How to Install Vinyl Tile on Concrete Floor
In our previous guide, you already knew that installing self-adhesive vinyl flooring on concrete floor is very simple, but the premise is that you need to prepare the concrete floor as well as possible before installing it to ensure the most effective and successful application results - hassle-free use for many years. So here we give you a useful guide on how to prep concrete floor basement for installing self-adhesive vinyl plank (peel and stick PVC tile).
How To Prepare Concrete Floor For Self Adhesive Vinyl Planks?
Installing self-adhesive vinyl tile is one fastest and easiest way to update the look of a room without having to deal with glue on dirty floors. Although self-adhesive tile can be put on your current concrete floor, it is most often necessary to provide a better base for the tile. It is important that the concrete subfloor will connect the self adhesive vinyl tile is flat, firm, clean, dust-free and without protruding nails, because only here do self-adhesive tiles or planks stick, so that there are no ambiguities.
Please Note That:
The concrete floor has large cracks, so the best way is to remove most of the slab, and then replace it with a new concrete slab.
You must cure the new concrete floor for at least 60 days before you can install peel & stick vinyl planks on it.
If you still have stubborn glue left over cement floor from the old floor covering, be sure to clean it up.
Steps To Prepare Cement Subfloor For Self Adhesive Vinyl Tiles:
1. Check your concrete floor
Check the concrete floor and look for conditions of cracks, pits, holes or other uneven spots on the floor. If there are large cracks or cavities, the best practice is to remove the slab of this part and lay it again. If it is only small cracks and empty, you can use concrete filler or similar floor repair agent to repair the damage.
2. Clean cracks, pits and holes of concrete floor
Before repairing cracks and pits, use chisels or angle grinders to lightly cut the cracks slightly (be sure to be gentle so as not to worsen the cracks), which not only helps to clean the debris in the cracks, but also facilitates the accommodation of new fillings material. Then use a brush to clean out the debris in the crack, and a broom or vacuum cleaner to clean the surface of the crack and pit.
3. Fill cracks, pits and holes of concrete floor
Use concrete fillers repair cracks on the floor. Pour concrete filler or liquid leveler into the gaps, holes, or low spaces on the concrete floor, smooth the filler material over the floor with a trowel for a completely even surface. Let stand for 24 hours.
4. Polish spots on concrete floor
The surface of the cement floor where self-adhesive vinyl tile is installed must be as smooth and flat as possible. First use a spirit level to find uneven areas on the concrete floor. Use 40 or 60 grit to sand any uneven areas, including bumps, or lumps, with sandpaper or an electric sander. Wear these higher-than-normal spots down until they are flush with the rest of the floor.
5. Fill the lower areas on the concrete floor
Spots below the ground level need to be filled with concrete self-leveling compound. First use a broom or brush to apply the cement horizontal paint to this area. After it is dried, pour the leveling compound mixture that is blended according to the guide ratio on the ground, the gravity will take it into the lower areas of the floor.
6. Make rough concrete slab smooth
Although self-adhesive vinyl tiles adapt well even on uneven surfaces, you should avoid placing them on rough walls or floors, since the adhesive needs a non-pore surface to fix. If there are variations and bumps in the concrete, you may need to smooth it before starting to install. This can be done with self-leveling compound. Apply the self-leveling compound to the floor and allow it to dry before proceeding any further.
7. Clean the concrete floor
Clean the concrete with a neutral PH cleaner. Wet floor mop with cleaner. Use a cleaning brush when necessary to remove any hard-to-clean dirt deposits. A cleaner that doesn't have an oil base to it that will prevent this peel and stick tiles from actually sticking to the concrete, so you want something that is a water base that will evaporate. You can use a mop, scrubber, or something like that in this case. How to clean concrete floor slab:
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1. The first thing we'll do is take our cleaner and put it on to the concrete, you need to put it on there pretty heavy that way you can pull all the dirt out of all the grooves and everything.
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2. Take your scrubber and start scrubbing it around, you can keep putting cleaner to concrete while you are scrubbing.
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3. After that put a little bit more water on concrete and wipe off all the dirt.
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4. Rinse the surface with water, and then allow it to dry overnight before laying the vinyl tile.
7. Conduct a moisture test on concrete floor
Before installing self-adhesive vinyl floor planks or peel and stick PVC tiles, the moisture content of the concrete subfloor should be as low as possible. If the concrete retains moisture, the tiles may curl and warp, and the project should be abandoned or the concrete floor should be dehumidified. Once it is determined that the concrete floor is not damp, the self-adhesive vinyl tiles can be successfully installed after removing the carpet. How to conduct moisture test on concrete floor:
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1. Fix a large piece of plastic on the concrete floor with tape.
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2. Fix all edges with tape to prevent air from escaping and ensure a complete seal.
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3. Wait 24 hours, and then check the moisture under the plastic.
Or:
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1. Stick a small piece of self-adhesive vinyl on the concrete floor.
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2. Seal the edges with tape to prevent air intrusion.
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3. Wait 3 days and try to pull the vinyl off the floor to check if it is easy to leak.
8. Install moisture barrier for concrete floor
If you plan to build a new concrete floor, you can lay a moisture-proof layer under the floor, not only to protect the concrete floor from moisture damage but also to ensure that the concrete floor has too much water to lay self-adhesive vinyl floor tiles. If the existing concrete floor has too much water, you can lay a cushion on the cement floor to form an additional moisture-proof layer, and it can also provide additional cushioning to make the floor feel softer when walking.
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How to Install Vinyl Tile on Concrete Floor
Source: https://www.accessfloorstore.com/news/182--how-to-prepare-concrete-floor-for-self-adhesive-vinyl-tiles-peel-and-stick-pvc-floor-tiles