[flatwaterlady]

OK, I've remodeled the kitchen... moved plumbing & electrical, installed cabinets even installed LVL's to replace a wall but seem to have some trepidation about laying this floor. To begin with, I'm not even positive this is the floor I'll end up with. I've looked at a lot. I live on the water and I'm laying it in a great room/kitchen, laundry room, hall and bath. So it has to be serious duty capable. Then.... is this truly a DIY floor? I know that may sound funny given what I've already done. Is it kinda like hanging wallpaper horizontally?:confused1:

 

[rusty baker]

http://vinylflooring.org/movie.html Easy as can be.

 

[rgkmzk]

I want to install Flexitec in my basement, but we have a drain in the floor. My contractor is not familiar with this flooring, but he says that when you have a drain in the floor there is always water that seeps up and would go underneath the flexitec. Is there a way I can seal it so that it doesn't. Also I want to put a vapor barrier down underneath the flooring so that there are no problems with moisture. This is a very dry basement and for 15 years we have had no problems with moisture on the concrete. Also the concrete is not perfectly level in that there are places where cracks have been fixed, and the material is higher than the floor. We plan to level as much as possible, but I thought with Flexitec, it might be more forgiving than other lineoleum. Am I right, can I lay it over a vapor barrier, and can I lay it over a non perfectly level basement floor. This is a kitchen for my son and his family who have lived down there for several years, and are now remodeling the kitchen themselves.

 

[poppameth]

Flexitec is one of the easiest floors for a DIYer to lay. It's also virtually impervious to water (the floor, not the glue you put it down with). I've been told they use this stuff on river barges in the south and when they flood out you just peel the stuff up, let it dry, and lay it back down.

As for the basement, yes it's cushioned back makes it more forgiving to uneven subfloor, but you'll still see the dips. As far as a vapor barrier, I'd recommend you use a roll on barrier if you feel one is necessary. Something like Cutdown II. You mix it up and roll it on to hold back up to 12 lbs. of water pressure.

 

[rgkmzk]

Flexitec on stairs

Thanks for answering my question about the basement. I also want to put the Flexitec on my basement stairs. I was told by a dealer here that I woud have to put metal on the stairs to use any kind of vinal, but I think that flexitec is flexible enough that I can use just quarter round on the back of the stair risers and under the treads to hold the Flexitec and not have to put any metal on the stair edges. Will this work. I can save quite a bit of money buying a roll, but I'm not sure I can use that much. My basement is 1600 square feet, and upstairs, I need 22 feet so I'm not sure that it will pay to buy 140 feet when I would need 80 and 22. So I thought I would also do the stairs, and a kitchen in an apartment I own to be able to use the whole roll. I thought if I bought a wood looking pattern, it would work great throughout the entire house, I have brand new carpet in two rooms upstairs, an in most of the apartment.

 

[poppameth]

I would not put it on the stairs. This stuff expands and contracts with environmental changes. Thus you leave an expansion joint around the walls when installing it. I would think that you'd have to fasten it far too tight on a set of step and you'd see it bubble and buckle as soon as the temperatures changed.

 

[rusty baker]

According to Flexitec, their vinyl does not contract and expand. The gap is because walls contract and expand.

 

[poppameth]

According to Flexitec, their vinyl does not contract and expand. The gap is because walls contract and expand.

Right you are. I phrased that completely wrong in my rush to get to work. The Flexitec does NOT expand and contract. The steps will. Which still leaves you with the same problem of buckling and bubbling.

 

[gbailey]

Well if you go to www.flexitecvinyl.com the video on installation says leave 1/8 gap because everything else expands and contracts. Laminate and hardwood required 1/4 inch gap.