If you've been considering installing vinyl plank flooring in your home, you've definitely come across the term loose lay vinyl flooring at least once.

But what is loose lay vinyl flooring, exactly? Is it available from the greatest vinyl plank flooring manufacturers? Is this installation style even good, to begin with?

All of these questions—and many more—are answered in our loose lay vinyl flooring tutorial below!

We'll compare loose lay to other vinyl flooring installation methods, look at its advantages and disadvantages, explore the ideal rooms to use it in, and look at some of the top brands that offer it.

Is it worthwhile to investigate loose lay vinyl plank? Let's see what we can find out together.

What Is Loose Lay Vinyl Flooring, and How Does It Work?

The term "loose lay vinyl" refers to a PVC flooring installation method that relies on the weight of the planks—along with a rubber backing—rather than glue or nails to keep them in place.

Loose-lay planks are typically heavier than regular vinyl planks as a result.

Is a roll of loose-lay vinyl flooring the same as a roll of loose-lay vinyl plank?

No, loose lay vinyl plank is not the same as loose lay vinyl flooring roll.

The latter is a sort of sheet vinyl that is much thinner than wood or stone and does not have a realistic appearance. Remember those 1970s and 1980s kitchen flooring with their floral patterns? That's sheet vinyl, often known as "vinyl roll."

Although vinyl roll/sheet vinyl can be installed as a loose lay vinyl plank flooring, it is not very popular (or practical). After all, the major advantage of sheet vinyl is that it is attached to the flooring in one large sheet!

What Are Vinyl Plank Flooring's Advantages?

Let's go through the benefits and drawbacks of vinyl plank flooring because we'll be talking about how loose lay installation influences these attributes.

On average, quality LVP is less expensive than hardwood, and unlike hardwood, it is also waterproof and scratch-resistant.

When you compare vinyl plank to laminate, you'll notice that vinyl is the more water-resistant option. Although some waterproof laminates are available (such as Mohawk's RevWood), only vinyl is waterproof by default.

If you get good LVP, it will last for a long time—as long as (or longer than) some of the greatest engineered wood flooring.

LVP, on the other hand, isn't recognised for being particularly eco-friendly, and it doesn't always have the same appeal as genuine hardwood (which may hurt resale value).

What is the most common method of installing vinyl plank flooring?

Buy vinyl plank flooring is often laid using a glue-down or click-together method. If you're thinking "what is a floating floor," it's just a floor that sits on top of your subfloor instead of being attached to it. What exactly is subflooring? It's nothing more than the uneven surface beneath your actual floor!

Click-together flooring, on the other hand, employs specific grooves and tabs on the side of each plank to snap them snugly together, whereas loose lay vinyl plank flooring is “laid loose” (no surprise there).

How Do You Install Loose Lay Vinyl Flooring?

Loose lay vinyl flooring, unlike click-together flooring, does not snap together. Instead, installers position the planks close to one another over the subfloor, where their rubber backings—along with their increased weight—help to keep them in place.

Is it True That Loose Lay Vinyl Planks Stay in Place?

Consider how difficult it is to slide a penny across a rubber surface if this installation method appears risky. Here, too, the same idea applies! Loose lay installation styles, on the other hand, are fantastic. Your planks will not move if you place them tightly together. If you want, you may also attach the boards to the room's edges to act as a sturdy base.

Loose Lay Vinyl Plank Flooring Is Practical and Convenient in the End

With all of this in mind, finding a severe defect in loose lay vinyl flooring is difficult. It's definitely one of the greatest faux wood flooring installation alternatives available, especially considering that the overall cost of loose lay vinyl components and installation isn't even close to the cost of hardwood flooring.

For more info, contact Fit Floors today!