FreeStyle Flooring products are the first interlocking flooring products that are truly designed for commercial and industrial applications. Made with a patented blend of durable recycled plastics, FreeStyle Flooring products overcome the rigorous demands of commercial and industrial environments. Their flexible composition, combined with their. Floating floors are an easy, mess-free way to install new flooring without necessarily having to remove the existing flooring. Glue down vinyl plank flooring adheres to the subfloor using either one of two types of adhesives: hard-set or pressure-sensitive. Hard-set adhesive is spread along the subfloor, then the vinyl planks are laid down on top. Vinyl Sheet Installation Cost. Benefits: Value - Vinyl sheet flooring is the ideal option if you want to keep vinyl flooring installation costs low. Waterproof - Like vinyl plank flooring, vinyl sheet keeps water away from your sub-floor. This makes a great buy for kitchens, bathrooms. This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shares tips and techniques for installing a floating floor. (See below for a shopping list and tools.)SUBSCRIBE t. If you are installing into multiple areas such as a living room, a hallway, bedrooms, kitchen, dining room and ect. Then you are on the right page! If you only have a one room installation then go to this page HERE. This is the short version of where do I start installing my laminate floor or vinyl plank floor.

Install Floating Vinyl Flooring

Thank you so much for following us at One Project Closer for our most recent pro follow – how to install floating vinyl flooring. Cali Bamboo is providing the materials for this Pro-Follow for free; however, the opinions we express here are our own. Remember, we’ll always be up-front with you when we’re receiving a free product, compensation, or both. And of course, we always strive for objectivity in our articles. Post may contain affiliate links. Thank you for supporting our site to continue providing you with the best free content!

We’re back with another Pro-Follow, and today’s topic is on installing a floating vinyl floor. For this project guide, we’ve partnered with Dave Swann and team. Dave is a general contractor with over 35 years of experience in new construction, remodeling, historic restoration, and design. Check out Dave’s Facebook page to learn more and to contact him.

Dave and his team are installing about 1000 sq. ft. of Aged Hickory Cali Bamboo vinyl flooring. I’m really excited about this product for a number of reasons:

DIY install – the click-lock system makes for an easy installation for even a beginner DIYer
Waterproof – the joints between planks are completely waterproof
Continuous floor – vinyl planks don’t need expansion joints between different rooms
Durable – Cali Bamboo vinyl has a 20mil wear layer

If you’re interested in learning more, check out Jocie’s full review of Cali Bamboo Vinyl Flooring.

Here’s a quick overview video of installing Cali Bamboo floating vinyl flooring. Read on for detailed instructions, pictures, and installation tips.

Acclimate the Flooring

The Cali Bamboo vinyl flooring was shipped directly to the job site about a week prior to installation. It’s important to allow the vinyl planks 24 – 48 hours to acclimate to room temperature and relative humidity before installing. Don’t stack cartons more than 8 high, and open both ends of the carton.

Subfloor Prep

As with all flooring installations, subfloor preparation is crucial. Vinyl planks are flexible enough that you will notice if the subfloor does not meet the requirements.

The general rule is that Cali Bamboo vinyl can be installed over most hard surfaces including:

Concrete
Plywood
OSB
Ceramic tile
Sheet vinyl
Radiant heat systems

The subfloor must be flat to 3/16″ per 10′ radius and completely clean. You need to knock down high spots and/or fill in low spots. Depending on your application, you may even consider pouring a self-leveling compound to achieve a nice, even subfloor.

For this project, the baseboards, carpet, slate tile, and sheet vinyl were completely removed. Dave and his team scoured the subfloor for staples, nails, and screws either removing them or driving them below the surface. They gave special attention to remove any leftover mortar after the tile was gone.

Tip: Slide an old drywall knife across the subfloor to find proud nails, screws, and staples you didn’t notice before.

Wood subfloors must be securing fastened, and this is a good opportunity to eliminate squeaks. Drive screws every 6″ along a joist.

Concrete must be fully cured and at least 60 days old. You can grind down high spots or fill in low spots with a Portland-based leveling compound.

Underlayment

Cali Bamboo vinyl is waterproof; however, moisture intrusions can affect the floor over time. Moisture can also be trapped below the flooring and create mold or mildew. Vinyl planks installed over concrete or a crawlspace must have a moisture barrier, and a vapor barrier is required for plywood subfloors.

For this project, Dave installed Cali Complete. This all-in-one is a moisture and vapor barrier suitable for all subfloor types. Additionally, Cali Complete reduces noise and acts as insulation making floors feel warmer.

Installing the Cali Complete is very simple. Dave unfolded the sheets and connected adjacent sheets with the interlocking, ‘puzzle-piece’ edges. The underlayment cuts easily with a utility knife, and Dave tapped all the seams with a seal tape.

Before Installing

Before you begin, plan out the install. Decide which direction to run the planks, and measure the space at a right angle. You want to avoid the last course of planks being too thin (less than 1/3 of a plank width). If that’s the case, rip the first course of planks to adjust.

How To Install A Free Floating Floor

Dave measured off the wall and snapped a series of chalk lines. These guides will help ensure the planks are straight throughout the install.

Dave also cut some 1/4″ spacers to leave room for expansion around the walls and immovable objects like fixed cabinetry and the fireplace.

Cali Bamboo vinyl flooring includes 11 different patterns, and it’s important to mix them all together. Best practice is to pull pieces from several different cartons to ensure good color, shade, and appearance.

Installing the First Row

Dave started on the left side of the room. He used the spacers to create the proper expansion gap, and he measured to his first chalk line to ensure the planks were straight. Cali Bamboo vinyl planks feature a click-lock system that makes installation very quick, and the result is a waterproof joint. Often Dave used a piece of scrap as a tapping block to snug up the joint.

Cutting Vinyl Planks
Another benefit of this flooring is that you don’t even need power tools to cut the planks. Dave would grab a straight-edge, cut a score line with a utility knife and snap the workpiece much like drywall. It’s quick and leaves no mess. Often, Dave would be able to reuse the remaining piece (if it was at least 8″) to start the next course.

At other times, Dave would use snips, a jigsaw or multitool to cut the planks around door jambs, air registers, stairs, and other odd angles.

Continuing the Install

Dave and his team continued the install in much the same manner, taking care to stagger joints by at least 8″ and pulling planks from different boxes. It’s recommended to account for about 5% waste. However, Dave and his team were extremely efficient with very little scrap leftover. It’s important to inspect each piece before you install to look for damage or defects and set those pieces aside. Dave continuously checked the distance to the nearest chalk line and make slight adjustments to keep the floor straight.

The vinyl floor extends underneath appliances like the w

Installing Free Floating Vinyl Flooring