We’ll discuss its benefits and drawbacks, the best rooms to use it in, some of the best brands that sell it, and how loose lay plank floor measures up to other vinyl flooring installation techniques.

Loose lay vinyl flooring has been developed to reduce installation time and allow access to underfloor utilities. These tiles can be installed on the subfloor without any adhesive in the proper circumstances. They are easier for anyone and everyone to install as a result.

Keep reading.

What Are Loose Lay Vinyl Floors?

The unique product known as loose lay vinyl planks holds itself in place without the use of fasteners, adhesive, or even tongue and groove systems. Once installed, these substantial vinyl rectangles just lay in place on the ground. Vinyl loose-lay flooring installs quickly and depends on friction to stay in place over time. In essence, the planks are thick vinyl rectangles with rubber backing that lay flat over a nice, smooth surface. Over existing flooring, loose-lay vinyl floors can be quickly and easily installed, and almost anyone can do it. This is the main reason why loose lay vinyl flooring is so well-liked and why so many people are interested in this kind of flooring. There aren’t many products on the market that are similar to this type of flooring, and it is very straightforward to understand.

The Pros of Loose Lay Vinyl Plank Flooring

There are many benefits to loose lay vinyl flooring. Some of the benefits of using this installation technique are listed below.

Easy to Install, Repair, and Replace

Since there’s no gluing or fumbling around with interlocking tabs, loose lay vinyl plank flooring is some of the easiest flooring to install. It’s the epitome of do-it-yourself flooring.

If you can figure out how to install carpet tiles (also: not hard), you won’t have any trouble installing loose lay vinyl flooring. Although the procedure can be a little tedious, we wouldn’t characterize it as challenging or requiring much prior knowledge.

Unobtrusive benefits of loose lay vinyl include the ability to replace a damaged plank.

For comparison, it’s extremely difficult to replace glue-down planks without damaging the surrounding planks (even if you shelled out the extra bucks for the very best vinyl plank flooring). The entire floor must be taken apart beginning at the wall in order to access a click-together vinyl plank.

Easily Move Loose Lay Vinyl Plank Flooring After It’s Installed

Loose lay vinyl planks can be switched out, so they can also be moved. Want to switch your flooring out seasonally? Want to play vinyl at a party? Go for it. Why not? The world is your oyster.

Though, unless the maker gives the go-ahead, we wouldn’t advise doing this constantly to prevent excessive wear and tear. Side note: this is also a perk of magnetic flooring, which also offers a super-easy installation.

Loose Lay Vinyl Flooring Doesn’t Expand Or Contract

Okay, so most LVP doesn’t expand or contract; however, since loose lay vinyl flooring lacks any additional reinforcement, manufacturers frequently take extra measures to ensure that this type of LVP won’t warp as a result of variations in humidity or temperature.

Many other types of flooring can’t say the same. For example, among the pros and cons of cork flooring is a tendency to expand with humidity—even the best cork flooring can be susceptible. The same is true for solid hardwood flooring!

Loose Lay Vinyl’s Backing Absorbs Sound

Rubber is a great insulator. Additionally, it is extremely sound-dampening because it absorbs noise. And because loose lay vinyl flooring has a rubber backing, it naturally has a quieter surface!

Often Cheaper to Install

While it doesn’t approach the cost of wood flooring, the cost to install vinyl plank flooring can still get a bit steep. However, loose lay flooring is among the quickest and least expensive to install, whether you do it yourself or hire a professional.

Create Your Own Patterns With It

Recall how loose lay vinyl planks don’t require connecting to one another? This implies that you are not required to arrange the planks in a conventional manner.

You can create your own faux-wood floor patterns instead, like herringbone or chevron parquet flooring (or whatever your heart desires).

You can achieve these looks with wood-look tile format and some click-together LVP options—but with loose lay vinyl flooring, you don’t have to worry about glue or interlocking tabs (so they’re easier and cheaper to do).

Low-VOC Options in Loose Lay Installations

VOCs—or volatile organic compounds—are harmful chemicals emitted from things like plastics and glue. A sad fact about them is that occasionally you can find them in flooring.

Low-VOC flooring has become a priority in recent decades. And more recently, low-VOC vinyl flooring has started to emerge as well. Installing things in a loose lay is one of those options.

Furthermore, since loose lay vinyl plank flooring doesn’t require any adhesives, you won’t need to be concerned about their composition either!

If this is a concerning topic for you, we’d recommend reading up on non-toxic laminate flooring and low-VOC carpet, too.

The Disadvantages of Loose Lay Vinyl Plank Flooring

Unfortunately, even loose lay vinyl plank flooring has a few disadvantages that might discourage some buyers.

Loose Lay Vinyl Needs to Be Installed With Care (But It’s Still DIY-Friendly)

Though you don’t need fasteners, you still have to be careful when you’re installing loose lay vinyl flooring because any gaps or visible seams will invite water or grime to settle (and potentially destroy your subflooring).

Our advice: if you’re installing it yourself, just be patient and diligent. Even in the worst-case scenario, hiring a professional to install loose-lay LVP is still likely to be less expensive than a glue-down LVP installation.

Loose Lay LVP Can Lift and Develop Visible Seams If It’s Not Installed Correctly

On that final note, it’s important to note that loose lay LVP can shift. This is one of the few disadvantages of floating floors, but it’s not especially likely unless the floor is installed incorrectly.

If loose lay planks do shift, visible seams may develop. Of course, there’s a really simple solution here: just move the plank back to its original spot!

Spills Can Penetrate Improperly Installed Loose Lay LVP

Liquid may seep between loose lay planks if they move. That said, loose lay vinyl flooring is absolutely waterproof vinyl flooring if installed correctly. You’ll be fine if you periodically make sure that no planks are misaligned.

And for comparison, remember that loose lay planks won’t expand or contract with any amount of water, so they’re still superior to water-resistant wood flooring, which can warp with excess moisture.

Suggested reading: Types of flooring you can put over ceramic tile includes ceramic tiles, laminate flooring, vinyl flooring, carpet, epoxy coating, cork flooring, wood flooring, and new fired tile. But, why choose these floorings? Below will give specific reasons.

There’s a Lot of Confusion About What Counts as “Loose Lay Vinyl Flooring”

One of the only unique complaints about loose lay vinyl plank flooring: not all companies define the term “loose lay vinyl” the same way! For example, Stainmaster luxury vinyl claims to sell loose lay vinyl flooring—but in actuality, it’s a flexible product closer to peel-and-stick carpet tiles.

The bright side: virtually all brands of vinyl floors will tell you how to install their products beforehand—so you’ll know ahead of time if the floor you’re looking at isn’t real loose lay vinyl.

Not a Ton of Brands Sell “Real” Loose Lay Vinyl

Continuing from the last section, we should note that there are only a few brands that offer “real” loose lay vinyl plank flooring. On the bright side, most popular looks seem to be available in a loose lay format.

Like Most LVP, Loose Lay Vinyl Isn’t Particularly Eco-Friendly

If you’re looking for environmentally-friendly flooring, LVP is probably not the best option in general. A few brands, like Proximity Mills, make recyclable floors—but sustainable wood flooring or hemp flooring are all-around greener alternatives.

Choosing the Right Loose Lay Vinyl Options

Now that you are aware of the advantages of loose lay vinyl flooring, it is time to learn how to properly select the ideal flooring for your house or place of business. Keep each of the following considerations in mind when looking at this type of flooring to pick out the best of the available options.

Look Closely at the Texture Print

Any loose lay vinyl flooring has a texture at the top that gives the flooring its appearance. It is crucial that the loose lay vinyl planks exhibit some of the most meticulous prints possible. Make sure the planks look nice up close and from the perspective you would normally see them from.

Make sure to view each type of loose lay vinyl flooring in bright lighting as not all prints will appear to be of high quality in order to make an objective assessment of which choice is the best. The best flooring options have a satin finish that isn’t overly shiny, a clear top layer that clearly shows the print below, and they appear to be made of a high-end material that will hold up well over time. Avoid buying them if they seem cheap, fake, or poorly printed because they will look even worse in your home.

Consider the Thickness

In general, the thicker, larger loose lay vinyl flooring options are of higher quality than the cheaper alternatives. The thick flooring is best to use because it feels more solid, it feels more real and offers a better experience for users. Very thin loose lay vinyl options are more likely to wear out, show seams over time, and not appear high-quality a year or two after installation. The experience should improve over time if you spend a little more money on a thicker product.


Loose lay vinyl flooring can be a wonderful addition to your home, but only if you purchase the right materials and abide by professional advice to get the most out of the flooring.

Which Brands Make the Best Loose Lay Vinyl Plank Flooring?

Not all of the best vinyl plank brands offer loose lay vinyl plank flooring, but the following manufacturers will give you some great flooring options to choose from!

Karndean

Due to the fact that they created loose lay vinyl plank flooring, Karndean is deserving of a lot of praise.

“Karndean LooseLay” was the first LVP of its kind, and it also happens to be among the best. It can be a little expensive, costing up to $9 per square foot, but there are also less expensive options.

Here, it’s important to emphasize that Karndean LooseLay is a flexible product. It is still of high quality, despite this; however, it is important to take into account how it feels underfoot.

Proximity Mills

Proximity Mills is a relative newcomer to the flooring market, but it’s already established itself as a top value player.

With wear layers up to 22 mil thick that are infused with ceramic beads and premium rigid cores, it is priced reasonably ($4 per square foot or so) without sacrificing superior quality.

Proximity Mills is one of the few companies with a line of loose lay vinyl flooring; we mentioned them earlier because their LVP is recyclable.

Southwind

Southwind is a smaller vinyl floor brand but they’re a little more recognizable in the carpet industry. They only have six options in their loose lay line, but Southwind says their products have a 20 mil wear layer (which is good) and their LVP is fully recyclable.

For no other reason than the dearth of reviews for Southwind vinyl, we’d probably recommend the other two over this one.

Selecting the Right Loose Lay Vinyl Option

Selecting the right loose lay vinyl plank option for you depends on your unique needs. In the end, loose lay vinyl might not be the best choice if you have a commercial space or a high volume of foot traffic.

Loose lay vinyl flooring is typically used in homes and by people who want something that is water resistant and durable but also easy to install.

FAQs

Summary: Loose Lay Vinyl Plank Flooring

Loose vinyl flooring was developed to reduce installation time and allow the use of under-floor utilities. These tiles can be installed on the subfloor under appropriate circumstances without any adhesive. So it’s easier for anyone and everyone to install them.

If you have any questions, please leave a comment. My Prime Home tries to give you the best home improvement information. Don’t forget to share the post. Thank you for reading.

See also:

• How Much Does It Cost to Install Vinyl Plank Flooring?
• How to Install Vinyl Plank Flooring?