First time fitting LVT planks, help? :)

delmonta

Hi

I fell out with the guy who was meant to fit my karndean floor in my kitchen. He said my floor couldn't be made flatter, and it had 8cm undulations. I levelled it with fibre self levelling compound from mapei, and now it's much better. 

I have karndean opus planks. They reccomend using their adhesive. But Screwfix has Mapei Ultrabond Eco vs90 plus with good reviews, I'm guessing this will be fine? 

My main confusion is how to lay it all out correctly, to look right and minimise waste. I've never done this before. 

Any tips? Do I start from one side, or draw lines and start from the middle. I just can't really work it out. I read somewhere you should use a roller once they are laid, is this 100% necessary? Could I not just walk on them? 

The planks will go parallel to the worktop by the window and door in the photo. 

Thanks, any tips would be great

kdotdotdotdot

You start in a corner usually and work your way across the floor.  
Looking at your photo, what I'd suggest is that you get any other decorating work done first.  So much easier to paint/tile etc when you don't have your expensive floors down.
Are you going to lift the kitchen units kick boards and lay floor slightly underneath, or just do it flush to the kickboards?
Good luck with this project!

delmonta

kdotdotdotdot said:

You start in a corner usually and work your way across the floor.  
Looking at your photo, what I'd suggest is that you get any other decorating work done first.  So much easier to paint/tile etc when you don't have your expensive floors down.
Are you going to lift the kitchen units kick boards and lay floor slightly underneath, or just do it flush to the kickboards?
Good luck with this project!

Ok I had read in some places to start from the middle, but that didn't make much sense to me!

Yes I took off all the skirting and will take off the kickers, and just get the floor slightly underneath

Davesnave

delmonta said:

I fell out with the guy who was meant to fit my karndean floor in my kitchen. He said my floor couldn't be made flatter, and it had 8cm undulations.

And I thought my ensuite floor was bad!!!

I guess you mean 8mm.

Interested to know how you get on with the rigid LVT. I was contemplating using it in a suspended floor conservatory but wimped-out and ripped-up the whole 30m2 of floor to concrete and tile it traditionally instead. Hope someone thinks it'll be worth it.

delmonta

Davesnave said:

delmonta said:

I fell out with the guy who was meant to fit my karndean floor in my kitchen. He said my floor couldn't be made flatter, and it had 8cm undulations.

And I thought my ensuite floor was bad!!!

I guess you mean 8mm.

Interested to know how you get on with the rigid LVT. I was contemplating using it in a suspended floor conservatory but wimped-out and ripped-up the whole 30m2 of floor to concrete and tile it traditionally instead. Hope someone thinks it'll be worth it.

Ha yeah I meant 8mm! Still, its enough. I got it down to 3mm at worst. 

Honestly I only bought this stuff as I intended to rent the place and it seemed hardwearing, cheap and cleanable. But I don't love the stuff, and now I'm going to live here I'd much prefer a tiled floor (apart from the cold). But I've got these LBVT planks now, cost about £500 all in, so I can always tile it in a few years if I feel like it