The rep swears up And down loose lay is fine BS. I've fixed so many over the years and refuse to do them. Full spread glue is the way Answer from Monkmastaa on reddit.com
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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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D & R Flooring
drflooring.ca › home › blog posts › exploring the pros and cons of loose lay vinyl flooring: everything you need to know
Exploring the Pros and Cons of Loose Lay Vinyl Flooring: Everything Yo – D & R Flooring
September 23, 2025 - Loose lay vinyl flooring has received positive feedback from homeowners and flooring enthusiasts due to its user-friendly installation process and DIY appeal, which saves both time and effort.
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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 - Loose lay vinyl is resistant to scratches, scuffs, or fading of sunlight exposure due to its wear layer. Other wear-and-tear problems unique to these loose vinyl floors can occur over time in high traffic areas. Loose lay vinyl reviews reveal the sticky glue on the back gives out over time and can move and shift around...
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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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Floors To Your Home
floorstoyourhome.com › loose_lay_reviews
Loose Lay Vinyl Plank Flooring Reviews - Floors To Your Home
All around very happy with the product and purchasing experience. I will definitely come back to Floors to Your Home for my next flooring project. I got the loose lay luxury vinyl and it was a successful purchase...the floor is amazing; comfortable to walk in, quiet, just perfect!
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Ottawa Citizen
ottawacitizen.com › life › houseworks-loose-lay-vinyl-flooring-offers-easier-installation-and-repairability
Loose-lay vinyl flooring offers easier installation and repairability | Ottawa Citizen
August 31, 2023 - Maxwell had this loose-lay vinyl plank installed in his daughter and son-in-law’s new place. Installation requires no saws, no dusty cutting, and the planks are replaceable without taking up the entire floor. Photo by Photo Paul Niven · Reviews and recommendations are unbiased and products ...
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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
While the surface area of vinyl planks is water-resistant, the area beneath isn’t waterproof. If water is allowed to build up in these cracks, which are hard to clean out, it can permanently damage your floors. The loose lay vinyl plank flooring installation process is one of the easiest on the market, but that doesn’t mean it’s a simple process that should be approached lightly.
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Houzz
houzz.com › discussions › 3661159 › loose-lay-vinyl-flooring
Loose lay vinyl flooring
Loose lay is not water proof. Cheap to install. Easy to lay. Easy to remove. Not water proof. Sheet product is water proof. Not cheap to install. Not easy to lay. Not easy to remove. But water proof. Glue down vinyl planks are OH SO CLOSE to being water proof.
Find elsewhere
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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 - Most LVP doesn’t expand or contract—but since the loose lay vinyl flooring doesn’t have any extra reinforcement, manufacturers often take special precautions to make sure this kind of LVP won’t warp due to changes in humidity or temperature.
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Contractor Talk
contractortalk.com › home › forums › trade talk › flooring
Loose Lay vinyl plank flooring? | Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum
They look good, are very easy to work with, but even with fiber-glass reinforcing they are not stable in temperature variable areas. ... I was helping out my mate on this job where they used that flooring.
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Floor City
floorcity.com › home › flooring expert › flooring expert
Loose Lay Vinyl Plank Flooring
September 18, 2023 - In the world of flooring, loose lay vinyl is a standout option, and brands like Karndean and Evoke Structure have taken it to new heights. Whether you prioritize realistic aesthetics, durability, eco-friendliness, or ease of installation, these brands offer something for everyone.
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ADVANCED FLOORING
advancedflooring.net › blogs › news › loose-lay-vs-click-vs-glue-down-vinyl-plank-which-is-best
Loose-Lay VS. Click VS. Glue-Down Vinyl Plank – ADVANCED FLOORING
March 4, 2025 - Additionally, this type of vinyl is highly durable and well-suited for commercial spaces, high-moisture environments, and large areas where long-term performance is a priority. Many people look for flooring that is inexpensive to install or easy to DIY. Both CLICK and LOOSE-LAY boast equally affordable professional installation.
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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]
Loose lay vinyl flooring goes down quickly and it relies on friction to remain in place over time. The planks are essentially thick vinyl rectangles with rubber backing that lay flat over a nice smooth surface.
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BuildDirect
builddirect.com › blogs › expert-advice-on-flooring › the-pros-cons-of-drop-and-done-loose-lay-vinyl-flooring
The Pros & Cons of Drop and Done (Loose Lay) Vinyl Flooring – BuildDirect
January 17, 2025 - Discover the pros and cons of Drop and Done (loose lay) vinyl flooring. Easy installation, durability, and cost-effectiveness make it a top choice for homeowners and contractors alike.
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Flooring Clarity
flooringclarity.com › home › loose lay vinyl flooring reviews: what is it, best brands, pros and cons.
Loose Lay Vinyl Flooring Reviews: What Is It, Best Brands, Pros and Cons.
October 23, 2021 - This is possible because of the way it’s installed, as loose lay flooring uses weight and friction to hold each piece of flooring in place. These floors are different from luxury vinyl flooring as they don’t have a click-lock system along the edges.
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Sawmill Creek
sawmillcreek.org › forums › forum info and community discussion › off topic forum
How can "loose lay" vinyl plank flooring possibly work? | Sawmill Creek Woodworking Community
August 24, 2019 - I'm betting you don't just lay it on flat floor, probably goes over the thin foam rubber stuff- which works great btw, put it under the cheap Ikea TG flooring we put in our mobile home 10 years ago, which by the way wears like iron, look brand new still... And that HD ad is a bit, dumb? They're advertising a 6:1 h/w ratio piece of wood, the pic is a 2:1 piece? ... My Wife, and I just came back from shopping for the flooring for my Mother's house.
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Amazon
amazon.com › Achim-Home-Decor-Vinyl-Plank-Flooring-Wood-Floor › dp › B078Y4FKXH
Looselay Vinyl Plank Flooring, 8 Planks - 9" x 48", Rustic Cherry - No Adhesive Needed, Embossed DIY Flooring - Natural Wood Grain Feel for Kitchen, Dining Room, & Bedrooms by Achim Home Décor - Amazon.com
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content. Full content visible, double tap to read brief content. ... Flex Flor loose lay planks install easily over most existing hard floors with minimal or no adhesives.
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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?

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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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Fuzionflooring
fuzionflooring.com › home › luxury vinyl flooring | fuzion flooring
Luxury Vinyl Flooring | Fuzion Flooring
July 3, 2024 - Rugged good looks, waterproof, easy-to-install click system, easy to maintain, and easy on the budget, Dynamix XL tile will transform your room into a clean attractive living space in no time at all!
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Flooring Liquidators
flooringliquidators.ca › home › vinyl flooring › glue down/loose lay vinyl flooring
Glue Down/Loose Lay Vinyl Flooring ☑️ Flooring Liquidators | All Across GTA
August 2, 2021 - Loose Lay floors, on the other hand, are often referred to as ‘floating floors’ because they have a thicker texture and allow for more cushion. Both options are fairly easy to install and are fairly durable.