The answer is yes. Vinyl planks are a great way to create a beautiful, durable surface that can be installed directly on concrete.
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But installing them isn’t as easy as it looks and can require a lot of time, money, and materials. In this article, we will discuss the pros and cons of installing vinyl planks directly onto concrete so you can decide if they’re right for your home.
How to prepare concrete for vinyl plank flooring
The best way to prep the concrete floor to install vinyl plank is first to make sure it is level. If it is not, you will have a hard time getting the vinyl planks to lay flat and you’ll end up with gaps between them. To level concrete, use a concrete leveling compound if there are high points on the floor.
Once that’s taken care of, remove all debris from cracks and holes by patching or covering it up before applying your adhesive. Then sweep over the entire surface again to make sure everything is clean which helps create better adhesion for installation.
After making sure the concrete is level and cleaned you are ready to start the installation.
Should you glue down or install a floating vinyl plank floor?
When installing vinyl plank flooring you have two options. Install the floor as a floating floor or use an adhesive to glue the planks to the concrete. Both work, but the floating floor installation is more common because it makes installation easier.
Floating Floor Installation
Floating floor installation is the most common type of installation. Start installing vinyl planks directly onto the concrete without any adhesive underneath them. Two inches away from every exterior wall run another strip of OSB board and secure it with construction screws about two inches apart along its length (make sure not to leave exposed metal). This will act as support for each row of vinyl planks before attaching them
To install a floating floor, you’ll need to have a vapor barrier installed under the vinyl planks. This will protect the planks from any moisture damage and also help prevent them from drying too quickly or trapping moisture.
Adhesive Application
Make sure you use an adhesive that’s approved for vinyl flooring and manufactured by the same company that creates your planks. Apply adhesive to the back of each plank before laying them down on the concrete in a zigzag pattern which helps prevent gaps between planks when they are installed straight. Use extreme care when applying adhesive so you don’t get any on your skin or clothing (it will never come off).
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