Loose lay flooring is a common choice of many homeowners. Interior designers love it as it is very versatile and easy to install and maintain. More importantly, it can fit almost any style of furniture and room décor since it is available in many different colours.

Loose lay flooring also gives warmth to the room, something that marble for example, simply can’t offer. Probably the best feature of loose lay is the fact that it is very easy to install. If you choose loose lay that doesn’t require the use of adhesives or click system, than your job is even easier! The entire procedure is very simple, and it comes down to carefully following few steps.

1. Preparing the sub floors

Loose lay can be installed on wooden and concrete floors, PVC covering, ceramic tiles and on existing flooring. The important thing is to clean the surface and prepare it properly beforehand. If you have wooden flooring, the wood should be of building quality, flat and smooth. It should be swept clean and there shouldn’t be any debris before the installation of loose lay flooring. Concrete floors shouldn’t have any cement leftovers, cracks or unevenness. PVC, ceramic tiles or existing flooring should just be in good shape; if there are any holes, make sure you fill them and smooth the surface.

2. Installation procedure

• Measure the room first to know the squareness of the walls and the width of the last row of planks. If the width of the last row of planks is less than 50 mm, you should adjust the first row as well, so you’d get even looking flooring.
• Start placing the planks in the direction where most traffic flow is in the room. Loose lay flooring should be parallel to the longest room dimension.
• Place the first three rows tightly together to form the foundation, and make sure they are completely straight, as these will give you guidance of direction and how should the rest of the flooring be placed.
• If you need to cut the planks, use only a sharp utility knife.
• After each cut, use end joints to finish the plank.
• If you need to cut shapes, use a pattern and your utility knife to cut the flooring into the desired shape.

3. Maintenance

Loose lay flooring requires a very simple and regular cleaning:

• Make sure you vacuum or sweep the floor regularly to remove debris and dust;
• Wipe any spills right away to prevent stains;
• Don’t use wax, polishers or other cleaners;
• Use floor protector pads when moving heavy furniture to prevent scratches;
• Don’t expose loose lay flooring to direct sunlight for long time

Additional guidelines would include to avoid scratching loose lay flooring by moving heavy furniture often. Also, make sure the doors are tightly attached and straight, because if they are loosen on the upper attachment even a tiny bit, they will lean towards the ground and scratch your floors every time you open or close them. Keep the room temperature between 14°C and 28°C and you’ll have floors that will serve you for a long time.