Hello

New here and already have questions; thought I have been reading for about a week.

Re: your prefered installation method for wood over a concrete slab

1. Do you prefer a specific vinyl? Certain specifications?
2. The adhesive you use to adhere the subfloor to the vinyl is Franklin Advantage? I have found you also recommend 811. Is this the same product?
3. Ballpark - what is the cost of the Franklin adhesive.
3a. How close are the manuf. specs on sq. foot per container.

I am trying to put a money sheet together before I get started. More questions to follow. Thanks in advance.
Chip

Thanks for your questions.

1) I usually use the least expensive sheet vinyl I can find. That is usually Mannington Vega. You can consider using remnants but you will have more seams than if you buy it by the roll. I use 6' goods, not 12', which is a little more difficult to handle. But either works fine.
2) Franklin Advantage used to be called 811. The reason I like that is because Franklin designed that to be used over vinyl vapor barriers. It is basically the same thing.
3) The adhesive manufacturers pay tricks on us trying for us not to figure the cost of 1 gal. of their adhesive. That's why some are in 3.5 buckets, others are in 4 gal. buckets and others in 5 gal. buckets. I think Advantage is in 3.5 gal. buckets now and runs about $80.00. If you can get a deal on Bostick's Best, that will work as well but you should degloss the vinyl first by light sanding. Expect about 30 to 40 sq. ft. per gal for a full spread using a 1/4" square notched trowel.
4) Manufacturers tend to exagerate the coverage, IMO.

Good luck Chip.

Gary

Thank you very much. I appreciate the information. I found vinyl at Lowes for about .44/sq ft. Do your recommend and adhesive for the vinyl?

Thanks
Chip

A quality multi-purpose flooring adhesive that stipulates using for felt backed sheet vinyl works fine. Numerous brands.

Does anyone know what the MVE limits are for installing sheet vinyl.

What happens to sheet vinyl ashesive when MVE are more then the limit.

Wondered that myself.

Get out your Amstrong Guaranteed Installation Systems Manual.

Page 33 says it all. It may surprised many who slap vinyl down, as a solution.