Laying sheet vinyl or linoleum flooring

1.1  Remove doors and thresholds.

1.2  Remove all baseboards and moulding at floor level.
If this is not possible, quarter-round trim can be added once the flooring is in place.

1.3  Cut the bottom of door casings to be able to slide the new flooring underneath.

2.1  Place sheets of paper along the walls, leaving 1/8" clearance between the edge of the paper and the wall (expansion gap to be covered by the quarter round or baseboard trim).

2.2  Follow the perimeter of the room, overlapping the paper in the corners.

2.3  Tape the template to the floor, making sure all the sheets are properly stuck together.

2.4  When the template is fully assembled, remove it from the floor in one piece.

3.1  Unroll the flooring, pattern side up, on a large, clean, flat surface.

3.2  If your installation requires more than one width of roll, place one sheet on top of the other with the edges overlapping by a few inches and position so that the seam will fall along a patterned line.
The seam on your finished floor should be at least 6" from the wall.

3.3  Tape the two sheets together.

4.1  Place the paper template on top of the sheet and tape it down securely.

4.2  Trace around the template onto the sheet with a felt marker pen.
Remove the template.
Protect the floor with scrap pieces of vinyl or plastic, and cut along the tracing lines with a sharp utility knife, using a metal ruler as a guide.

5.1  Make sure that the subfloor is clean, flat and level.

5.2  Roll up the flooring sheet and carry it into the room, being careful not to crease it.
Do not fold it!

5.3  Gently unroll the sheet and slide it onto the floor.
Check that it matches your floor dimensions.

6.1  Overlap the sheet edges as before and match up the pattern.

6.2  Protecting the floor beneath, cut through both sheets, using a metal ruler to help you make a perfectly straight cut.


6.3  Discard the scrap pieces.
The pattern on the two flooring sheets should be perfectly matched.

6.4  Apply a band of adhesive approximately 3" wide onto the substrate along the seam line.
Press both flooring sheets down onto the adhesive and roll firmly over the seam with a J-shaped roller.

7.1  Carefully lift back half of the flooring sheet and spread adhesive over the substrate with a trowel.

7.2  Allow the adhesive to sit for about 15 minutes (or according to the manufacturer's instructions) and make sure no air bubbles have formed.

7.3  Lay the flooring back in place.

7.4  Repeat for the other half of the floor.

8.1  Once the complete flooring sheet is in place, use a roller to press it down firmly and bond it to the floor.

8.2  Start in the centre of the room and work outwards towards the edges to eliminate air bubbles.

8.3  Secure the vinyl or linoleum with staples driven every 3" around the perimeter.
The staples will be hidden by the quarter round or baseboard moulding.

Vinyl

• Wait 24 hours before walking on the floor so as to protect the seams.
• Keep the room temperature at 20°C/68°F or higher for a few days, to allow the glue to dry and bond properly.
• Wait five days before washing the floor or moving furniture or appliances back into place.
• Check and if necessary repair casters and feet on furniture and appliances before moving them back. Use protective felt pads under furniture to prevent scratches and gouges.
• Apply two or three layers of wax if the wear layer is made of PVC because PVC shows up scratches more easily. Waxing also makes the vinyl easier to clean.

Linoleum

• Coat the entire surface with a good-quality floor wax. This will prevent dirt or spills from penetrating and staining the linoleum.
• Apply two layers for a light sheen and three for a more shiny look.
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