Anyone offer advice on installing heavy thick Domestic Vinyl Cushion Floors to a struggling improver/apprentice? • Free handing techniques. • Tips on templating. • Use of trimmers. Additionally, what trimmers have you tried and would recommend and has anybody fabricated homemade cutters templating devices, as there seems few on the market. Feedback from `old hands` in the trade much appreciated.
trimmers are of no benefit imo stay away from them you need to be 'shown' how to use a knife effectively imo not something that can be read or written about.(with any degree of success) you wont be able to improve on your own if you have little or no experience, so get in with a decent fitter. And lastly, if you are struggling, get someone in to do it for you You never know, they may let you see what they're doing etc This from 21+yr old hands
Get a roll of paper felt and template bathrooms out. I still template tricky bathrooms. cutting in takes a lot of practise, not easy.
1x hooky, 1x straight, 1x scissors then practice practice practice. It might pay you to make yourself a bay with lots of odd angles to help you get the knack.
Watch someone closely that knows what there doing and as Sidney said practice practice then practice some more the only way to really learn is hands on experience and prepare to get it wrong to start with, dont try and copy all the lines arrows or marks others use they may do things that that make sense to them but confuse you there are hundreds of ways of doing mist thing's but normally only 1 or 2 ways that you will get on with so watch then adopt your own ways, if your really unsure book yourself onto a course [/SIZE]
Learn how to do white silicone well and be prepared to replace a vinyl or two while your learning, then practise makes perfect in regards to cutting in, its not really something that can be taught per say more something you learn from doing it regularly and from the mistakes you will make along the way.
When i was learning i would get a scrap of vinyl about a meter square say, and i would just put it up to a wall or a corner, clamp it down using tape, glue, an awl or staple it if you want. then i would trim it in, look at it, note anything i liked or didn't like, move it up a bit and trim it in again and so on. Practice makes perfect but watch someone who knows how a few times, pick up some tips.
And make sure it's not freezing cold ! Cos that'll make it even more difficult, even if it is a domestic vinyl!
Also don't cut your vinyl in the sun outside the day before then lay it flat inside ready to fit the next day only a numpty would do that as people say you make mistakes when training
Have a word with Matt. He'll probably be able to offer you a course showing templating and fitting (been doing an apprenticeship with him and he and the other trainers really know their stuff. Be worth the investment.)
I taught myself on carpet tiles. The way I saw it was if I can freehand that in then I could do vinyls that's contract not domestic though.
Yep. Had to do it on angles so used to do it on straights when learning. Used to free hand around door frames the lot. At least if you balls a tile you can replace it and its carpet so a bit forgiving. I got chucked in the deep end with vinyl had to fit 60 Sqm polyflor fx and didn't screw up once through it.
Yeah... I tend to free hand hook in carpet tiles round doorways. Alot easier then cutting with a straight.
If your interested in getting into lvt's & your doing a lot of cpt tiles, try fitting them without the hooker (straight blade and placement only cuts) It'll give you a good foray into how to fit lvts unless youve got a heatgun and still wanna use the hooker
