I went against the grain and used a full spread adhesive on a big glue-down vinyl job

Last month in a Phoenix condo, I had to pick between the standard perimeter and strip method or a full trowel spread for 1200 square feet of LVT. Everyone on the crew said to save time and glue, but I went with the full spread using a 1/8 inch notch. The floor hasn't had a single peaking or tenting issue, even with the direct desert sun through the sliding doors. Has anyone else found full spread to be worth the extra cost on big commercial-style jobs?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_lee16d ago

You mentioned the quiet underfoot, that's a good point I hadn't considered. Does the full spread actually help with sound between condo units, or is it just a feel thing for the person walking on it?

young.nora16d ago

Yeah, "cheap insurance" is right. I've seen too many strip method floors fail when the sun hits them all day. That extra adhesive isn't just glue, it's a full moisture barrier and a sound deadener too. The quiet underfoot on a full spread job is a dead giveaway of a better install.

drew_reed6216d ago

Totally get why you went full spread in that heat! Phoenix sun is no joke on a floor. That extra glue is cheap insurance against callbacks for tenting. Smart move ignoring the crew on that one.