How to Replace Vinyl Floors

Replacing your old or damaged sheet vinyl floors with new vinyl flooring is an easy way to update a kitchen or bathroom. Most sheet vinyl products are made with the homeowner in mind, therefore they are easy to use and inexpensive. Consider installing your sheet vinyl floors yourself and save money while gaining skills you can use for other home improvement projects.

The ease of removing your old sheet vinyl floors will greatly depend on the method used to adhere them. In general, the best method for removal is to score the flooring into foot wide strips with a utility knife. Then you should carefully pull up each strip. A floor scraper can help remove stubborn bits of old sheet vinyl and a mixture of dish washing liquid and water can help dissolve the backing adhesive if needed.

With the flooring removed, it's time to take a look at what is underneath. Make sure that your sub floor is in good condition: with no hills, valleys, or creaks that will impact the quality of your new sheet vinyl floor. Keep in mind that even minor issues can make a large difference in the finished floor: sheet vinyl is very thin and won't cover up any underlying problems. Fix any issues you might find before continuing. You should also remove any baseboards you have so that the floor to wall seams will be covered when you install your new flooring.

The best way to make sure that your vinyl floor looks like it was installed by a professional is to create a paper template to aid you in cutting out the pieces. Tape pieces of heavy paper together, cutting out holes to navigate around pipes and other obstacles in the floors. Keep in mind that a hole for a pipe in sheet vinyl flooring should have a slit made towards the closest end to allow the piece to easily fit over the pipe.