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.
People also ask

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 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 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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The Home Depot
homedepot.com › flooring › vinyl flooring › vinyl plank flooring
Loose Lay - Vinyl Plank Flooring - The Home Depot
Get free shipping on qualified Loose Lay Vinyl Plank Flooring products or Buy Online Pick Up in Store today in the Flooring Department.
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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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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 - If you're looking into how to install vinyl sheet flooring to replace an existing floor in your home, loose-lay may be a good choice. Loose-lay sheet vinyl flooring is unique because it doesn't require adhesive. Once you cut it to size and put ...
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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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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 installation method that mostly avoids using adhesives to stick the floor to the subfloor. Loose-lay installation works best in areas that are 100 square feet or smaller. Bathrooms and small kitchens are good rooms to install loose-lay sheet vinyl flooring...
Find elsewhere
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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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The Home Depot
homedepot.com › flooring › vinyl flooring › vinyl plank flooring
Kitchen - Loose Lay - Vinyl Plank Flooring - Vinyl Flooring - The Home Depot
Get free shipping on qualified Kitchen, Loose Lay Vinyl Plank Flooring products or Buy Online Pick Up in Store today in the Flooring Department.
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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]
Also, loose lay vinyl flooring can develop seams if exposed to high traffic areas or large areas such as a living room or a kitchen. It must be installed with care and put into areas where it isn’t going to wear out too quickly.
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Karndean
karndean.com › home › our floors › our formats › loose lay
Loose Lay Flooring | LVT Installation Formats | Karndean Designflooring
Loose lay is a format of luxury vinyl flooring featuring our K-Wave friction grip backing that holds the product in place.
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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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Lowe's
lowes.com › home › diy projects & ideas › how-tos › flooring
How to Install Sheet Vinyl Flooring
June 4, 2025 - Cut through the bottom edges of the door moulding to allow space for the new underlayment to slide underneath. Use a small piece of underlayment as a spacing guide. Nail down any old, loose flooring with ring-shank nails.
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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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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 - Unlike click-together flooring, looselay vinyl flooring doesn’t snap together. Instead, you lay the planks next to one another over the subfloor, where their rubber backings and increased weight keep them in place.
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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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Happyfeetinternational
happyfeetinternational.com › resources › loose-lay-resources
Loose Lay Resources | Happy Feet International | Luxury Vinyl Plank & Laminate Flooring
It can be laid down and lifted without damaging the subfloor or the flooring itself. Quick Installations: Loose lay flooring is typically quick to install, making it suitable for projects with tight time constraints or high-traffic areas that need a fast turnaround.
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Floor City
floorcity.com › home › loose lay vinyl flooring
Buy Loose Lay Vinyl Flooring | Fast Installation & Best Prices
At Floor City, you’ll find Loose Lay vinyl flooring in realistic wood and stone looks built for water resistance and everyday wear. It’s easy to clean, budget‑friendly, and designed to last. Explore our full Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT/LVP) collection to compare styles, then choose Loose Lay for fast installation and a professional finish.
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Airstream
airforums.com › airstream restoration, repair & parts forums › interior restoration forum › floor finishes
Loose lay vinyl plank flooring, taking the plunge | Airstream Forums
April 26, 2015 - It's not cheap, about 4 bucks a ... thick wear layer. I wasn't familiar with loose lay, but it essentially just lays on the floor and does not move once it's down....
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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.