How To Cut Vinyl Flooring
The invention of polyvinyl chloride has brought revolutionary changes to the world, the vast variety of its use has made PVC an important material for the modern world. Besides being used in making useful kitchen utensils, curtains, kids’ toys, instruments for musicians, clothes, etc. it is also used to cover walls and floors of your homes and offices. The vinyl provides a protective layer along with enhancing the look of your home.
The laying of vinyl involves less effort as compared to other flooring materials, which is why it has become a new sensation in the industry.
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Where is vinyl used?
The basic purpose of creating these was to be used in areas that host a large group of people at a time, like in malls, retail shopping centers, hotels, and hospitals. But, pertaining to the variety of designs and benefits it offers, has become popular among homeowners.
How to Cut Vinyl Flooring?
Since the vinyl planks or tiles come in fixed sizes to make them easy to handle, there come times when it is necessary to cut them- like when trying to cover around the edges of walls and fixed appliances. Vinyl cutting, though claimed to be easy, needs to be done meticulously. Following are the steps to be followed vigilantly when cutting vinyl.
1) Keep the materials needed ready:
Tools required for cutting, measuring scales, and the vinyl sheets/tiles/planks.
Tools: Depending on the type of vinyl, different cutting tools are used.
Some of the main tools used are spacers to allow efficient installation, rubber mallet to gently tap on the vinyl, tapping block (optional and depends on your flooring), pull bar, tape measure, pencil, knee pads, square, safety glasses, face mask (for dust), and an ear protector.
2) Vinyl Sheets, Tiles, and Planks:
Vinyl sheets: are large flexible sheets that can be rolled, are completely water-impermeable, which is why are majorly used in kitchen and laundry rooms. The main difference between working with vinyl sheets is that it requires more effort and efficiency.
A simple measuring scale, a cutter, and a pencil are enough to cut vinyl sheets. Moreover, vinyl sheets are installed in one or two large pieces, unlike tiles or planks that are installed in small pieces.
Vinyl Tiles: as the name indicates, look like ceramic tiles and more particularly have been created to give the look of these conventional tiles, but a lot cheaper and resistant. Cutting vinyl tiles and planks requires advanced cutting materials like a miter saw- to be able to cut at any angle, oscillating saw, a jigsaw to cut shapes or a handsaw, any of these cutting materials can be used.
Thinner vinyl tiles, if to be linearly cut, can be done with mere scratching with a sharp knife, and bending of the piece into two.
Vinyl Planks: as the name implies, are similar to the interlocking boards of wooden floors, and the purpose of creation was to have a replacement of the costly wooden planks in the market. Cutting vinyl planks uses the tools used for cutting vinyl tiles.
3) Measure More than Once:
Prior to cutting, make sure you measure the wall/floor more than once because one cannot afford a larger or smaller piece of vinyl on their floor. Drawing lines can help you get your vinyl fixed flawlessly. It is also important to keep a small room for the expansion of vinyl. To ensure there is little to no expansion, keep the tiles /planks for 2 days inside the room that has to be layered, so they are accustomed to the inner environment.
4) Cut Meticulously:
Now it is time to cut your vinyl plank or tile. Use any cutter, depending on either you are working with a tile or a plank, to get the required size and shape. For covering round edges it is recommended to make use of electric cutters.
5) Facts to be Mindful of:
When working with vinyl planks, know that they come with a groove on one side and a tongue on the other. The purpose of which is to make sure they are interlocked with one another, with each plank having its tongue fitted into the groove of another plank.
6) Staggering vinyl planks:
Vinyl planks come in the same size, so arranging them involves a small trick to ensure crevices are not in one line. To stagger vinyl planks the width of the final row is calculated, if it is less than 6 inches, the first-row plank is cut, so the final row plank is more than 6 inches. This helps create the required look.
Moreover, do not forget to cut the tongue of the first-row plank, which is aligned along the wall, to give an impeccable look to your flooring.
Why Vinyl Flooring?
1- Vinyl flooring comes with a variety of designs, colors, and patterns, offering myriad options to you for decorating your residential or business site, and its add value to your house when you do the house inspection while selling.
2 - Vinyl is tough, less slippery, pressure-resistant, and can be mold into any shape or form, which is why there are vinyl sheets, tiles, and planks. These are comparatively easier to clean, the reason being that there is no complex cleaning required as it does in cleaning other types of flooring material.
3 - Vinyl floors can be given either a lustrous, or matte finishing, according to the will of the owner.
4 - Unlike ceramic tiles, vinyl tiles are not permanent and can be replaced if damaged. Also, installing these tiles is easy and less time-consuming.
5 - They are less prone to damage and cracking.
6 - Last but not least is the affordability of these planks. Vinyl flooring is a lot cheaper than wooden and ceramic floors, and yet, is as presentable to the eyes as any of the other flooring materials.
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