won't pick the same product for a bathroom as you would for a living room.

Vinyl flooring also differs from linoleum in terms of its manufacturing processes.

1. When choosing a roll of vinyl flooring, consider the dimensions of the room (in length and width) and try to reduce the number of joints you have to make as much as possible.

2. Add around 10 to 20 cm to your length and width calculations to make room for any mistakes. This will also help to correct any wonky corners and ensure you can make your cuts comfortably.

3. Cut vinyl floor rolls to size using a utility knife over a flat surface to prevent marks.

If your room is really not square, do not hesitate to add a greater error margin to your calculations.

1. The surface where the vinyl flooring will be installed must be flat, clean, healthy and dry.

2. A flatness tolerance of 7 mm to 2 m is allowed.

3. If you have a bumpy or uneven surface, these imperfections will show up once the floor is in place. Vinyl flooring is flexible and relatively thin meaning it will mould itself to any flaws in the surface. If you lay a vinyl floor over tiles, for example, you are sure to see the grout lines so it is imperative to level your surface before you start.

4. The humidity level of the surface mustn't exceed 4.5% and the surface must be dust-free, clean and completely dry before your vinyl floor goes down.

5. Vinyl flooring should be placed in the room where it will be installed around 48 hours before you lay it to acclimatise it to the temperature of the room and it must not be folded at the risk of marking it.

If you have skirting boards and you can easily remove them without damaging your walls, it is best to do so. You can fit them later on for a better finish.

1. Unroll your vinyl sheet on the ground. If you have to lay several strips, ensure that your joints are not visible from the doorway.

2. Let the edges of the material overhang the floor on two sides if your room is not perfectly square. If your room is square, you can lay the vinyl floor flush against one wall and let it overlap on the other side.

3. Mark out your edges using a vinyl smoother ensuring the material is well creased then lift the vinyl flooring and fold it towards yourself. Use the edge of the vinyl smoother and a utility knife to cut the material.

4. To tackle any corners, press the vinyl sheet into your angle to crease it before removing the material and using the hooked blade of the utility knife to cut your corner. Put the vinyl back in place and use the vinyl smoother to make your final cuts.

5. Smooth out the vinyl from the centre of the room outwards to get rid of any air bubbles and help the material to adhere perfectly.

If you have to make joints, overlap the two strips by about 5 to 10 cm before making your cuts. Place a straight edge over the two strips parallel to the wall and cut them along the straight edge.

No matter which gluing method you've chosen, you'll need to start by folding the vinyl sheet back on itself at around the halfway point making sure not to mark the material. If you are working on a room with heavy footfall or a surface measuring over 20 m², the best option is to use adhesive. A tackifier can be used if you need to be able to remove the flooring to get beneath the floor.

Double-sided vinyl flooring tape

Generally recommended for surfaces measuring under 20 m², vinyl flooring tape makes vinyl sheet floors very easy to lay. Simply stick down the tape around the edges of the room, along the joints (if there are any) and at intervals of 50 cm across the room. Smooth down the floor towards the outside of the room before sticking in place.

Loose lay fitting with tackifier

Ideal for surfaces measuring over 20 m², loose laying vinyl sheet flooring is fairly straightforward. Simply mix the tackifier (if required) and apply the product evenly over your surface ensuring you use around 90 to 120 g per m² according to the manufacturer's instructions. To do so, you can use a roller or a notched trowel depending on the product recommendations. Wait for the product to cure partially. This step is important as the tackifier only gets sticky after the water evaporates. It's important to follow the instructions but this should generally take around 45 to 60 minutes. Finally, smooth out the vinyl floor over your surface working from the centre outwards to get rid of any air bubbles. For this, you can use a cork block press.

Tackifier should be applied to the back of the vinyl, not to the floor.

Applying vinyl floor adhesive

Recommended for surfaces measuring over 20 m², vinyl floor adhesive is easy to use. Simply apply the adhesive evenly over your surface using a notched towel and wait 15 minutes for it to cure partially. Fold back your vinyl flooring and smooth it down working from the centre outwards.

A threshold can be used where two different types of flooring meet. To do so:

1. Measure the width of your doorway.

2. Cut your threshold to size.

3. Fit the threshold using screws and plugs or adhesive, depending on the surface and the type of threshold you choose.

If you have removed skirting boards, you can now replace them making sure not to damage your vinyl flooring. Wait for 24 hours before putting furniture back in place.

Once you have finished laying the vinyl sheet flooring, you can get rid of your old flooring as well as any vinyl cut-offs and consumables. Be sure to take these items to the appropriate recycling or waste disposal centre.

Required skills

Taking accurate measurements, using a utility knife and working methodically.

Number of people required

1 person

Required time

Depends on size of surface and preparation required.

Tools and equipment

• Utility knife

• Vinyl smoother

• Straight edge

• Tape measure

• Sheet vinyl flooring

• Vinyl floor tape, tackifier or adhesive

Safety and workwear

• Protective gloves

• Knee pads

• Protective clothing

• Safety shoes

Please note: this is a non-exhaustive list; be sure to match you personal protective equipment to the job at hand.