Had to choose between a full glue-down or a perimeter-only install for a big vinyl plank job

The homeowner wanted the click-lock stuff over concrete in their whole basement, about 1200 square feet. I went with full spread adhesive because the slab had a few low spots, and it turned out rock solid with no hollow sounds. Anyone have a different method for tricky slabs?

3 comments

3 Comments

cora3651mo ago

Totally agree with going full glue on a slab like that... had a similar job last year where the concrete was just a little wavy, and the click stuff would have been a nightmare. That adhesive fills in the gaps and locks everything down so it feels like one solid piece. I've seen perimeter-only jobs start to buckle or make noise after a few seasons when the slab isn't perfect. You made the right call for the long haul.

perry.jessica21d ago

Ever tried to pull up a full glue job? It's like trying to un-bake a cake.

blake_black471mo ago

Wait, is full glue always the answer though? I've seen plenty of perimeter jobs on uneven slabs that are fine years later, no noise or buckling. Sometimes it feels like we overdo it. Cora365, what about the mess and the extra cost? If the waves are minor, a good underlayment can eat up the problem without turning the floor into a permanent fixture.