Adhesive vinyl flooring - 4 ways to install adhesive vinyl

by André Maack 02.05.2023

ca. 25 Min. 0
02.05.2023

Gluing vinyl flooring is the classic method for installing design flooring. First and foremost, this means bonding the vinyl over the entire surface in a wet adhesive bed. Professional flooring installers have used this method for decades. However, the classic method of gluing vinyl flooring is also suitable for experienced DIY enthusiasts. If you do not feel confident using this type of installation, there are other ways to glue vinyl flooring.

Vinyl planks can also be dry-bonded in several ways. This makes the installation process much easier because all the components required for bonding the vinyl flooring are already defined. We therefore also present the best alternatives to traditional full-surface bonding of vinyl flooring.

Now you know what matters when gluing vinyl flooring. You can therefore move straight on to the next step: discover our adhesive vinyl and find flooring that suits your project both visually and technically.

In this guide to gluing vinyl flooring, you will learn about the four most common methods: wet-bed bonding, installation on planeo SilentStick, self-adhesive vinyl and dry adhesive film. We also answer the following questions:

• What methods can be used to glue vinyl flooring?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of the different methods for gluing vinyl?
• How can a non-professional glue vinyl flooring correctly?
• When does it make more sense to glue vinyl rather than use click installation?
• What are the most common mistakes when gluing vinyl flooring and how can they be avoided?

Gluing vinyl flooring – which bonding method is best?

Vinyl flooring can be glued in several different ways. Which method is best for your project? Below, we list the most common bonding methods. This brief overview will help you assess the different options in advance:

1. Glue vinyl flooring in the traditional way in a wet adhesive bed. With the traditional method, vinyl adhesive is applied to the previously smoothed and levelled subfloor using a notched trowel, after which the planks are laid into the adhesive.
2. Bond vinyl flooring as a floating installation on an underlay. The vinyl is fixed to the special SilentStick underlay with integrated dry adhesive. Only the adhesive vinyl and the underlay are bonded together. The planks therefore remain floating, as with click vinyl.
3. Install self-adhesive vinyl flooring. In this case, the dry adhesive is already applied to the back of the vinyl plank. The planks therefore adhere directly to a suitable subfloor.
4. Install vinyl planks on double-sided adhesive film. A special film forms the adhesive layer between the subfloor and the vinyl flooring. First, the film is bonded to the subfloor, then the vinyl planks are installed on the adhesive film.

Below, we examine these four methods in greater detail. We look at both the advantages and disadvantages of gluing vinyl flooring to help you identify the most suitable solution.

1. Gluing vinyl flooring – advantages and disadvantages of wet-bed bonding

Professional wet adhesive installation uses resilient design flooring or vinyl planks, also known as adhesive vinyl. This traditional method is not only popular with professional installers or in the contract sector. Bonding creates a very firm connection between the flooring and the subfloor.

This provides several advantages. However, traditional vinyl flooring bonding also has some disadvantages.

Gluing vinyl flooring in a wet adhesive bed – the 7 steps:

1. Check and prepare the subfloor: the subfloor must be sound, clean, permanently dry, level and ready for installation. The primer or levelling compound required depends on the subfloor, adhesive and installation system.
2. Acclimatise the vinyl: store the vinyl planks in the room before installation in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and ensure that the specified processing conditions are met.
3. Plan the floor area: plan the installation direction and starting line so that perimeter pieces and joint patterns are even.
4. Apply the adhesive: use an adhesive approved for the flooring and subfloor, together with the notched trowel specified by the manufacturer.
5. Lay the planks: observe the required airing, installation and working times and place the planks into the adhesive bed without tension.
6. Press or roll the flooring: press the planks down evenly in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions to ensure secure contact with the adhesive.
7. Observe drying and loading times: walk on, load, clean or carry out further work on the floor only in accordance with the instructions for the adhesive system used.

9 advantages of traditionally gluing vinyl flooring in a wet adhesive bed:

1. A firm bond to the subfloor is ideal from an acoustic perspective. There are no hollow sounds or tapping noises when the floor is walked on. Bonded vinyl planks transfer footfall noise to the mass of the screed. The bonding method therefore minimises impact sound.
2. Wet adhesive bonding is also suitable for high pressure loads. Pressure marks are more likely to occur the thicker the system and the softer the substrate. Bonded vinyl flooring generally copes better with high loads.
3. Commercial spaces in particular often contain heavy furniture or fixed fittings such as shop counters. With click flooring, the flooring would have to be installed around heavy elements, just as in a kitchen where the units are installed first and the flooring is then laid up to them. With bonded vinyl, by contrast, you can install the vinyl flooring over the entire surface, regardless of the fittings that will subsequently be installed.
4. Provided the subfloor is ready for installation, traditional vinyl bonding is generally more economical than click installation. It simply saves labour and material costs.
5. Gluing vinyl gives you the lowest possible installation height. Where existing elements such as glass doors are present, even a few millimetres can make a difference. Vinyl flooring can achieve a very low overall height, for example 2 mm of vinyl plus around 1 mm of adhesive.
6. Individual vinyl planks can be replaced separately. Localised damage can therefore be repaired with relatively little work. A bonded vinyl floor can consequently be repaired quickly and cost-effectively, which is a major advantage over click flooring.
7. With fully bonded vinyl, it is often possible to create large continuous floor areas without additional transition profiles. However, this is only possible if the subfloor, existing structural and movement joints and the instructions of the flooring and adhesive manufacturers permit it. Accessible floor areas and heavily used commercial spaces in particular benefit because unnecessary interruptions and potential trip edges can be avoided.
8. Underfloor heating is challenging for many floor coverings because of temperature fluctuations. The materials need to be dimensionally stable and have the lowest possible thermal resistance. Thin, fully bonded adhesive vinyl is therefore often very suitable for hot-water underfloor heating systems, provided the specific flooring and the complete installation system have been approved by the manufacturer. Compared with thicker floating systems, heat transfer can be more favourable.
   

   Product combination Thermal resistance according to EN 12667 Click vinyl on underlay wineo 600 click vinyl on silent comfort ~0.031 m²K/W Adhesive vinyl in a wet adhesive bed wineo 600 adhesive vinyl with wet adhesive ~0.02 m²K/W Adhesive vinyl on silent stick wineo 600 adhesive vinyl on silent stick ~0.02 m²K/W Click vinyl with HDF core (multi-layer) wineo 400 on vapour barrier ~0.15m²K/W

   This table compares the thermal resistance of different vinyl flooring constructions over underfloor heating.

9. Full-surface bonding can limit movement of the material. Large unshaded glazed areas can receive a great deal of sunlight. During the day, the vinyl flooring can therefore become very warm, with dark floors potentially reaching higher temperatures than light-coloured ones. The firm bond to the subfloor improves dimensional stability. Nevertheless, temperature limits, exposure to sunlight and the manufacturer's installation and usage instructions must be observed to prevent gaps, deformation or other damage.

When considering the disadvantages of traditional vinyl bonding, bear the following points in mind:

1. If you want to glue vinyl flooring using wet adhesive, professional knowledge and experience are required. Particularly with this installation method, very careful preparation of the subfloor is essential. Floating floors have an advantage in this respect. In addition to being level and sound, the subfloor generally needs to be smoothed before vinyl can be bonded. The amount of work therefore depends on the preparation required.
2. It is also important to know that bonded vinyl planks can generally only be removed by destroying them. Considerable force may be required. Machines such as floor strippers can be hired to make removal easier. Afterwards, the subfloor will need to be prepared again according to the requirements of the new floor covering. These subsequent costs only arise at the end of the floor's service life, but should nevertheless be considered during planning.

2. The alternative: bonding vinyl to SilentStick underlay

The explanations above refer to the traditional method of gluing vinyl, i.e. installation in a wet adhesive bed on a smoothed subfloor.

For many applications, an alternative solution can be useful: fixing the vinyl to planeo SilentStick impact sound underlay. This can be particularly helpful for renovation projects where a suitable existing subfloor is to be retained. The approximately 1.8 mm thick, single-sided adhesive underlay allows adhesive vinyl to be installed as a floating floor by fixing it to the underlay. The subfloor must always be sound, permanently dry and sufficiently level.

This method of dry-bonding vinyl is relatively straightforward: roll out SilentStick with the rough side facing downwards, gradually remove the protective film and lay the adhesive vinyl planks onto the adhesive surface. Then press or roll the planks in accordance with the installation instructions. The floor covering itself is not bonded to the subfloor, so the system is regarded as a floating installation.

The main advantages of dry-bonding vinyl planks to SilentStick underlay are:

1. SilentStick can be useful in renovation projects where you want to retain a suitable existing subfloor. The underlay can compensate for minor irregularities, but the subfloor must nevertheless be sound, permanently dry and sufficiently level.
2. On a suitable existing subfloor, SilentStick can reduce the work required during renovation because no wet adhesive needs to be applied directly to the subfloor.
3. Dry installation avoids the setting time of wet adhesive. Nevertheless, always follow the current installation instructions and the instructions for the vinyl being used before subjecting the floor to full loads.
4. At around 1.8 mm thick, SilentStick remains a relatively thin underlay. The actual overall installation height also depends on the thickness of the selected vinyl and must therefore be calculated for the specific product.
5. Installation is relatively clean and tidy because there is no need to apply a separate wet adhesive. Align the planks carefully and press or roll them according to the current installation instructions.
6. Because SilentStick is not bonded to the subfloor, the system can, when used appropriately, be removed later without leaving residue. This can be an important advantage for temporary use or rented properties.
7. Because the flooring has to be installed around fixed fittings, some material is saved. At the same time, there is no need to dismantle the fittings if you later want to replace only the flooring.

Are there any disadvantages to bonding vinyl to SilentStick underlay?

1. Because the system is installed as a floating floor, the required freedom of movement and perimeter clearances specified for SilentStick and the adhesive vinyl being used must be observed. Permanently fixed fittings must not prevent the necessary movement of the flooring system where the installation instructions prohibit this.
2. For larger or continuous areas, joints and area limits cannot be specified universally. The current installation instructions, the flooring used and any existing structural and movement joints are decisive.
3. With high point loads, check in advance whether the underlay and flooring are approved for the specific load and what load-distribution measures the manufacturer specifies.

3. Installing self-adhesive vinyl flooring – it could hardly be easier

Anyone who wants to install self-adhesive vinyl flooring is usually looking for a straightforward installation method. The planks are supplied ready for bonding. All you need is a suitable subfloor.

The advantages of self-adhesive vinyl flooring

Installing self-adhesive vinyl flooring offers several advantages. These are the main reasons for choosing self-adhesive vinyl:

1. Self-adhesive vinyl flooring is comparatively easy to install. The planks have an adhesive layer applied at the factory and can be installed directly on a suitable, smooth and level subfloor. This can simplify the process, particularly during renovation.
2. With self-adhesive vinyl flooring, you do not need to apply a separate adhesive. This eliminates one work step and makes installation more accessible to less experienced DIY enthusiasts. However, a suitable subfloor and compliance with the relevant installation instructions remain essential.
3. At around 2 mm thick, self-adhesive vinyl flooring is one of the thinnest floor coverings. This can make self-adhesive vinyl planks an attractive renovation flooring option for residential spaces, particularly where the floor construction height is critical around glass doors.
4. Individual self-adhesive vinyl planks can be replaced easily. If a plank is damaged or scratched, it can be removed individually. Heating it with a hairdryer can make it easier to release, after which it can be replaced with a spare plank left over from the installation.

The disadvantages of self-adhesive vinyl flooring

Please also consider the disadvantages of self-adhesive vinyl flooring before deciding on this solution.

1. The adhesive strength of self-adhesive vinyl flooring is limited. This means that planks may come loose completely or partially. The adhesive applied to the back can lose some of its bonding strength over time. Temperature also affects self-adhesive vinyl: when sunlight heats the floor, the thin material can soften and adhesion can decrease. For the same reason, the planks can be heated with a hairdryer to make them easier to remove.
2. Vinyl can shrink over time for various reasons. These include plasticiser migration and the use of cleaning agents that are too aggressive. Self-adhesive vinyl flooring can also shrink. The dimensions of the planks change and visible gaps can form between the planks. The dry adhesive may not be able to counteract these forces.
3. Because self-adhesive vinyl flooring is only around 2 mm thick, even very small irregularities in the subfloor can become visible on the surface. A grain of sand can create a raised area, a trowel mark can produce a ripple and a depression can look like an indentation. Glossy surfaces in particular can make these irregularities very noticeable in oblique light.

4. Installing vinyl planks on double-sided adhesive film

A special solution for gluing vinyl flooring is dry bonding with double-sided adhesive film. The current UZIN switchTec range includes UZIN Sigan® and UZIN Elements®, among other products; the UZIN Planus system primer is also still specified for certain subfloors. These systems are particularly interesting where design flooring needs to be bonded in a removable way, floor areas need to be used quickly and the covering needs to be removable later without leaving residue.

These are the advantages of installing vinyl on adhesive film:

1. The entire floor construction is extremely thin. Only the thin adhesive film is added to the thickness of the vinyl. Even traditional bonding cannot achieve a lower installation height.
2. An important advantage of UZIN Sigan® is that the installed flooring can subsequently be removed without leaving residue. This makes it suitable for applications where traditional permanent wet-bed bonding would be less appropriate.
3. The broad range of applications is now covered by the current switchTec range with UZIN Sigan® and UZIN Elements®. The following table documents the allocation of the previous Sigan 1 and Sigan 2 versions used in the original article:
   

   Application version Primarily suitable for these resilient floor coverings: Suitable for: Sigan 1 • Vinyl-polyester or woven vinyl floor coverings • PVC and CV floor coverings • PVC design flooring up to 130 cm long • Homogeneous rubber up to 3.5 mm • PUR sheet flooring up to 2.5 mm, e.g. WPT PURline® • Enomer floor coverings, e.g. Upofloor Xpression®, Zero® (Sigan 1 exclusively with Planus special primer) • Sanded cementitious levelling compound • Calcium sulphate levelling compound, dried and sanded in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions • Epoxy resin vapour barrier • Two-component PUR levelling compound, e.g. UZIN KR 410 • P3 / P5 / P7 chipboard, plywood and MDF • UZIN RenoTop PLUS • Aluminium and metal Sigan 2 • Vinyl-polyester or woven vinyl floor coverings • PVC and CV floor coverings • Homogeneous / heterogeneous PVC and CV floor coverings • Smooth PVC design flooring • Smooth PVC safety flooring • PVC-coated cork flooring

   Table showing possible applications for adhesive vinyl on adhesive film.

4. After bonding with UZIN Sigan®, according to the manufacturer the floor covering is immediately ready to walk on and load. This eliminates the setting times associated with wet adhesive, which can be particularly useful for renovation work while premises remain in use.
5. Depending on the system and subfloor, dry adhesive film can be used to create large continuous floor areas without additional transition profiles. However, existing structural and movement joints and the current instructions of the flooring and system manufacturers must be observed.

Also consider the disadvantages of dry adhesive film as a solution for gluing vinyl flooring:

1. Investing in a dry adhesive system makes particular sense when its specific benefits are actually required. This type of dry bonding is one of the more expensive solutions.
2. Anything that is not perfectly level in the subfloor can remain visible after installation. The thin, resilient construction does not forgive irregularities, which may show through on the surface.
3. Even though installation is described as simple, it still requires a certain amount of installation experience. Both a correct assessment of the subfloor and proper execution of the two bonding stages are required: first applying the film without bubbles and then installing the vinyl flooring.

When does it make more sense to glue vinyl flooring rather than use click installation?

There is no universal answer to whether vinyl should be glued or installed using a click system. The choice depends on your individual requirements and the specific characteristics of the room. In principle, the following points should be considered:

1. What technical conditions and requirements apply? The subfloor, size and shape of the room, light and temperature conditions and the loads to which the floor will be exposed are particularly important. Any requirements regarding slip resistance, antistatic properties or the use of chemicals, for example during sterilisation in a dental practice, should also be checked.
2. How long will the room be used? It can be very important to know whether the room will only be rented or used for five years or for a much longer period. If it has to be returned to its original condition after a few years, fixing the vinyl to an underlay may be more suitable. For long-term use, traditional bonding may be preferable.
3. What is your budget? If it is very limited, savings can be made by retaining some flexibility, for example when choosing the design. Heavily discounted remaining stock may also be available for commercial spaces. However, if you plan and install the floor in several stages, it is advisable to choose a range that will remain available for longer.
4. What will the flooring look like across the entire area? The result depends on the interaction between the selected formats, colours and designs and the room itself, including its size and shape, furnishings, fittings and lighting.
5. What maintenance does the flooring require? When choosing and planning the floor, it is important to consider how it will be used, cleaned, maintained and, if necessary, repaired. All these aspects can generate costs over time.

Because the choice of vinyl flooring depends heavily on your requirements and the demands of the room, we recommend seeking advice when making your selection.
You can contact our specialist advisers directly: tel. +49 5222 960 4810 or email: info@planeo.com

The most common mistakes when gluing vinyl flooring

Bonded vinyl flooring offers numerous advantages, particularly in commercial environments. However, there are several potential problems that you should be aware of. Some concern vinyl installation in general, while others arise primarily in the contract sector.

In general, we recommend approaching vinyl flooring installation with the necessary technical knowledge. Two aspects are particularly important: coordination and timing. Different trades all too often fail to coordinate with one another, which can result in avoidable damage to the flooring. Working too quickly or too slowly can also cause problems. It is therefore important to work precisely and carefully.

1. Subfloor: the most common mistakes concern the subfloor. You need to understand and inspect the subfloor carefully and make decisions appropriate to the situation. It is particularly important that the subfloor is ready to receive the flooring. For mineral subfloors, this generally also includes professional testing and documentation of residual moisture. The measurement method and limit values depend, among other things, on the type of screed, heating system, floor covering and installation system. Therefore follow the manufacturer's and system supplier's instructions. A subfloor that is too damp or not ready for installation can impair the bond and cause damage to the floor construction.
2. Follow the instructions and contact the manufacturer if necessary: in special situations, such as a floor construction not described in the installation instructions, we recommend obtaining confirmation. Check with the manufacturer that the planned solution is actually possible.
3. Materials: only use materials that are compatible with one another. For cost reasons or due to a lack of knowledge, products that are not suitable for use together are sometimes combined. If an arbitrary adhesive is used with an arbitrary levelling compound, the adhesive may not bond correctly. In the worst case, gaps can form or the flooring can come loose.
4. Movement joints: movement joints in the subfloor are too often ignored. Joints allow the screed or structure to react to movement of the building elements and changes in temperature. The upper floor covering, in this case the vinyl flooring, must be able to accommodate these movements. Otherwise, gaps, deformation or rippling can occur and damage the floor.
5. Working times: a common mistake is failing to observe the specified times during installation. The adhesive is often left open for too long. A skin can then form on the surface and the adhesive will no longer bond correctly. The planks may consequently fail to adhere and hollow areas can develop.
6. Underfloor heating: vinyl flooring is sometimes installed before the heated subfloor has been prepared correctly or before the functional heating or heating-to-readiness programme has been completed. Coordinate the work of the heating installer and flooring installer and check the required documentation. A surface temperature of around 28 °C can be used as a guide, but it is not a universally applicable limit for every vinyl floor. The specific product approval and the maximum permissible surface temperature specified by the flooring and adhesive manufacturers are always decisive.
7. Acclimatisation: give the vinyl flooring enough time to adjust to the room temperature. The flooring should remain in the room for at least 48 hours before installation. A common example is flooring delivered when the outdoor temperature is 10 degrees and then immediately installed in a much warmer room. This almost always causes problems. If the flooring was too cold when installed, it will subsequently expand. If the adhesive is subjected to these forces before it has fully set, the planks can come loose.
   Another typical mistake, particularly in commercial projects, is leaving the flooring packaged on the pallet during acclimatisation. In that situation, only the outer areas may warm up while the vinyl planks inside remain cold. We therefore recommend removing the flooring from the pallet and distributing it around the room during acclimatisation.

Gluing vinyl flooring: key questions summarised

What options are there for gluing vinyl flooring?

Vinyl flooring can be installed using four common methods: traditional full-surface bonding in a wet adhesive bed, floating installation on the single-sided adhesive planeo SilentStick impact sound underlay, self-adhesive vinyl flooring or double-sided dry adhesive film. The most suitable method depends primarily on the subfloor, intended use, desired removability and installation effort.

Advantages of planeo SilentStick when installing adhesive vinyl

The planeo SilentStick impact sound underlay is an approximately 1.8 mm thick, single-sided adhesive underlay for the floating installation of adhesive vinyl. Its currently stated features include:

• floating installation with single-sided fixing instead of wet-bed bonding;
• impact sound reduction of up to 10 dB;
• thermal resistance of 0.01 (m² K)/W;
• up to 90% natural raw materials;
• suitable for conventional hot-water underfloor heating systems;
• can be removed without leaving residue when used appropriately.

Can vinyl be glued over underfloor heating?

Yes, many adhesive vinyl floors are very suitable for hot-water underfloor heating systems because the construction is generally thin and can have low thermal resistance. The specific flooring and complete installation system must always be approved for this use. A surface temperature of around 28 °C can be used as a guide; however, the binding maximum temperature must be checked in the manufacturer's specifications.

The most common mistakes when installing adhesive vinyl:

• Subfloor not checked adequately: the subfloor must be ready for installation, sound, clean, sufficiently level and permanently dry. Residual moisture, measurement methods and limit values depend on the type of screed and installation system.
• Installation instructions not followed: follow the instructions of the flooring, adhesive and system manufacturers and clarify unusual constructions before installation.
• Incompatible materials: adhesive, primer, levelling compound and flooring must be compatible within the system.
• Structural and movement joints ignored: existing joints in the subfloor must not be covered without a suitable technical solution.
• Working times not observed: airing, installation, open and drying times affect adhesion and load-bearing performance.
• Underfloor heating handled incorrectly: check heating documentation, product approval and the maximum permissible surface temperature. 28 °C is only a guide.
• Acclimatisation neglected: store the flooring in the room according to the manufacturer's instructions and distribute the packs so that the material can acclimatise evenly.