ᐅ Is it possible to glue down click-lock vinyl flooring as well?
Created on: 3 Jun 2023 12:07
A
Anna1234
Hello,
we are looking for a flooring solution for the hallway and living areas that is free of harmful substances and came across green vinyl or similar options, which are only available as click-lock planks. However, we want to avoid the unpleasant, loud “laminate noise” and would prefer to glue the flooring down instead, also for durability and to prevent deformation when exposed to sunlight.
My question is whether it is possible to glue down a click-lock floor like this? Manufacturers generally say no—should this definitely be avoided? What kind of damage could occur? Glue-down vinyl floors are usually flexible planks without a click-lock system, but those often still emit some kind of VOCs.
We do not have underfloor heating and would be gluing the floor directly onto screed.
we are looking for a flooring solution for the hallway and living areas that is free of harmful substances and came across green vinyl or similar options, which are only available as click-lock planks. However, we want to avoid the unpleasant, loud “laminate noise” and would prefer to glue the flooring down instead, also for durability and to prevent deformation when exposed to sunlight.
My question is whether it is possible to glue down a click-lock floor like this? Manufacturers generally say no—should this definitely be avoided? What kind of damage could occur? Glue-down vinyl floors are usually flexible planks without a click-lock system, but those often still emit some kind of VOCs.
We do not have underfloor heating and would be gluing the floor directly onto screed.
bauenmk20204 Jun 2023 10:37This is the first time I’ve heard that click vinyl flooring cannot be glued! However, the main advantage of click vinyl is indeed the “dry” installation method.
You might want to take a look at your screed substrate to see how it is laid and what buildup height is required.
For buildup heights greater than 10mm (0.4 inches), there are sturdy vinyl floors with impact sound insulation and reinforced backing available as click versions. If your buildup height is less than 5mm (0.2 inches), then a “flexible” vinyl with an adhesive backing might be used.
I’m not an expert either, but we installed click vinyl with impact sound insulation as a floating floor—no glue or anything. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find out which certification our floor has, as it was sold as a no-name product through a wholesale market, and only through my own research did I learn that it was manufactured for the Portuguese market (?) or something similar.
You might want to take a look at your screed substrate to see how it is laid and what buildup height is required.
For buildup heights greater than 10mm (0.4 inches), there are sturdy vinyl floors with impact sound insulation and reinforced backing available as click versions. If your buildup height is less than 5mm (0.2 inches), then a “flexible” vinyl with an adhesive backing might be used.
I’m not an expert either, but we installed click vinyl with impact sound insulation as a floating floor—no glue or anything. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find out which certification our floor has, as it was sold as a no-name product through a wholesale market, and only through my own research did I learn that it was manufactured for the Portuguese market (?) or something similar.
First of all, thank you for your responses.
@kati1337: I also think a lot of it is greenwashing and marketing tricks, so you have to be very skeptical about the certifications. I was relying on the ECO Institut label. But somehow you’re still often left in the dark, and maybe I’m being too picky, but with such a large floor area, you want to do everything right.
I’ve read a lot that floating floor installation has many disadvantages, but maybe those disadvantages aren’t that significant? I once lived in a rental apartment with a laminate floor and really didn’t like the clicking noise. But I don’t know if that was just because of the floating installation.
@bauenmk2020: The build-up height is important because of the doors, right? I’m still a beginner in this area... And how do you like the floating floor?
I’m also considering whether natural oiled hardwood flooring might be the better option. I’m just a bit skeptical about the hallway because we actually wanted something more durable for that area. What do you think?
@kati1337: I also think a lot of it is greenwashing and marketing tricks, so you have to be very skeptical about the certifications. I was relying on the ECO Institut label. But somehow you’re still often left in the dark, and maybe I’m being too picky, but with such a large floor area, you want to do everything right.
I’ve read a lot that floating floor installation has many disadvantages, but maybe those disadvantages aren’t that significant? I once lived in a rental apartment with a laminate floor and really didn’t like the clicking noise. But I don’t know if that was just because of the floating installation.
@bauenmk2020: The build-up height is important because of the doors, right? I’m still a beginner in this area... And how do you like the floating floor?
I’m also considering whether natural oiled hardwood flooring might be the better option. I’m just a bit skeptical about the hallway because we actually wanted something more durable for that area. What do you think?
C
Costruttrice4 Jun 2023 12:50Anna1234 schrieb:
lived in a rented apartment with laminate flooring and really didn’t like that clicking sound at allHowever, you can’t really compare vinyl to laminate. Vinyl has a completely different composition, being much softer or, better said, more flexible than laminate. That’s also why vinyl is quieter.
Anna1234 schrieb:
@kati1337: I also think that a lot of it is greenwashing and marketing tricks, so you have to be very skeptical about the certifications. I had been relying on the ECO Institute label. But somehow you’re still left in the dark, and maybe I’m being too picky, but with such a large surface area of flooring, you want to get everything right.
I’ve read a lot that floating installation has many disadvantages, but maybe these disadvantages aren’t that significant? I once lived in a rented apartment with laminate flooring and really didn’t like the clicking noise. But I don’t know if that was just because of the floating installation.
In our first house, we had vinyl flooring in all living and sleeping areas. We were basically happy with it. Visually, however, it doesn’t compare to real wood. On the plus side, it’s much easier to maintain. A key factor for easy maintenance with vinyl is that it is fully glued down (which ours was). That way, you can clean it with a wet mop just like tiles. We used it everywhere, even in the kitchen.
In the new house, our interior contractor only offered floating vinyl flooring. That was an additional downside for us. I didn’t want floating vinyl because, in my opinion, it loses its advantage of being so easy to care for. Still, depending on the angle of light, it just looks like plastic. Even the feel reveals that the surface texture is artificial. With kids, you end up sitting on the floor quite a lot.
In the new house, we’re getting fully glued parquet flooring now. Of course, it’s not as easy to maintain. I can’t share any practical experience with it yet. But visually, it’s a world of difference. It looks much more natural than any laminate or vinyl.
Costruttrice schrieb:
You can’t really compare vinyl with laminate. Vinyl has a completely different composition; it’s much softer, or rather more flexible, than laminate. That’s also why vinyl is quieter. Ok, interesting. I only know laminate and fully glued vinyl.
kati1337 schrieb:
In our first house, we had vinyl flooring in all living and bedrooms. Overall, we were quite satisfied with it. Visually, however, I think it doesn’t quite match real wood. On the other hand, it’s obviously much easier to maintain. A key factor for easy-care vinyl is that it’s fully glued down (which ours was). This allows you to clean it thoroughly with a wet mop, just like tile. We had it everywhere, even in the kitchen.
In the new house, our interior fitter only offered vinyl flooring installed as a floating floor. That was another downside for us. I didn’t want floating vinyl. That, in my view, takes away the main advantage—that it’s so easy to maintain. Still, depending on the light, it just looks like plastic. Even in terms of feel, you can tell the surface texture is artificial. With kids, you end up sitting on the floor quite a bit.
In the new house, we are now getting fully glued parquet. Of course, it’s not as easy to care for. I can’t share practical experience with it yet. But visually, it’s a world of difference. It looks much more natural than any laminate or vinyl. I would have thought that floating vinyl can also be wet mopped – but is it better not to because moisture may penetrate the edges more easily? I’ve heard that vinyl nowadays can look quite convincingly like real wood, and in photos online it always looks great. But when it’s actually installed, I guess you can usually still tell.
We are currently living in a rental apartment with click vinyl flooring (purchased from Poco at €27/m² (approximately $29/yd²)) in the kitchen and hallway, "design flooring" with Blue Angel certification (Egger Home Comfort Classic at €23/m² (approximately $25/yd²)) in the bedrooms, and a budget laminate floor around €11/m² (approximately $12/yd²) in the living room.
The most durable floor we have is the laminate. It is low-maintenance, quiet, and currently shows no scratches, dents, chipping, or lifting edges.
The wear layer of the design flooring is so soft that heavy furniture leaves dents, and it also scratches quite easily.
The vinyl floor is already the second one we've had in three years (completely replaced under warranty) and is now completely worn out again (chipped pieces, it warps, and the tongue-and-groove joints lift). So, if I were you, I would definitely go for a high-quality brand with as thick a construction as possible (for example, with a cork underlayer).
Before this, I had laminate floors in rental apartments, often self-installed and the cheap kind priced around €7–9/m² (approximately $7–10/yd²), or very old plank flooring, and I never had problems with those floors.
In summary: I would choose a product that has been on the market for a longer time and therefore has long-term reviews available. Also, for "synthetic flooring," I would look out for a good core construction (such as cork or wooden underlay).
Personally, I find parquet flooring with its usual signs of aging quite charming, so parquet is my personal first choice (although it was not allowed in this apartment, despite price being comparable). Otherwise, tiles are, of course, also very low maintenance.
The most durable floor we have is the laminate. It is low-maintenance, quiet, and currently shows no scratches, dents, chipping, or lifting edges.
The wear layer of the design flooring is so soft that heavy furniture leaves dents, and it also scratches quite easily.
The vinyl floor is already the second one we've had in three years (completely replaced under warranty) and is now completely worn out again (chipped pieces, it warps, and the tongue-and-groove joints lift). So, if I were you, I would definitely go for a high-quality brand with as thick a construction as possible (for example, with a cork underlayer).
Before this, I had laminate floors in rental apartments, often self-installed and the cheap kind priced around €7–9/m² (approximately $7–10/yd²), or very old plank flooring, and I never had problems with those floors.
In summary: I would choose a product that has been on the market for a longer time and therefore has long-term reviews available. Also, for "synthetic flooring," I would look out for a good core construction (such as cork or wooden underlay).
Personally, I find parquet flooring with its usual signs of aging quite charming, so parquet is my personal first choice (although it was not allowed in this apartment, despite price being comparable). Otherwise, tiles are, of course, also very low maintenance.
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