Blog - 18 Things to look out for onsite when installing vinyl flooring.

We have compiled a list of the best advice for installing vinyl flooring.

Click here: 18 Things to look out for when onsite when installing vinyl flooring. 

Installing vinyl flooring can be a tricky exercise and requires some expertise for installation.

We have compiled a few useful tips to ensure the result ticks all the right boxes, with no costly comebacks from your client:

Elements to consider when installing vinyl flooring:

1. Regular site visits for a vinyl installation project
2. Availability of your building and flooring contractor
3. Site readiness for vinyl installation
4. Favourable site conditions for your flooring contractor
5. Structural expansion joint identification
6. Saw cut joint identification
7. Screed readiness for vinyl installation
8. Self-leveller thickness in line with specification
9. Strength of screed
10. Moisture content of the screed
11. Ground conditions of surrounding areas
12. Ambient temperature at time of installation
13. Ventilation during the drying period
14. Availability of the correct materials (including adhesives)
15. Vinyl roll storage prior to installation
16. Vinyl installation teams skill level
17. Availability of a mock-up area
18. Availability of the manufacturer

We will expand on each of these points below and include some tips on ensuring that you have all of the bases covered for your vinyl flooring installation.

1. Daily demands and deadlines often result in it being difficult to visit sites as often as intended.  
   

   Regular site visits are imperative for the success and smooth running of your project. These days it can be difficult to find the time to do everything required of you in a day but if this is compromised on, it may end up taking far more of your time than if daily site visits had been done and could have a negative impact on your relationship with your client.

2. Have you notified your building and flooring contractor of your visit? Have you considered their schedule and obligations? 
   

   Empathy and consideration will go a long way in achieving a mutually beneficial outcome. Everyone has experienced a ‘last minute.com’ request and has had to juggle their schedules to allow for someone else’s lack of planning. In the flooring industry, strong and positive relationships can be the fine line between success and failure.

3. Is the site ready for the vinyl installation? Is it free from other trades? 
   

   Don’t improvise! Too often flooring contractors are instructed to install the vinyl flooring when the site is far from ready, with disastrous effects. As the flooring expert, it is your responsibility to ensure that your client understands the requirements for a successful (and beautiful) vinyl flooring installation.

   
   
   
4. Are the site conditions favourable for the flooring contractors? Is the lighting acceptable?  Are the timelines achievable? 
   

   Projects too often run over with the flooring contractors having to work under tough conditions and having to meet unrealistic deadlines.  This ultimately affects the quality of the installation and very often results in a costly re-do.

5. Identify any structural expansion joints.
   

   Structural movement will affect a vinyl installation and it is important to ensure the correct expansion joint covers are used over all the expansion joints to avoid any after-the fact comebacks.

6. Have saw cut joints been made? How deep are they?

   When laying the screed topping, saw cut joints may have been specified to prevent cracking whilst the screed is drying. Best practice is that saw cut joints are approx. 40mm deep and that they were done with the floor plan and design considered.

7.  Is the screed level, smooth and contaminant, dirt and dust free?

   Vinyl will show imperfections in the screed and this step in the process is critical in producing a quality finish. Per the South Africa Standard Code of Practice 0155-1980 titled “Accuracy in Buildings”, the building contractor is ultimately responsible to produce a Class 1 screed.

   A Class 1 screed is defined as “Permissible Deviation at any point under a 3m straight edge placed level in one direction, is no greater than a maximum of 3mm”.

   Or in layman’s terms, should you place a 3m straight edge on the prepared subfloor, there should not be a gap below the straight edge of more than 3mm at any point along the 3m line. You should essentially not be able to insert more than a R2 coin under the straight edge at any point along the 3m length.

   It is highly advisable to include a Class 1 screed specification in the preambles of your BOQ so that all contractors understand what is expected of them.