Fitting guide · dctuk.com · 0345 222 1544 · Flooring that ain’t boring
DIY fitting guide
How to fit click vinyl flooring
Click vinyl — also sold as click LVT, rigid core or SPC — slots together like a jigsaw and floats on top of your floor. No glue, no mess, and you can walk on it the moment you've finished.
- Difficulty
- Easy to moderate
- Time
- A day for a 20m² room
- People
- 1–2 people
- Skill level
- Confident beginner
What you’ll need
- Sharp utility knife with plenty of spare blades
- Tape measure and pencil
- Metal straight edge
- Rubber mallet (white-headed, so it doesn't mark the planks)
- Tapping block and pull bar
- Spacers for the expansion gap
- Handsaw or jigsaw for rigid core planks and awkward cuts
Before you start
Let the planks settle
Leave the boxes flat in the room for 24–48 hours. Check your brand's guide — a few rigid core floors need no settling time at all.
Check the floor is flat
This is the one that catches people out. Click floors need a flat base — no more than about 3mm of dip under a 2m straight edge. Bumps and hollows cause creaking and failed joints. Level it first if you need to.
Take up soft floors
Carpet, underlay and needlefelt all have to come up. Click vinyl can usually go over tiles, floorboards or existing hard floors if they're sound and flat.
Decide about underlay
Some brands need one, some ban it because it voids the warranty, and many have it built into the plank already. Check before you buy any.
How to fit click vinyl flooring, step by step
Work out your first row
Measure the room and divide by the plank width. If the last row would end up as a thin strip, trim the first row down so the first and last rows come out roughly even. Aim for at least 5cm wide.
Pick your direction
Run the planks along the longest wall, or towards the main window so the light runs down the length of the boards rather than across them.
Leave the expansion gap
Put spacers between the planks and every wall. Most brands want 5–8mm — check yours. The floor needs room to move with temperature, and if it can't, it lifts in the middle.
Start in the left-hand corner
Tongue side facing the wall. Work left to right, row by row.
Click the long edges
Hold the plank at about 20–30°, push the long edge into the one already down, and lower it flat. It should drop in without force.
Join the short ends
Depending on the brand, the ends either angle in or drop and lock with a gentle tap. Never hit a plank with a metal hammer — use a rubber mallet and a tapping block.
Stagger the joints
Keep the end joints in neighbouring rows well apart — at least 25–30cm. Use the offcut from the end of one row to start the next and it usually falls right naturally.
Cut around pipes and door frames
Score with a knife and snap for straight cuts. For pipes, drill a hole slightly bigger than the pipe, then cut in from the edge and glue the little piece back. Undercut door frames so the plank slides beneath.
Finish the last row
Pull it tight with the pull bar. Take out all the spacers, fit skirting or beading to the wall (never through the floor), and add a threshold strip in doorways.
Watch it being done
A guide to fitting click LVT flooring — Covers the angle-and-drop technique and expansion gaps.
Mistakes to avoid
- No expansion gap. This is the number one cause of failed click floors — they buckle in the middle.
- Fitting kitchen units or heavy fitted furniture on top of the floor. It pins it down and it can't move.
- Laying over a floor that isn't flat. Dips make joints pop apart later.
- Hitting planks with a metal hammer and wrecking the locking profile.
- Joints in neighbouring rows too close together, which looks messy and weakens the floor.
- Skipping the threshold strip between rooms — big continuous runs need a break.
Frequently asked questions
What gap do you leave for click vinyl flooring?
Usually 5–8mm all the way round, including around pipes and door frames. Check your brand's guide — BerryAlloc Pure Click wants 8mm, Luvanto and DreamClick want 5mm, Polyflor Camaro Loc wants 4mm.
Do I need underlay under click vinyl?
It depends entirely on the brand. Luvanto Click Plus must go straight onto the floor or the warranty is void. Polyflor Camaro Loc must have its own Vinyl Loc underlay. Many rigid core floors have underlay bonded to the back already.
Can you lay click vinyl over floorboards?
Yes, if the boards are sound, flat and don't move. Screw down anything loose. If they're uneven or gappy, overlay with plywood first.
Can you use click vinyl with underfloor heating?
Almost always yes. Keep the floor surface below 27°C, turn the heating off 24–48 hours before fitting, and bring it back up slowly over about a week afterwards.
How soon can you walk on click vinyl?
Straight away. There's no adhesive to cure, so you can put the furniture back the same day.
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