Is it completely insane to try fit LVT myself?

Hi everyone, I'm a tradesman myself but not flooring - plasterer so familiar with screed, and measuring & cutting etc. And I'm looking to replace my hallway/hallway cupboard floor with an LVT; probably Karndean. Tiles very pricey and Karndean just seems like a sensible idea; no grout to get shitty, easy to clean, take high traffic etc etc

I'm guessing the answers probably going to be "no, you're an idiot", but figured I should at least ask haha. Floor is S&C screed and flat; though would probably SL latex first.

Just really tempting to try it as could save me decent money which to me is a bigger gain than the loss of say, a shitty line up a skirting.

Being a hallway obviously some obstacles - three doors, and part of it would be going into carpet stairs (and the room is triangular). Is there a certain variety you guys would say is easier to install? For example, tile shaped LVTs as opposed to long thin slats?

Do you guys have a merchant for flooring? Going through KDs website just leads me to flooring contractors

 

Get some paper felt and make a lot of templates


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That’s out of order spacey, only the pros can fit like that


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And you forgot the mastic


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Use looselay mate

 

Agree....because its easier for 'the professional fitter' to rip up and fit it properly for you

 

Hello, sounds like we're in the same boat - just about to start my hallway. So at the risk of cross-contaminating threads.....

I just bought a £30 multi-cutter from Homebase, and will use it to undercut doorways & skirts. That way, my rubbish cuts (probably with my blood on them) can slide under and be hidden.

I got the best screws I could (obviously no longer than my chipboard base and 6mm ply) to make it all as tight as possible.

I found Karndean Skim Coat on ebay for £25 delivered. Hope I'm up to getting a decent result with it.

I'm sure I'll take me 5 times as long as a pro fitter, but if I can get an acceptable result (to the Mrs), I'll be happy. I know any pro's would be able to instantly find the faults when I'm done, but I'm hoping for an OK job (famous last words).

Anyway, best of British with it.

 

Karndean skim coat is ok. Think it’s the same as Fball micro coat.
Do 2 coats on joints


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Thanks, daz.

When you say 2 coats on joints, how do I do that.....leave the 1st coat not quite flat at the joints...or does it naturally slump back on joints?

BTW, is it ok to 'patch' with Karndean skim, after the 1st coat (if I find slight dips after 1st coat/sanding)? What I mean is can I use it like Polyfilla where necessary after the 1st coat.

ATB & thanks again.

 

go over the joints with a first coat so its not raised up, then go over the entire area with a full coat is best practice after sanding joint first coat, with ply you shouldnt find dips per say unless you use cheap chinese crap, get the ply from wickes as its actually pretty good gear and easy to source.

 

Thanks PF, I see what you mean.

When I say dips, hopefully I'm over-egging it. I mean any imperfections in my screed/sanding (as I say, could I just dab on bits like using Polyfilla on a wall and sand them, or would such small smears and patches fail?).

Saying that, the Chipboard floor I'm laying onto has dipped a bit in a high-use area - and I can't get it up to lay a fresh bit. What do you reckon the best course would be with that dip (maybe 5mm over 2ft width)? Was thinking of packing under ply to level it with a bit of card or spare Karndean under the ply.

BTW, there's no underfloor insulation at all (and a ground floor hall).......would it be wise (or the opposite) to put thin foil-type insulation under all the ply? Obviously, no problem for me to do it, but I won't if it'd cause problems.

ATB

 

I wouldn’t do that harry as you will make voids under the plywood.
Get the ply down 1st all over then check for dips.


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Thanks Daz. Now you say that, it makes a lot of sense......so I'll try to take out the dip with the screed.

Spacey, I am bricking it most of all about putting the screed down, and fully take your point about how the Karndean will magnify any shortcomings in what I've done beneath it. It's a Victorian house, so I'm going to have to 'sell' any ridges etc showing as character! Seriously, thanks mate for your wise words.

BTW, a pal of mine has Amtico in his bathroom.....fitted by a John Lewis fitter about 5 years ago. I can see a slight ridge where the ply must meet. The boards weren't bad, as I helped my mate with them (screwed them all down, planed where needed and sanded everything pretty damn flat). I don't think that fitter's motto is your sign-off on here, Spacey!!

 

Original Poster, sorry for hijacking your thread with my issues! But hopefully it all adds to what you want to see/learn.

Good luck with it mate.

 

It’s all about the ply. Most fitters use cheap gear which expands a lot and you see a grin line.

 

....And it fucks your blade

 

thanks for the replies, and no worries about the thread Harry lol, more the merrier