Installing 1 4 Underlayment Sheet Vinyl

Laying underlayment over an existing flooring.

Installing 1 4 underlayment sheet vinyl.

Finish the sheet by fastening the remaining 8 edge 2 on center 1 2. Luan as underlayment luan is 1 4 inch thick and it comes in 4 by 8 sheets. If your subfloor had dips or damage it could show through the vinyl over time. Cement board thinset and tile add up to about 5 8 inch.

When installing the new underlayment stagger the seams of the plywood panels and leave a 1 32 inch gap between panels to allow for expansion. It needs to be built up to the same elevation of the other flooring types in the house. It typically comes in 4 x 8 foot sheets. Position sureply plywood underlayment panels 1 8 to 1 4 from the walls to allow for expansion.

While luan provides a smooth surface on which to install vinyl it s not suitable for all types of vinyl flooring. Installation procedures and adhesives differ for each type of vinyl flooring and vary from one manufacturer to another so be sure to get instructions for the type of flooring you choose. That doesn t mean you don t need underlayment for sheet vinyl however. I have used nails and screws in the past but read online elsewhere that pros use narrow crown staples.

There are several types of underlayment for this type of flooring and we ve seen brands with a thin layer of foam pre attached as well. Sheet vinyl however is only about 1 16 inch thick. Traditional hardwood flooring is 3 4 inch thick and carpet with pad is usually between 5 8 and 1 inch depending on the type. Most plywood underlayment is about 1 4 inch thick and has square edges and a smooth knot free top face.

I have installed one sheet so far and it was a lot quicker than my past jobs. I have 3 4 durastrand subfloor and am installing 1 4 underlayment before the vinyl. Leave a 1 8 inch gap along the walls. For many years the standard option was lauan plywood also called philippine mahogany or luan plywood which is made with an inexpensive tropical hardwood and therein lies its problem.

We ve chosen to demonstrate installation of felt backed rotovinyl over a new layer of special 1 4 in.