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How Much Does It Cost to Install Glue-Down Vinyl Flooring?
National Average Range:
$800 - $2,400
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Vinyl plank flooring is a durable and low-maintenance alternative to hardwood floors. If you cannot float your flooring using a click-lock installation, glue-down vinyl may be a good solution.
Glue-down vinyl planks are a subtype of luxury vinyl planks. Instead of locking on the sides, they install by being glued directly to the subfloor. This makes them a good option for homes with floors that are not perfectly level.
The national average cost range to install glue-down vinyl plank flooring is $800 to $2,400, with most people paying around $1,600 for 200 sq.ft. of 20 mil glue-down LVP. This project’s low cost is $600 to professionally install 200 sq.ft. of peel-and-stick vinyl flooring. The high cost is $3,000 for 200 sq.ft. of installed 40 mil glue-down planks with a textured finish.
Glue-Down Vinyl Plank Flooring Cost Calculator
Glue-down vinyl 1 planks are made of the same materials as floated or click-locked. The installation method is different because adhesive must be applied to the back of the planks or the subfloor to hold them in place. They come in different thicknesses, which can drive costs, with 12 mil being a very basic and low-cost plank. 20 mil is standard, and very thick planks are around 40 mil. In addition, planks with a peel-and-stick backing may be easier to install, keeping labor costs down. The costs below are for varying qualities of vinyl planks in a 200 sq.ft. installation.
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Glue-Down Vinyl Plank Flooring Costs
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| Basic | Standard | Best Quality | |
| Glue-Down Vinyl Plank Flooring Cost (Material Only) | $300 - $400 | $500 - $1,200 | $1,400 - $2,000 |
| Glue-Down Vinyl Plank Flooring Installation Cost (Labor Only) | $300 - $400 | $400 - $800 | $800 - $1,200 |
| Total Costs | $600 - $800 | $900 - $2,000 | $2,200 - $3,200 |
| Glue-Down Vinyl Plank Flooring Cost per Sq.Ft. | $3.00 - $4.00 | $4.50 - $10.00 | $11.00 - $16.00 |
Glue-down vinyl planks are most commonly used where the subfloor 2 is not level. Click-lock vinyl requires a very smooth and level subfloor, but glue-down planks can be more forgiving. Of these, peel-and-stick is the simplest to install and most popular with DIY homeowners. True glue-down, which involves putting an adhesive on the subfloor and rolling the vinyl into place, is more difficult and time-consuming to install. Once down, glue-down vinyl adhesive becomes stronger with time. This means that once this floor is down, it can be very hard to remove.
Additional Considerations and Costs
- Underlayment. Glue-down vinyl flooring should not be installed over an underlayment 3, except a vapor barrier 4 in a wet area.
- Radiant heating. You can install glue-down vinyl flooring over radiant floor heating 5. The cost of radiant floor heating is $10 to $25 a sq.ft.
- Vinyl vapor barrier. If you install your vinyl planks in a damp area, you may want to put a vapor barrier down first. This prevents moisture from collecting beneath the flooring.
- Smoother transitions. If you install your vinyl in a room that abuts a space with different flooring, you may want to install a transition strip or threshold. These cost $5 to $30, depending on the material.
- Pets. Glue-down vinyl is a great choice for homes with pets. It is easy to care for and durable.
- Sustainability. Some vinyl types may contain recycled content. However, vinyl flooring cannot be recycled, meaning this is not considered a sustainable material.
- Subfloor. Glue-down vinyl can be installed on different subfloors that are not level, unlike click-lock vinyl, which needs a smooth subfloor.
FAQs
- How long does glue-down vinyl plank flooring last?
The glue holding this flooring becomes stronger as it gets older. These floors can be down for decades without issue.
- Is glue-down vinyl better than click?
Glue-down works better in rooms where the subfloor is not perfectly level. It is also harder to get up, so it can last longer.
- Can you install glue-down vinyl plank flooring over laminate?
If you install one flooring over another, your top flooring is only as secure as the bottom. This only works if your laminate is firmly attached and well installed. Otherwise, you risk both layers coming up.
Remodeling Terms Cheat Sheet
Definitions in laymen's terms, cost considerations, pictures and things you need to know.See full cheat sheet.
1 Vinyl: A synthetic plastic made from ethylene and chlorine. Vinyl has many applications in the construction industry and it is widely used in sidings, window frames, roofing and gutters, among others
2 Subfloor: The bottom-most layer of a floor, supported by joists, over which finished flooring material is laid
3 Underlayment: Roofing material laid underneath roofing tiles to seal the roof, preventing leaks
4 Vapor barrier: A protective cover, commonly made of polyethylene, used for damp proofing walls and floors
5 Radiant floor heating: (Also known as Radiant floor) A heating system using tubes or electric wires installed underneath the flooring
How much does it cost to install glue-down vinyl plank flooring in my city?
Cost to install glue-down vinyl plank flooring varies greatly by region (and even by zip code). To get free estimates from local contractors, please indicate yours.
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The information provided by our cost guides comes from a great variety of sources, including specialized publications and websites, cost studies, U.S. associations, reports from the U.S. government, contractors and subcontractors, material suppliers, material price services, and other vendor websites. For more information, read our Methodology and sources
