Tried a new glue-down method for LVT in a Phoenix condo and the difference was huge

We did two identical units side by side, one with the standard trowel spread and one with a full spread using a 3/16 inch V-notch trowel. The full spread took an extra 45 minutes per room, but after a year, the standard unit has three noticeable hollow spots and a click when you walk over a seam. The full spread floor is still dead quiet and flat. Has anyone else switched to a full spread for glue-down LVT in dry climates?

3 comments

3 Comments

jasonf1714d ago

My old boss in Tucson always insisted on a full spread for any glue down job. He said the extra adhesive was cheap insurance against the heat and dryness pulling the planks up over time. Your results sound exactly like what he warned about, those hollow spots from the adhesive drying out too fast under just the trowel lines. That extra 45 minutes per room seems totally worth it to avoid call backs. I’ve seen too many floors fail early in dry climates from trying to save a little time on the spread.

hugo_robinson2514d agoMost Upvoted

Full spread can trap moisture and cause other issues in some climates though, right?

patricia55814d agoMost Upvoted

Isn't it funny how often the "right way" to do something depends on where you live? I see this all the time with gardening advice that works for my cousin but ruins my plants. It's like we forget that local conditions change everything, not just with floors but with so many stuff. Makes you wonder what other basic tips we follow without thinking about our own climate, right?