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If you haven't committed, here's another opinion. I love and prefer loose lay vinyl even though it has disadvantages. Two big positive features are some integrated padding which is awesome, and eventual replacement is easy. When you tire of it or it does wear out or get severely damaged, you can pull it up, cut a new sheet using the old sheet as a template, and easily just put the new sheet down. For installation use a high quality double stick tape in stress areas where appliances like dishwashers and fridges need to move across it occasionally. Also put the tape across where you'll enter and exit the room. True, this tape does have to be pulled up when replacing, but it's NOTHING like removing and repairing after a massive glue job. Remember that you still need to prepare the floor to be smooth before installing, and there are true disadvantages- Lefty is absolutely justified in his concerns, but I would not say you can't ever move things or that you'll always have a hump. Humps depend on protecting the vinyl when moving things, and also how much freedom you can give the sheet to move a little. Before moving appliances, and I would first put down some heavy cardboard or other stiff protection to avoid distorting or wrinkling the vinyl, and keep your weight on that cardboard when you move appliances across it, and you definitely do need to leave other edges untaped so the flooring can expand and contract with temperature. It is best if you have or can install a little trim that is not all the way down to the subfloor so the end of the sheet is protected. Even with that care, it will never be so carefree as glued vinyl, but I still prefer it. You'll probably have to install it yourself because last I looked, most installers won't touch it because the chances of imperfections and little issues are relatively high and installers rightfully dislike call-backs. Spills - it should be waterproof but obviously not at the edges. Water spill? if small, ignore it and it will dry. Larger spills or sticky things or milk? Just pull up the edges and clean directly. I have it in the kitchen cooking area and the laundry room, and I'll replace it soon - after 20 years of use. Fringe benefit - it's soft and flexible, and scraps are great for keeping rolled up in the garage so you can slide around under your car when maintaining. This is a big help in the winter when the garage and concrete are cold. Good luck! Answer from Loose-Vermicelli-744 on reddit.com
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Really Cheap Floors
reallycheapfloors.com › blog › what-is-loose-lay-vinyl-flooring
What Is Loose Lay Vinyl Flooring? A Loose Lay Vinyl Plank Guide ReallyCheapFloors | America's Cheapest Hardwood Flooring
October 30, 2025 - A low traffic home without pets or children seems ideal for this floor. Loose lay vinyl planks are waterproof which means they won't warp if exposed to water. Kitchens, bathrooms, or laundry rooms are a great choice for vinyl floors in general.
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The Home Depot
homedepot.com › flooring › vinyl flooring › vinyl plank flooring
Loose Lay - Vinyl Plank Flooring - The Home Depot
/Vinyl Plank Flooring · Approximate Plank Size (in.): 48 x 9 · A&A Surfaces · ACHIM · Stone Look · Wood Look · Vinyl · 42 Results · Filters · FiltersClear All · Installation Method: Loose Lay · Flooring · Vinyl Flooring · Vinyl Plank Flooring · 54 & Up3 & Up2 & Up1 & Up ·
People also ask

Which flooring look should I choose for my loose lay vinyl plank flooring?
Consider your home's aesthetic. We offer kitchen, bathroom, and entry way.
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homedepot.com
homedepot.com › flooring › vinyl flooring › vinyl plank flooring
Loose Lay - Vinyl Plank Flooring - The Home Depot
Which loose lay vinyl plank flooring is the best selling?
The French Oak Sausalito 20 mil x 9 in. W x 60 in. L Waterproof Loose Lay Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring (22.6 sq. ft./case) is one of our best-selling loose lay vinyl plank flooring.
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homedepot.com
homedepot.com › flooring › vinyl flooring › vinyl plank flooring
Loose Lay - Vinyl Plank Flooring - The Home Depot
Which loose lay vinyl plank flooring brands are available at The Home Depot?
We carry a wide variety of the top brands of loose lay vinyl plank flooring, such as A&A Surfaces, CERAMIX, and ACHIM.
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homedepot.com
homedepot.com › flooring › vinyl flooring › vinyl plank flooring
Loose Lay - Vinyl Plank Flooring - The Home Depot
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Contractor Talk
contractortalk.com › home › forums › trade talk › flooring
Loose lay vinyl in a bathroom? | Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum
It has a thicker, foam like backing on it, which I only ever saw once before and the installer just told me it was "loose lay" with no glue. ... I'm more concerned with water getting under it? Or humidity/temperature fluctuations causing it to do undesirable things. ... if you glue it, spread the glue with a paint roller (3/8 nap) Make sure the glue is dry, before you lay the vinyl in, or it will set up like epoxy.
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The Spruce
thespruce.com › how-to-lay-vinyl-sheet-flooring-5081253
How to Lay Vinyl Sheet Flooring
March 28, 2024 - Loose-lay is a sheet vinyl flooring ... best in areas that are 100 square feet or smaller. Bathrooms and small kitchens are good rooms to install loose-lay sheet vinyl flooring....
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/flooring › loose lay vinyl install. what does it really need?
r/Flooring on Reddit: Loose lay vinyl install. What does it really need?
May 15, 2024 -

I removed the previous glued down sheet vinyl that was from the 90s.

I've been scraping up the residual glue and paper from the felt back the previous vinyl left behind.

Room is 10x12 at best. Kitchen.

I was going to glue down the new vinyl but multiple people keep saying I shouldn't bother and just loose lay it and shouldn't be bothering with all of this prep work I'm doing either.

The nail holes aren't bad but I was going to fill them but have been advised that that doesn't really matter either.

The instructions for the sheet vinyl said for me to prime the floor and I have been unable to find the primer needed.

The vinyl is from Lowe's. Just the cheap carriage point design.

How much prep would you do if you were me?

Top answer
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If you haven't committed, here's another opinion. I love and prefer loose lay vinyl even though it has disadvantages. Two big positive features are some integrated padding which is awesome, and eventual replacement is easy. When you tire of it or it does wear out or get severely damaged, you can pull it up, cut a new sheet using the old sheet as a template, and easily just put the new sheet down. For installation use a high quality double stick tape in stress areas where appliances like dishwashers and fridges need to move across it occasionally. Also put the tape across where you'll enter and exit the room. True, this tape does have to be pulled up when replacing, but it's NOTHING like removing and repairing after a massive glue job. Remember that you still need to prepare the floor to be smooth before installing, and there are true disadvantages- Lefty is absolutely justified in his concerns, but I would not say you can't ever move things or that you'll always have a hump. Humps depend on protecting the vinyl when moving things, and also how much freedom you can give the sheet to move a little. Before moving appliances, and I would first put down some heavy cardboard or other stiff protection to avoid distorting or wrinkling the vinyl, and keep your weight on that cardboard when you move appliances across it, and you definitely do need to leave other edges untaped so the flooring can expand and contract with temperature. It is best if you have or can install a little trim that is not all the way down to the subfloor so the end of the sheet is protected. Even with that care, it will never be so carefree as glued vinyl, but I still prefer it. You'll probably have to install it yourself because last I looked, most installers won't touch it because the chances of imperfections and little issues are relatively high and installers rightfully dislike call-backs. Spills - it should be waterproof but obviously not at the edges. Water spill? if small, ignore it and it will dry. Larger spills or sticky things or milk? Just pull up the edges and clean directly. I have it in the kitchen cooking area and the laundry room, and I'll replace it soon - after 20 years of use. Fringe benefit - it's soft and flexible, and scraps are great for keeping rolled up in the garage so you can slide around under your car when maintaining. This is a big help in the winter when the garage and concrete are cold. Good luck!
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EXPRESSFLOORING
expressflooring.com › recent-blogs › blogs › loose-lay-vinyl-plank-flooring-pros-and-cons
Loose Lay Vinyl Plank Flooring – Pros and Cons [Updated]
That’s not an issue that you have to think about with loose lay vinyl flooring. That helps it continue looking like new for years and makes it good for areas where the floors might become damp with use. That’s why some people use this flooring in basements, kitchens, and bathrooms.
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DoItYourself.com
doityourself.com › doityourself.com community forums › interior flooring, floor coverings and coatings center › vinyl and linoleum flooring › help with install of loose lay vinyl sheet flooring.
Help with install of Loose Lay Vinyl sheet flooring. - DoItYourself.com Community Forums
June 12, 2011 - These vinyl strips will go over the top of an older sheet vinyl bathroom, 55'Wide X 74"Deep. The finished floor will be floating and I will reattach the baseboard with about a 1/4" play to the wall. I have one nail pop budge in the old floor so will score around that and completely remove the nail or screw. I will then fill it in with leveler. The old floor is a standard textured floor but in good shape. Will I need to put leveler on the whole of the old floor? Or can I lay ...
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Floor City
floorcity.com › home › flooring expert › flooring expert
Loose Lay Vinyl Plank Flooring
September 18, 2023 - Their loose lay vinyl flooring is constructed using eco-friendly materials and manufacturing processes, making it a responsible choice for environmentally conscious consumers. Waterproof: Evoke Structure's flooring is 100% waterproof, making ...
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Floors To Your Home
floorstoyourhome.com › waterproof › shop by vinyl type › loose lay
Waterproof - Shop By Vinyl Type - Loose Lay - Page 1 - Floors To Your Home
HUGE SALE-SAVE OVER 50%--EVERYTHING 40¢ SQ FT OFF- · Flooring Experts Since 1921 Celebrating 100 Years In Business
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BuildDirect
builddirect.com › blogs › expert-advice-on-flooring › the-pros-and-cons-of-loose-lay-vinyl-plank-flooring
The Pros and Cons of Loose Lay Vinyl Plank Flooring – BuildDirect
As long as it is correctly installed, loose lay vinyl flooring can go anywhere. It’s a perfect way to elevate your living room and bedrooms. Due to their water resistance, they’re an ideal option for bathrooms and kitchens, too.
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FlooringStores
flooringstores.com › home › no glue, no clicks: your guide to loose lay vinyl flooring
Loose Lay Vinyl Flooring: What It Is, Pros & Cons
June 13, 2024 - To reach a click-together vinyl plank, you have to disassemble the entire floor starting at the wall. One of the biggest obstacles for people who want new floors is getting rid of their old floors. Disposing of old flooring can be pretty expensive (and super difficult). Luckily, you can install loose lay vinyl flooring right on top of many other surfaces!
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Better Homes & Gardens
bhg.com › home-improvement › flooring › installation-how-to › how-to-install-loose-lay-sheet-vinyl
How to Install Vinyl Sheet Flooring That's Loose-Lay in ...
June 7, 2025 - Lay out and cut a template just as you would for standard sheet vinyl. When planning how to install vinyl sheet flooring like this, loose-lay may require a slightly different size expansion gap, so read the manufacturer's directions carefully.
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Urban Surfaces
urbansurfaces.com › article › how-to-install-looselay-flooring-in-4-simple-steps
How to Install LooseLay Flooring In 4 Simple Steps | Urban Surfaces
October 11, 2022 - To do this, lay the planks for your edge row on top of the starting row, trace a line across these planks using a loose piece of flooring, and cut. Install the planks for the edge row against the wall, making sure they are nice and snug.
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Houzz
houzz.com › discussions › 3661159 › loose-lay-vinyl-flooring
Loose lay vinyl flooring
If you want easy, then loose lay it is. If you want water proof than sheet it is. If you want handsome and durable that is 99.9% water proof, the GLUE DOWN planks are good enough. If you will accept something in between, the floating vinyl is a go.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/flooring › loose lay lvp cons?
r/Flooring on Reddit: Loose Lay LVP cons?
September 9, 2024 -

I've been doing some research on flooring while I'm doing a full basement Reno in my house and have settled firmly on LVP. My hang-up now is on the type.

A few years ago we put down loose-lay LVP in my parents basement and it was piss-easy for amateurs like us to install, and has held up amazingly for about 5 years of being a second kitchen/kids play area that gets very regular use.

I have been browsing this sub for a few months now and have seen tons and tons of LVP, but very little loose-lay. Cost and performance-wise, they seem comparable, but installation seems a million times easier, and maintenance is infinitely easier since individual planks can be removed.

I guess my question is, what downsides am I missing? Why isn't loose-lay used more? Have any of you had bad experiences with it?

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BuildDirect
builddirect.com › collections › loose-lay-vinyl-flooring
Shop Loose Lay Vinyl Flooring – BuildDirect
Loose lay vinyl’s customizability and ease of installation are perfect for those who want the freedom to make changes to their floor design on a whim.
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Happyfeetinternational
happyfeetinternational.com › resources › loose-lay-resources
Loose Lay Resources | Happy Feet International | Luxury Vinyl Plank & Laminate Flooring
Learn more about Happy Feet's loose lay LVP products that make quality installation as easy as 1, 2, 3. With style, quality, and lightning fast installation, this is a fitting option for light traffic spaces.
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Home Improvement Forum
house-improvements.com › home improvement forum › forums › interior
Loose Lay Flooring - Does It Suck? - Home Improvement Forum
Laminate flooring is also no good for water - so that is out. I then moved to LVP with click system. I like them, the seams are TIGHT because they have to be. Install is fairly easy. I'm about to start a reno of a house and someone suggested I try loose lay vinyl planks.
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The Home Depot
homedepot.com › flooring › vinyl flooring
Loose Lay - Vinyl Flooring - The Home Depot
Get free shipping on qualified Loose Lay Vinyl Flooring products or Buy Online Pick Up in Store today in the Flooring Department.
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Flooringtech
flooringtech.org › unit12_lay_flat_vinyl › section4_laying_techniques › lesson1_loose_lay_installation.htm
Lay flat vinyl, Laying techniques, Loose lay installation
V cut all corners to allow it to sit flat on the floor. If you haven't already reverse-rolled the material, let it relax for about one hour before starting the final trimming. ... Brush the surface with a soft broom to remove any trapped air. Make sure it is sitting flat on the substrate. Use a knife or wall trimmer to cut the sheet to size. Cut and fit the sheet lengthwise first. Leave the ends until last, to give the vinyl more time to acclimatise.