I want to fit this product to the bathroom, bedrooms and landing in my house (entire 1st floor). The house is newish (16 years old) with chipboard flooring upstairs. I know that putting down 6mm ply over the chipboard is recommended but is this absolutely necessary if the chipboard is flat? I'm doing the job with my son who is a carpenter so am happy to put down the 6mm ply if necessary. I read here that screwing down with countersinks is recommended but my son suggests using a nail gun (with appropriate nails that don't go beyond chipboard thickness) and possible glue as well. What do you think? I appreciate that countersinks and other indentations must be filled (although I don't know what with) before tiling but the nail gun would sink the nail heads just below the surface of the ply. Would it be necessary to fill these very small indents? Just a couple more questions: I'm going for TLC Massimo. I see a big choice of adhesives - how to choose? Applying adhesive: 5mm notched trowel and then flatten with foam paint roller. Why do you need to flatten after spreading with the trowel? Using roller. There are two rollers I can see on the market - the Multi Solid Roller RWS091A from http://www.carpetfittersshoponline.co.uk/multi-solid-roller-rws091a-378-p.asp at £32 or the £25 one with red rollers from Amazon or Ebay? Would really appreciate any advice or comments. Thanks
Preparation is the most important thing with this flooring. I laid my vinyl plank flooring about a year ago & I'm really quite chuffed with it. My one was on concrete floor though. I used a latex screed to iron out an imperfections but when the sun is low you can just see a trowel mark even though i sanded the floor as well. Its a bit like looking at a perfectly painted ceiling until the sun shines across it late in the day. My one is only one trowel mark though. The roller i used an ebay one & found it good.I found the trade Bal-F adhesives brilliant, also found my bench chop saw cut these vinyl planks really well with a fine tooth blade "80T".The idea on using a roller helps you not get glue in between the planks. Choose which is the best way to run your planks & mark the floor with a center line. Now off this center line have a measure to any walls & make sure you don't end up with an unsightly angle at the end. Dont lay any more glue than 6 planks at a time to begin with as you have to trowel it on & wait a few minutes for it to go tacky. "dont forget to switch your heating off as the glue will go off too quick". Cutting the door stops with a saw helps, so you can tuck the plank under stop. Have a damp rag with you at all times to wipe off glue. I did this on my own & should of got a mate to help. But its just a bit slower. With these planks you only have to lightly score them on the face & then bend to brake. Good luck PS, Yes i would ply the floor very carefully. PPS, make sure you have no work to do under the floor as you aint getting under after. .
Thanks very much for your reply. Bit confused about trowel mark showing through. Was it a trowel mark from latex or adhesive? Did you use chop saw and score bend and break to make cuts? Take your point about getting under the floor after!!
Hi, the trowel mark was the latex. It felt good when troweled & sanded & under normal use you cant see it. But if there is a low light you can see it. This is right in front of the patio doors where the sun sets, so maybe i,m being a bit finicky. Cutting the vinyl plank is very easy with a straight edge & sharp Stanley knife, but will also cut well with a bench saw, which is handy for cutting down the length. I have an old saw that can be a bench saw or a chop saw.