ᐅ Self-adhesive vinyl flooring applied directly onto the screed

Hello everyone,

We are planning to install self-adhesive vinyl flooring ourselves in some rooms of our new build (with underfloor heating). The substrate is cement screed.

After some initial research, I’m a bit confused about how to properly prepare the substrate and whether impact sound insulation is necessary (or is it only required for click vinyl?).

My questions:

1. Do I have to apply leveling compound over the entire screed surface before installing self-adhesive vinyl?

2. If yes: what happens to the expansion joints in the screed? How should I protect them?

3. What are the consequences if I skip the leveling compound?

4. After applying the leveling compound, do I install the self-adhesive vinyl directly, or should I add impact sound insulation first?

Many thanks in advance!

The questions are quite general. My screed installer is very precise, and leveling is not necessary for vinyl flooring, as it adjusts itself. I am not familiar with your situation. If the surface is very uneven, leveling is necessary; otherwise, a primer is sufficient. When you mention screed, do you mean the concrete slab? In that case, no impact sound insulation is needed. Generally, vinyl is very quiet.

Vicky Pedia schrieb:

The questions are very general. My screeder works extremely precisely, and leveling isn’t necessary with vinyl since it adapts. I don’t know your exact situation. If it’s very uneven, leveling is required; otherwise, a primer coat is enough. When you talk about screed, do you mean the concrete slab? Then no impact sound insulation is needed. Vinyl is generally very quiet.

Thank you very much. Unfortunately, I do not yet know how level the screed will ultimately be. It is cement screed on a concrete slab (with underfloor heating).

In theory, I could wait until I know the exact condition of the screed. But our site manager would like to have the information about the floor covering thickness in advance (because of the doors and the connection to the tiles that the construction company is installing). To know that, I have to decide on the final product now. For this, I need all the facts about the “surroundings.”

The fact is: The site manager has already announced that the screed definitely needs to be leveled. He said the screed is always somewhat higher towards the walls.

I’ve also read that self-adhesive vinyl (which is apparently very thin) makes every small unevenness in the screed visible. Therefore, I’m afraid I won’t be able to avoid using leveling compound.

I would prefer to save myself the additional work if click vinyl demands less. However, I once walked on some click vinyl at friends’ place, and the feeling was terrible. It felt like the floor was loose. I definitely don’t want that.

Glue-down vinyl absolutely does not tolerate any unevenness. Everything must be perfectly smooth; otherwise, you will see every imperfection through it. As far as I know, the "walking comfort" of glued vinyl is not better either, since vinyl is very soft and feels similar to 1970s linoleum when walked on. I think laminate is the better choice in this regard.

@seat88 Yes and no! Laminate does better at hiding unevenness, that’s true. But it’s also noisier than vinyl. I didn’t want to admit it until the end of the year before last, but vinyl is really great (I had many arguments with my girlfriend about it, and of course, she won).

Vinyl itself reduces impact sound, doesn’t add much height, and is easy for a non-professional to install. It doesn’t even have to be self-adhesive; the standard floating installation works really well. However, since it is very thin and flexible, you can see any unevenness (which really shouldn’t be there) like dents or bumps. With normal click vinyl, you don’t need to prime the surface. And if the screed is really that rough, just level it out with a filler compound. My advice! Click vinyl is really good (and if “she” reads this, I have to wash the car this weekend!).

seat88 schrieb:

Glue-down vinyl absolutely does not tolerate any unevenness. Everything must be perfectly smooth; otherwise, you will see every imperfection through it... As far as I know, the "walking comfort" with glued vinyl is not better either, since vinyl is very soft and feels similar to 1970s linoleum when walked on.
Laminate is the better choice in my opinion.

Okay. At least on the glued vinyl surfaces I have walked on so far, none felt like linoleum. It was almost like tile in terms of feel, just with a less premium surface. Hmm. I will get an expert opinion from a specialized retailer tomorrow.