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Fitting guide 2 min read

LVT Installation Guide

Fitting luxury vinyl tile. Where it works, why the subfloor matters more than people expect, and the difference between glue down and click systems.

Difficulty
Competent DIY
Method
Glue down or click
Waste allowance
5% to 7%
Underfloor heating
Suitable
1/ 5
01

Where LVT is the right answer

LVT is a printed and textured vinyl plank or tile over a rigid or flexible core. It handles water, it is warm underfoot, and it takes traffic well, which is why it ends up in kitchens, utility rooms, bathrooms and hallways where a wood floor would be a compromise.

It is also approved for underfloor heating, so it is one of two constructions we supply that work over a heated screed. The other is engineered wood. Solid wood is not suitable for underfloor heating at all.

Good to know: LVT is thin. Unlike a thick engineered board it does not bridge anything, so every imperfection in the subfloor eventually shows through the surface.
See also
02

The subfloor decides the result

This is the part that catches people out. With a wood floor a slightly imperfect subfloor is forgiving. With LVT it is not, because the plank simply follows whatever is underneath it.

A trowel ridge, a screw head standing proud, a patch of old adhesive, a small hollow: all of them read through a vinyl floor within months, and none of them can be corrected once the floor is down. Preparation is not the boring part of an LVT job. It is the job.

Smooth, not just flat
Run your hand over it. Anything you can feel through a glove you will see through the floor.
Use a levelling compound
Over concrete this is usually quicker and more reliable than trying to grind an existing surface true.
Dry and tested
Water trapped under an impermeable floor has nowhere to go. Test rather than assume.
Clean before you start
A single piece of grit under a plank becomes a permanent bump.
03

Glue down or click

Both are valid. The room usually decides which.

Glue down
Bonded to the subfloor. The most stable option, the best choice over underfloor heating and in rooms with wide temperature swings such as conservatories.
Click
Planks lock to each other and float over the subfloor. Quicker to fit, liftable later, and needs an expansion gap at every edge.
Wet rooms
Glue down is the safer choice anywhere water is likely to stand.
Pro tip: Let the planks reach room temperature before fitting. Vinyl expands and contracts with heat, and a floor laid cold will move once the room warms up.
04

Laying out the room

The same rules as a wood floor, with one addition that is specific to vinyl.

1
Plan the last row before the first
Work out the final width now and adjust the starting row so you never finish on a sliver.
2
Mix from several packs
LVT is printed from a limited number of designs. Working from several packs stops the same grain pattern repeating in a visible rhythm.
3
Stagger the joints properly
Keep end joints well clear of the row alongside. A regular pattern looks manufactured rather than natural.
4
Leave the expansion gap on click floors
Cover it with skirting or beading afterwards. A floating floor pinned at the edges will buckle.
05

Looking after it

LVT is the most forgiving floor we sell, which is exactly why it tends to get neglected.

Sweep more than you mop
Grit is abrasive and the wear layer is what protects the printed design.
Felt pads and wide castors
Narrow hard castors under an office chair will mark a vinyl floor.
Mind strong sunlight
A rug left in one place through a bright summer can leave a visible line.
Mats at external doors
The cheapest maintenance there is, and the most effective.
Find the right LVT for your room
Kitchens, bathrooms and busy hallways are where LVT earns its place. Order a sample and check the texture in the room it is going into.
Browse LVT Order samples
Continue reading
Fitting guide Engineered Wood Installation Guide Fitting guide Herringbone Installation Guide Technical guide Subfloor Requirements
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