Vinyl flooring experience

If you search the Internet for vinyl flooring experiences, you will find a large number of articles, forum entries, etc For articles about vinyl flooring or experiences with it, it is particularly important that you pay attention to the publication date. The development of healthy and environmentally friendly vinyl floors has made huge strides in recent years. As a result, articles from 2005, for example, are no longer relevant today because they have been overtaken by development. For example, vinyl floors today contain E.g. no more plasticizers that are harmful to the environment and health.

While environmental friendliness and health safety are fundamental to even considering using vinyl, they are not the only important and interesting experiences users, retailers and floor installers have had with this type of flooring. In the following we will introduce you to the vinyl floor experiences in relation to the type of installation, type of vinyl and possible applications. But we will start with the most common mistakes in connection with the laying of vinyl floors.

1. Common causes of negative experiences with vinyl floors

Mistakes when installing the vinyl floor are common causes of overall negative experiences with this floor covering.

1.1 The vinyl floor was laid without acclimatization

Allow the flooring material 48 hours to adjust to the temperatures in the room. By the time the vinyl gets to you, it's been exposed to different temperatures in the warehouse and on the truck, which are likely different than room temperature.

1.2 Old flooring has not been removed

Carpets or rugs must be removed in any case. With old wooden floors, tiles, etc., the floor may need to be leveled using filler, see 1.3.

1.3 The residual moisture was too high

If you want to lay a floor covering on screed in a new building, you have to think about the residual moisture. Every screed contains water. Shortly after erection at most. This water evaporates over time. Therefore, a new screed always needs several weeks drying time. The water content after this drying time is the residual moisture. There are tables that indicate the maximum residual moisture content of the respective screed for a specific floor covering. If you lay the vinyl floor too early, if the residual moisture is still too high, water will penetrate the vinyl floor from below. It then swells, which can lead to warping. In such a case, the manufacturer's warranty also expires.

1.4 No vapor barrier was laid when the vinyl floor was laid floating

You need a vapor barrier, also known as a moisture barrier, if you want to lay click vinyl floating on screed or over underfloor heating. It is a thin PE film. It prevents moisture from penetrating the vinyl floor from below. If this vapor barrier is missing, the vinyl can swell and warp.

1.5 The ground is not level

The substrate may only have unevenness of 2 mm to 3 mm per meter. If the bumps are larger, the click vinyl connections will not hold. It is also important to observe the manufacturer's specifications. Otherwise the manufacturer's guarantee will be void.

1.6 Manufacturer's instructions for laying were not observed

Although the click systems from the various manufacturers are similar, even small differences can be decisive. In addition, the manufacturer's guarantee expires if you can prove that you deviate from the manufacturer's specifications during installation.

1.7 Incorrect footfall sound insulation was used

Sufficient compressive strength of the footfall sound insulation is particularly important with click vinyl. Otherwise the click connections will wear out quickly. The vinyl floor manufacturers usually offer suitable footfall sound insulation for their products. You should also use these to avoid problems.

1.8 There were no or too few expansion joints

An expansion gap of at least 5 mm must be maintained between all walls and fixed objects, such as banisters. Even with large areas, expansion joints must be created in between. Vinyl flooring doesn't expand when it absorbs moisture like parquet does. However, it expands with higher temperatures. If there are no expansion joints, bulging occurs.

1.9 No spacers were used

In order to create an even expansion joint in the first row of floor elements, you should use spacer wedges. You can get these in specialist shops and they are not expensive either, but make the work a lot easier.

1.10 Mixed click systems

Each manufacturer of click vinyl has their own click system. Basically, these systems boil down to two principles: drop-down and lock connection. These cannot be mixed. Be sure to read and follow the manufacturer's installation instructions.

1.11 There was insufficient joint offset

The joint offset should be approximately 30 to 40 cm. If there is no joint offset or if it is too small, the joints can open up when the material expands due to heat. As a result, the click connections are also affected and can open.

1.12 Not enough expansion joints were installed

This error only occurs in large rooms with a side length of more than eight meters. An expansion joint should be planned every eight meters. This also applies - regardless of size - to the transitions from one room to another.

1.13 Joints at the edges are only sealed with silicone

If only silicone is injected into the expansion joints, the expansion is prevented. A PE cord should therefore be placed in the expansion joint and sealed with silicone.

2. Glue vinyl flooring Experience or lay it floating?

Click vinyl can either be laid floating or glued over the entire surface. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages and are more suitable for some applications.

2.1 Advantages of gluing

• In wet rooms, the full-surface adhesion protects the vinyl floor from moisture penetration.
• With this type of installation, the floor covering has a lower construction height. This is advantageous during renovation work because the floor covering is more likely to fit under doors without having to be sanded down.
• A glued vinyl floor is quieter than a floating one. With floating installation, the layer of air between the subfloor and the vinyl floor acts as a resonator that amplifies the impact sound. This air layer is missing with a glued vinyl floor.
• The floor can withstand a higher pressure load. This is e.g. B. interesting for heavy furniture or a kitchen island.

2.2 Disadvantages of gluing

• Gluing the vinyl floor requires a certain level of manual dexterity.
• A glued floor is not as easy to remove as a floating floor.
• The surface must be extremely clean and level. Impurities can reduce the effectiveness of the adhesive. Due to the close connection between the subsurface and the vinyl floor, unevenness is quickly felt.
• After gluing, the glue must first dry before the floor can be walked on.

2.3 Advantages of floating installation

• Floating installation can be carried out quickly and easily, even by non-professionals.
• A floating vinyl floor can be removed relatively easily.
• Individual, damaged elements of the floor covering can be replaced.
• Even large areas can be quickly covered with a floor covering.
• The floor can be walked on immediately after laying.

2.4. Disadvantages of floating installation

• Floating installation is not so well suited for damp rooms.
• This type of vinyl floor installation results in a greater installation height. As a result, doors may need to be sanded down to allow flooring to fit underneath
• The air space between the vinyl floor and the subsurface amplifies walking and footstep noise. Therefore, impact sound insulation is often required if it is not already integrated in the vinyl floor.

3. Vinyl floor Experience with different types of this floor

3.1 Advantages of HDF vinyl (Vinyl Laminate)

• HDF vinyl or vinyl -Laminate does not place such high demands on the evenness of the substrate.
• HDF vinyl is more temperature-resistant as full vinyl.
• This type of vinyl is also less sensitive to pressure points from heavy furniture.
• HDF vinyl larger areas can be laid without additional expansion joints. The thermal expansion is (partially) compensated by the multi-layer structure.

3.2 Disadvantages of HDF Vinyl

• Due to the multi-layer structure, this vinyl floor has a greater construction height. Therefore, doors usually have to be sanded down so that this covering fits underneath.
• This type of vinyl floor is not suitable for wet rooms.
• HDF-Vinyl produces hollow ringing footsteps.

3.3.Self-adhesive vinyl or click ?

Laying self-adhesive vinyl is extremely easy, since there is no need to work with glue or consider click connections. Only the protective film is removed, the floorboards or tiles laid end to end and pressed on. Thorough preparation of the substrate is important. The planks or tiles of the self-adhesive vinyl are relatively thin. Therefore, unevenness in the subsoil is quickly felt through. The adhesive of these vinyl elements can also usually poorly compensate for the thermal expansion of the material. This means that gaps in the material must be expected to form in the event of greater solar radiation. Self-adhesive vinyl is therefore not recommended for rooms with large windows on the south side.

3.4 Loose Lay Vinyl

Loose Lay Vinyl is best suited for temporary use. It is heavier than other types of vinyl and has a backing that sticks to the substrate. The floor elements are laid end to end without glue and without a click connection. An area is quickly covered with loose lay vinyl and this vinyl floor can also be dismantled just as quickly. It is therefore very popular for exhibition stands and the like.

4. More click vinyl experiences

4.1 Lay click vinyl on tiles

Multilayer vinyl with an HDF core is particularly suitable for floating installation on tiles. With this vinyl there is no problem with the joints of the tiles pushing through, as is the case with solid vinyl. However, including the impact sound insulation, this quickly results in a construction height of 10 mm or more. This is often too much for doors. Therefore, in such a case, a vinyl laminate with an HDF core and integrated footfall sound insulation would be ideal.
In contrast, any is suitable for gluing the floor to the tiles. Click Vinyl. Only the tile joints have to be filled and the subsurface has to be level.

4.2 Click-Vinyl on wooden floorboards

Click vinyl can also be laid well on wooden floorboards. First, any existing floor coverings are removed. Then the floorboards are vacuumed and primed. Any holes are filled with foam and the edge insulation strips are attached. Finally, the floor is fully covered with a filler. When the filler has dried, small bumps are removed and the floor swept again. A suitable footfall sound insulation is then laid. It is best to follow the recommendations of the vinyl floor manufacturer. Finally, the click vinyl floor is installed according to the manufacturer's instructions.

4.3 Vinyl in damp and wet rooms

In these rooms, the vinyl floor should be glued down. Only in this way is the click vinyl really protected against the ingress of moisture from below or from the sides. The vinyl floor covering can also be used as wall covering.

4.4 Vinyl floor for the kitchen

A vinyl floor is ideal for kitchens in particular. It is robust and resistant to moisture. After all, it happens time and again in the kitchen that liquids are spilled or something splashes. This floor is insensitive to impact. Depending on what you drop, corners or pieces of the tile will be knocked out of the tile. Often the falling part also shatters. You don't have these problems with the much more elastic vinyl floor. If you lay the vinyl floor floating, this is also quite quick and you can step on the floor again immediately after laying. Just a very heavy kitchen island could cause problems. Vinyl expands at higher temperatures, such as those caused by intense sunlight. That's not too bad, that's what the expansion joints are for. A very heavy kitchen island or a corresponding crockery cabinet can prevent this expansion in its location. This quickly leads to bulging of the vinyl floor. You can prevent this by only laying the vinyl floor up to the kitchen island or cupboard. If you have any further questions about Click Vinyl for the kitchen, please contact us at.

5. Click vinyl Experiences with special needs

5.1 click vinyl and pets

For pet owners, click vinyl is a good solution. This floor covering is robust and hygienic because it is easy to clean. It is also non-slip, which is particularly important for dogs and cats. However, dog owners should better choose a vinyl floor with a thicker wear layer and a higher load class. Although this does not prevent scratches from dog claws, it does ensure that the floor does not look "worn out" so quickly. Repair kits are available to remove scratches. These usually consist of a spray to repair larger scratches, a pen to treat deep scratches and polishing and grinding cloths of different degrees of fineness.

5.2 click vinyl for large areas, such as commercial premises

Normally, expansion joints have to be installed after eight, at the latest 10 meters. Vinyl expands at higher temperatures. Without an expansion joint, the floor would warp. However, there are now click vinyl variants that no longer require an expansion joint on the surface. Find out more from the manufacturer of the vinyl floor. In general, for rooms with a lot of public traffic, you have to use a vinyl floor with a corresponding usage class, for example NK 32 or even NK 33.