How to lay vinyl over a timber and concrete floor?

javajive

Hi, 

I am planning a kitchen renovation which includes removing the old lino in the kitchen and laying down new vinyl flooring. The original kitchen floor is a combination of concrete (where the old laundry was) and timber floorboards. 

A flooring company came over to do a measure and quote and explained there is a risk of the vinyl flooring cracking because the timber and concrete will contract and expand differently, and suggested I rip up the timber floorboards and replace with a concrete floating floor. My budget currently doesn't allow for that extra expense. 

As it happens, the lino does have a crack at this join, but I put that down to 40year old lino, and a slight height difference between the concrete and timber floor which I would correct with additional underlay material. 

Does anyone here have experience with a similar situation?

Thanks in advance!

MitchellMc

Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @javajive. It's fabulous to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about installing vinyl flooring.

Given that the main concern is the risk of cracking from the differing expansion and contraction rates of the timber and concrete, it’s tough to predict exactly how it will behave long-term. However, considering that the old lino lasted for so long there might be a reasonable chance that installing the new vinyl flooring could work out without issues, especially if you’re using newer vinyl materials. Older vinyl tended to become brittle and more prone to cracking as it aged, but newer varieties are generally more flexible and resilient.

Another option to consider is floating hybrid vinyl floorboards. These are designed to be more flexible and are often a good compromise between the timber and concrete surfaces, as they are not fixed to the flooring. Hybrid floors also have the benefit of being durable, easy to install, and typically don’t require adhesives or nails, which could save you both time and money. Depending on which vinyl sheet flooring you're going with, hybrid vinyl floorboards might only be slightly more expensive.

If your budget doesn't allow for the added expense of a floating floor or ripping up the timber, it could be worth taking the risk of just installing the vinyl and seeing how it goes. You might not experience the same issues as with the older lino, and if any problems do arise, you can assess them at that point. It could be a simple and affordable solution, and if it holds up well, you won’t have to spend extra on a bigger overhaul.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell