Can You Install Vinyl Floor Planking On Uneven Floor?

Vinyl floor planking is a widely popular and cost effective flooring option. At $2-$7 per square foot, vinyl floor planking is a great option for homeowners trying to save money. However, many homeowners wonder if vinyl floor planking can be installed on their uneven floor.

You can only install vinyl planks on uneven flooring if the unevenness is mild. It’s possible to even the floor out if you sand and buff the subfloor before you install vinyl planks. Vinyl is a flexible material and can adhere to surfaces that don’t fall within the 3/16” range per 10 feet “level” range.

Let’s explore the ins and outs of installing vinyl floor planking on an uneven floor.

Vinyl floor planking mimics the appearance of hardwood but as the name suggests, it is made out of vinyl. Typically, vinyl floor planking costs $2-$3 per sq. ft., but can get up to $7 or $8 per sq. ft.

When compared to the wood flooring that vinyl mimics, vinyl is a much better deal. Wood flooring costs $8 or more per sq. ft. on the low end. One of the draws of vinyl over wood is that vinyl floor planking is waterproof.

Not only will vinyl floor planking withstand spills, but it will hold up to humidity and moisture. Vinyl floor planking is not quite as durable as hardwood, but the low cost more than makes up for it.

The reason that vinyl floor planking is often the choice for uneven floors is because of how flexible it is. However, if your floor is extremely uneven, you’ll want to choose an alternative like laminate sheets.

Because vinyl floor planking comes in strips and planks, it can easily be laid out on uneven floors. Vinyl itself is a very malleable and an easy to work with material.

Flooring is considered “level” if it is within the 3/16” range per 10 feet. There are no specific measurements deemed “uneven”, but if your floor is not within that range, it is uneven.

Yes, you will need to clean the subfloor and try your best to fill cracks using a floor patching product like SimplePrep. If there is residue or adhesive from old carpet or previous flooring, scrape it off and sweep the subfloor.

Since your floor is already uneven, you want to minimize any other possible inconsistencies in the subfloor. You can actually make the floor more level with a little bit of prep work.

All that you need to do to make your floor more even is use a belt sander to sand down the higher peaks in the subfloor. With that said, sanding it down won’t be necessary if your floor is only barely uneven if you are using vinyl floor planking.

Be careful and remember that you should only sand the subfloor, not the vinyl planking itself. Sweeping any debris off of the subfloor surface is important so that your planks will lay well.

Now you can place the planks. Start by placing the first row against the longest wall. Feel free to experiment with the patterns of the planks.

Use your utility knife to cut the “tongue” off of the plank so that it will sit along the wall and other planks.

Usually, vinyl plank flooring has a variety of patterns, so you can arrange the planks in order to achieve a unique pattern.

Arrange the plank placement by going short end/long end/short end/long end so that the “joints” are alternated.

A level floor is one that measures within the 3/16” range per 10 feet. If your floor is uneven and not within that range, vinyl floor planking is a great option.

That is because vinyl floor planking is highly flexible and lays well over uneven surfaces. If your floor is wildly uneven, consider using a sander to even the subfloor out.

As long as you fill the cracks, sweep the debris, and remove any old carpet or planks, you can easily install vinyl floor planking on uneven floors.

Not only that, but you can do it cheaply. At roughly $2-$3 per sq. ft., vinyl floor planking is your best and cheapest option for uneven floors. It is easy to install, cost effective, water resistant, and perfect for uneven floors.