Installing 1 4 Underlayment Sheet Vinyl

We recommend you use this method for installation under vinyl vinyl composite tile luxury vinyl tile ceramic tile carpet engineered flooring and wood floors.

Installing 1 4 underlayment sheet vinyl.

I have 3 4 durastrand subfloor and am installing 1 4 underlayment before the vinyl. For many years the standard option was lauan plywood also called philippine mahogany or luan plywood which is made with an inexpensive tropical hardwood and therein lies its problem. Laying underlayment over an existing flooring. Traditional hardwood flooring is 3 4 inch thick and carpet with pad is usually between 5 8 and 1 inch depending on the type.

Position sureply plywood underlayment panels 1 8 to 1 4 from the walls to allow for expansion. Installation procedures and adhesives differ for each type of vinyl flooring and vary from one manufacturer to another so be sure to get instructions for the type of flooring you choose. Leave a 1 8 inch gap along the walls. Cement board thinset and tile add up to about 5 8 inch.

Always use the fasteners and fastening pattern recommended by the vinyl floor and plywood manufacturer. I have used nails and screws in the past but read online elsewhere that pros use narrow crown staples. If your subfloor had dips or damage it could show through the vinyl over time. Sheet vinyl however is only about 1 16 inch thick.

When it comes to installing a new flooring material you sometimes have the option of installing the underlayment for your new floor directly on top. Luan as underlayment luan is 1 4 inch thick and it comes in 4 by 8 sheets. There are several types of underlayment for this type of flooring and we ve seen brands with a thin layer of foam pre attached as well. It needs to be built up to the same elevation of the other flooring types in the house.

It typically comes in 4 x 8 foot sheets. While luan provides a smooth surface on which to install vinyl it s not suitable for all types of vinyl flooring. I have installed one sheet so far and it was a lot quicker than my past jobs. That doesn t mean you don t need underlayment for sheet vinyl however.

Finish the sheet by fastening the remaining 8 edge 2 on center 1 2.