How to Lay Vinyl Sheet in a Bathroom

Bathroom vinyl sheet flooring, with the right tools, know-how, and a bit of effort, is relatively easy to lay.

Be aware that the tools are sharp and can cause injury. Be sure to handle blades and keep them covered when not in use. When using silicone, gloves should be worn.
Read and follow the safety instructions on the products.
It’s a good idea to wear knee pads to protect your knees.

Most floors are suitable to lay vinyl sheets over. When purchasing your vinyl sheet, talk to us if you are unsure if you should strip the existing floors first.

If applicable, strip floors using the appropriate solvent or product. The existing floor should be swept and vacuumed. Any protruding nails or screws need to be hammered below the surface, ensuring the floor is flush and smooth. The floor must be cleared of any dust and debris.

Concrete floors must be free from any dampness. There’s a simple method to test for dampness:

 If the existing floor is damaged or uneven, we recommend the floor be levelled first, as this will give a better finish.

It’s important to measure accurately and ensure that the correct size sheet is available without making unnecessary joins. Measure the room – length and width, including any recesses. Measure up to the centre of any doorways. Add 75 cm to each edge to allow for final trimming and cutting. With the measurements, you can now buy the bathroom vinyl sheets.

Roll the vinyl sheet out in the bathroom and leave it there for 24 hours to relax. If you have underfloor heating, also turn that off 24 hours before laying your vinyl.

Roughly lay the vinyl in position and adjust it to fit as closely as possible, allowing the 75mm excess to overlap. With obstacles like a toilet or basin pedestal, cuts need to be made around them.

Cut a series of slits into the vinyl around the pedestal (and toilet) with your utility knife:

After this, the edges need to be cut with a long straight cut, using a vinyl cutter which gives a nice straight edge. Avoid making any cuts in wet areas (especially when working in a bathroom) because water could get underneath it and damage the vinyl.

Sometimes the sheet vinyl needs to be fully bonded to the floor using an adhesive applied to the whole floor or sheet. Others – only need to be bonded on the perimeter and at any joint, using double-sided vinyl floor tape. Note that non-cushion vinyl sheets need adhesive across the whole area.

Before applying double-sided tape to the floor, make sure that the floor is clean, smooth and non-porous. If floors aren’t clean, smooth and non-porous, you will need to spray adhesive where you place the double-sided tape.

If you are using adhesive, spray along the edge of the floor, taking care not to spray onto the walls. Then stick the double-sided tape to the adhesive along the room’s edges without removing the backing paper. Run a block of wood firmly over the tape to get it smoothed out in place. Do the same around the base of the pedestal and any other obstructions.

Finally, the sheet vinyl can be laid and fitted into place. Working around the edge, lift each edge. Remove the backing of the double-sided tape, then push the sheet vinyl firmly onto the tape.

Bathrooms are rooms where water and steam occur, so it is important to seal the edge between the vinyl floor and the wall with a silicone bathroom sealant. Make sure that the nozzle is cut at a slight angle and is cut in the correct size hole. Remember – the bigger the gap between the vinyl and floor, the bigger the hole in the nozzle must be. Start at one end and move along in one continuous movement, maintaining a steady pressure and speed. Use a sealant shaper or a wet soapy finger to smooth the sealant.

Trim, such as a skirting board, can also be fitted between the floor and the edge of the wall.

Finish your new floor by fitting an aluminium strip in the doorway, between the new floor and the floor in the passage or next room.

Stand back to admire your handiwork and your beautiful new luxury bathroom flooring.