More awesome articles

    cost vinyl diy installation maintenance

    2019 Costs to Vinyl Flooring: What You’ll Pay for Vinyl Plank and Vinyl Tile

    By Robert Lewis on June, 21 2019
    00000IMG_00000_BURST20190110102929997_COVER


    00000IMG_00000_BURST20190110102929997_COVER

    Let me guess, you’re here because you heard that vinyl is a great waterproof option for your home?

    Perhaps you are looking to install a floor that can handle heavy foot traffic in a commercial or business setting?

    No matter what, you heard correct! Vinyl is the largest growing segment of the flooring industry because of its resistance to moisture; it also offers many designs that you can match seamlessly into any space in your home or business.

     

    The Variables of the Final Cost

    1. The Price of the Product
    2. Cost of Materials
    3. Labor of Install
    4. Type of Vinyl Plank/Tile (click lock vinyl plank/tile, WPC, SPC…)

    As with most other cost articles, I cannot tell you the exact final cost you’ll end up paying, so -

    Beware the Short Answer!

    The final cost doesn’t stop at how much you’ll be spending on the product itself! There are plenty of other variables to consider before making a final decision based on product averages, and there could be unforeseen problems with installation.

    Price of Vinyl Flooring

     

    As a buyer, you have some options that you can pick from to fit your needs, budget, and design:

     

    LVT - Luxury Vinyl Tile………. $1.50 - $6 per square foot

    LVP - Luxury Vinyl Plank……….. $1.50 - $6 per square foot

    WPC - Wood Plastic Composite Vinyl……….. $4 - $7 per square foot

    SPC - Stone Plastic Composite Vinyl………. $3 - $6 per square foot

     

    Since the sky is the limit when it comes to how much you can spend, it is important to familiarize yourself with what you need out of your floor to pick the best one for your budget.

    SPC is the best waterproof option you can get right now because of the limestone used in the core.

    The core of WPC is a vinyl composite that has air bubbles inside of it that allow some give underfoot, and it allows the planks to capture warmth.

     

    Materials to Install Vinyl Plank

     

    Luckily, many of the vinyl products don’t require many materials which makes it great for all of you Do-It-Yourselfers out there. When it comes to LVP, WPC, and SPC, they can also be floated on your original floor making as easy as clicking the pieces together and laying them down.

    Grout between the tiles is optional, but it is an additional cost if you opt for it.

    Here are some common materials you can expect to pay for when installing vinyl:

    • Adhesive (about $100 per gallon) - Used to glue down the vinyl tiles.
    • Grout (about $70 per 25lb bag) - It is optional when it comes to vinyl tile and is used for aesthetic purposes. If you choose to use it, it is used on the perimeter of each tile. It can also absorb moisture, allowing moisture to reach the adhesive underneath. If that happens, you’re asking for damage so keep an eye on how often it is exposed to water.
    • Caulking (about $5 per tube) - It is also good to have this on hand especially if you are installing the vinyl in a bathroom. Making sure to protect the sub-floor by caulking any gaps is a must for vinyl tile.
    • Padding (about $59 per square foot roll) - Underlayment is the material attached underneath vinyl planks that provide can provide moisture protection depending on the material (don’t go to cork-backed for moisture protection) as well as sound dampening. Most vinyl planks come with this already attached and part of the normal price, but sometimes it isn’t pre-attached.
    • Transitions / Mouldings / Baseboards (price varies) - These are the parts of the floor that allow for a transition between rooms or bridge the gap between the floor and your wall. You can pick different designs that match just the way you want.

    Whether you’re tackling the job by yourself or letting some professionals take care of it, you should expect to pay for these materials.

     

    How to Take Care of Vinyl

     

    Fortunately, vinyl is usually just as easy to take care of as it is to install.

     

    More attention is needed for vinyl tile because if one tile or plank gets damaged, you risk damaging the surrounding tiles if you decide to just replace the one.

    This doesn’t mean that if one of your vinyl tiles is busted that you need to redo the whole floor, but if you don’t have a lot of experience in replacing that type of flooring, consult the professionals on the best course of action.00100dPORTRAIT_00100_BURST20190221094634439_COVER_2 (1)

    Routine maintenance is light work. Use the manufacturer recommended cleaning products for any unusual or serious messes, stay away from bleach and acids as they may damage the finish on the boards and keep up on the sweeping, mopping and spot cleaning spills!

     

    Be careful about scratches!  Vinyl does well holding up against scuffs and scraps but it isn't the best.  Large dogs and heavy furniture are the key suspects to scratch vinyl floors.  

     

    Labor Of Install

     

    How much you will be paying for installation depends on a few factors that differ between job to job. Here are the factors:

     

    • What is there now to remove
    • Furniture
    • Transitions between rooms
    • Levelness of the sub-floor
    • Expansion gaps (space between the wall and the flooring material)
    • Installation of the material itself

     

    Here you might ask, “Well how much more will it cost, Rob? If that is your real name?”

    And here is where I say my catchphrase, “It depends!”

    Here is the best answer I can give you right now: the more labor required, the longer it will take, the more it will cost.

    If your sub-floor is lovely, there will be less prep and therefore less money you have to pay. If your sub-floor is decomposing, it will be more expensive.

    However, certain types of vinyl are very easy to install by yourself. LVT, WPC, and SPC are great for all of you Do-It-Yourself-ers out there because of their easy click-lock method. Not to mention they can be laid pretty much everywhere! The other types of vinyl present more of a challenge because they bring more variables and materials needed to install them.

     

     

    Recommended Articles

    - December 14, 2019
    - September 3, 2019

    Recommended Articles

    Recommended Articles

    Recommended Articles

    Recommended Articles

    Submit a Comment

    Subscribe to Email Updates