LAMINATE & VINYL
Laminate is available in designs that imitate wood, stone and ceramic tile. It's just like the material on countertops, only harder. This covering is great for bathrooms because it doesn't require the upkeep that a wood floor would in a damp area such as a bathroom.
Vinyl is soft and easy to install. It's particularly good if you have younger children, as it's soft underfoot, and the finish very easy to maintain. And it's very easy to install -- just peel and stick.
Laminate & Vinyl: Installation
Installing a replacement floor covering is a good do-it-yourself project. But keep in mind that there are a number of types of flooring you should consider, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Here's a little information to help you get started.
1. Measure the floor and take that measurement to the home store to determine how much flooring you'll need. You want the new flooring to be centered, so measure from the starting wall to the finish wall; divide that number by the laminate board width. If you're lucky, you'll end up with an even number. If not, you'll have to trim the first and last boards to keep the pattern centered, as in our project.
2. You must remove the toilet to install a new floor, but the vanity can stay.
3. Roll out the foam underlayment along the starting wall and cut to length. Roll out additional foam underlayment as needed during installation.
4. Lay out the first laminate board with the small tongue side facing the wall.
Tip: Use 1/4" spacers between the laminate and the vertical surfaces such as walls, vanity, shower or tub to allow for expansion. Don't worry about this space, as you'll be covering it later with the molding.
Tip: Because this floor is in a bathroom, the manufacturer recommends strengthening the joints with a thin bead of glue on top of the tongue only.
5. Install the next piece by aligning the short ends of the boards and clicking them in place. Use a tapping block and hammer to tap on the short end and lock the rows into place. Remember to glue each joint.
6. After 24 hours, remove the spacers and install the molding pieces. Since this is a bathroom, use a silicone caulk to seal around the walls and the toilet, and use caulk and molding to seal around the bathtub. Remember, although many of these products advertise that they just click in place, you must use glue on the seams to ensure a watertight seal.
Tip: When you're using large laminate boards like those shown in this project, having a helper makes the job a whole lot easier!
Vinyl: Repair
With a little patience, scratches or tears in vinyl flooring can be repaired to look almost as good as new.
• Find a piece of vinyl that matches your flooring and is bigger than the tear. (If your floor has vinyl tiles, simply replace a whole square.)
• Line up the pattern of the replacement piece with that of your floor, and tape the replacement piece to the floor.
• With the replacement piece in place, use a utility knife to cut through both pieces of vinyl. Make certain that you cut a hole larger than the damaged area.
• Lift up and remove both pieces of vinyl. If the old vinyl flooring sticks to the sub-floor, use a blow-dryer to loosen it up and a putty-knife to lift it up.
• With the damaged portion cut and removed, use the putty knife to remove the old adhesive from the sub-floor and clean away any debris.
• Apply new adhesive to the sub-floor with a putty knife, and position the vinyl patch to cover the hole.
• Press the patch in the center to work out any air-bubbles underneath, then use a rolling pin to press the patch flat.
• Clean up any excess glue using a damp paper towel.