Vinyl Floor Fitters in Ipswich: Sheet Vinyl and Lino Installation

What is sheet vinyl?

Sheet vinyl is a flexible floor covering supplied on a roll, commonly 2, 3 or 4 metres wide. It is cut to the shape of the room and laid as a single piece where the width allows. Most domestic vinyl is cushioned, with a foam backing that makes it comfortable and a little warmer to stand on.

People often call it lino. True linoleum is a different, natural material made from linseed oil. Most floors sold as lino today are vinyl.

Why choose it

• Few joins. Less chance for water to get underneath.
• Price. It costs less than LVT, laminate or wood, in material and in fitting time.
• Comfort. Cushioned vinyl is kind to feet and to dropped crockery.
• Speed. A small room is often fitted within a few hours once the subfloor is ready.
• Choice. Wood, tile, stone and patterned designs, including traditional geometric tile looks.

Where it has limits

Sheet vinyl is softer than LVT. Heavy furniture can dent it, and sharp objects can cut it. A tear cannot be repaired invisibly, so the usual fix is replacing the sheet. Designs are printed, so up close it looks less realistic than good LVT. In a wide room, a seam may be unavoidable, and we plan where it falls.

Best rooms for it

• Bathrooms and cloakrooms: the fewest joins of any floor we fit.
• Kitchens and utility rooms: spills and splashes wipe up.
• Rental properties: quick and economical to replace between tenancies.
• Playrooms: soft, warm and easy to clean.

See how it sits alongside other options in our room-by-room guide.

Thickness, backing and quality

Domestic sheet vinyl usually runs from about 2 mm to 4 mm thick. As with LVT, the part that decides how long it lasts is the clear wear layer on top, not the overall thickness. A thicker wear layer resists scuffs and keeps the print looking fresh in a busy kitchen. The backing decides comfort: foam-backed, cushioned vinyl is soft and quiet, while a felt or compact backing is firmer and resists dents from furniture better. We match the two to the room. A utility room with a washing machine wants dent resistance. A bathroom wants comfort and a sealed edge.

Bathroom vinyl and lino

Bathrooms are where sheet vinyl earns its place. A single piece runs wall to wall with no joins for water to get through, it is warm under bare feet, and it is cut closely around the toilet, basin pedestal and bath panel. Edges can be sealed with a bead of silicone where the floor meets the bath and shower tray. Designs range from plain stone and wood looks to the black-and-white and Victorian tile patterns many people still call lino. In a bathroom with a timber floor, we overlay the boards with plywood first, so board edges never show through.

Safety flooring

Safety flooring is a sheet vinyl with slip-resistant particles through its wear layer, so the grip lasts as the floor wears. At home it suits wet rooms, accessible bathrooms and utility rooms. It is fitted with welded seams and can be coved up the wall to form a sealed edge. Slip ratings are product-specific, and we specify from the manufacturer’s data sheet.

Measuring and seams

Vinyl is ordered by roll width, not just floor area. A room 3.2 metres wide needs a 4 metre roll or a planned seam. Pattern direction and the position of the door also affect the order. This is why we measure before quoting: ordering from floor area alone often produces the wrong figure.

Subfloor preparation

The sheet is thin, so the surface beneath must be smooth, clean and dry. Floorboard edges, screw heads and old adhesive ridges all show through. Boards are usually overlaid with plywood, and concrete is usually finished with a smoothing compound. The sheet is then loose laid, stuck at the edges or fully bonded, depending on the product and the room. See how we prepare subfloors.

Sheet vinyl questions