How to Install Sheet Vinyl
Flooring
Installation is Easy
Get professional results, no experience necessary.
Sheet Vinyl
Installing a new sheet vinyl floor in a bathroom is one of the easiest ways to update the look of your home. Vinyl is fairly durable, reasonably inexpensive and best of all, you won’t have any grout to clean down the road. You won’t need a bunch of expensive tools to get the job done and by following these simple steps, anyone can achieve professional looking results with minimal effort.
Tools and Supplies:
Tape Measure, Straightedge, Utility Knife, Hook Knife, Floor Scraper, Hand Broom, Floor Leveling Compound, Multi-Purpose Adhesive, 1/16” Notched Trowel
Underlayment
If you’re working on a wood floor, you’ll need to install underlayment over your sub floor. 1/2″ plywood is the perfect thickness if you have carpet in the adjoining room. Use a air staple gun to install the underlayment. If you are working on concrete, skip this step.
Float the Seams
Float any seams in the underlayment with floor leveling compound. Mix to the consistency of Swedish pancake batter and skim the seams to feather out any irregularities.
Float the Seams
This is what it will look like when you are done floating the seams. Let it dry and then…
Scrape the Seams
Knock off any bumps to make the joint smooth.
Undercut the Door Jamb
Use your oscillating tool to undercut the door jamb to give you enough room to slide the new flooring underneath. Use a scrap piece of the vinyl as a gauge to guide the blade.
Rough Cut the Vinyl
With a straightedge, cut a perfect line where the vinyl will hit the bathtub and rough cut the piece at least 6″ larger than the size of the bathroom.
Glue It Up
Spread the multi-purpose adhesive over the entire floor with the 1/16″ notched trowel.
Glue It Up
At this point you might be wondering if I’m crazy. I just spread the adhesive over the floor and I haven’t even test fit the vinyl yet. That’s right. I’m going to drop the vinyl in and hope for the best. If you too don’t like to live dangerously, you could roll out and cut the vinyl to fit. Then put your toolbox on it to weigh it down, roll back half of the floor, glue that side and repeat.
Vinyl Meet Glue
Vinyl rolled up with the end that we straight edged earlier against the tub and plenty of excess up the wall. I’m going to roll out just a little of the vinyl and then tip toe down to the bathtub. From there I’ll make sure that the flooring is lined up perfectly with the tub. It’s easy to slide the vinyl around on the wet glue if need be.
Roll It Out
Now that we know it’s lined up with the bathtub, we can roll it out until it hits the outside corner of the cabinet.
Roll It Out
The outside corner of the cabinet from a different angle.
Cut To Fit
Find the outside corner of the cabinet.
Cut To Fit
Start your cut at the bottom of the outside corner.
Cut To Fit
Cut diagonally up so as to leave the flooring long on both sides of the cabinet.
Cut To Fit
We now have extra vinyl on both the cabinet side and the adjacent wall. We’ll need to find the inside corner.
Cut To Fit
Start by making a diagonal cut at approximately 45 degrees to lob the corner off. As you push the vinyl down into the corner, take a little more off and re-check. Repeat as necessary until you end up all the way down on the floor.
Cut To Fit
Now use the back of your hook knife to press the vinyl into the corner all along the edge.
Cut To Fit
You’ll end up with a nice crease clearly marking the cut line.
Cut To Fit
Now it’s easy to cut along the crease with your utility knife.
Cut To Fit
Pro Tip: Always cut away from an outside corner. That way you’ll never run the risk of accidentally cutting past the corner out into the floor.
Cut To Fit
Repeat the above steps as you work your way around the room.
Almost Done
All that’s left to do is install the baseboards and then enjoy your new floor.
All Done
Enjoy your new floor.
A Note About Safety
Safety is important. I can’t say it any better than my all-time favorite woodworker/ TV host, Norm Abram, so I’ll just leave you with his famous quote:
“Be sure to read, understand, and follow all the safety rules that come with your power tools. Knowing how to use your power tools properly will greatly reduce the risk of personal injury. And remember this: there is no more important safety rule than to wear these (Norm points to his glasses) — safety glasses.”
-Norm Abram, New Yankee Workshop
