Updated: August 18, 2022
Reviewed by Cristina Miguelez remodeling expert. Written by Fixr.com.
To provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date cost figures, we gather information from a variety of pricing databases, licensed contractors, and industry experts.
Vinyl plank flooring is a durable and low-maintenance alternative to hardwood floors. If you cannot float your flooring using a click-lock installation, glue-down vinyl may be a good solution.
Glue-down vinyl planks are a subtype of luxury vinyl planks. Instead of locking on the sides, they install by being glued directly to the subfloor. This makes them a good option for homes with floors that are not perfectly level.
The national average cost range to install glue-down vinyl plank flooring is $800 to $2,400, with most people paying around $1,600 for 200 sq.ft. of 20 mil glue-down LVP. This project’s low cost is $600 to professionally install 200 sq.ft. of peel-and-stick vinyl flooring. The high cost is $3,000 for 200 sq.ft. of installed 40 mil glue-down planks with a textured finish.
Glue-Down Vinyl Plank Flooring Cost Calculator
Glue-down vinyl planks are made of the same materials as floated or click-locked. The installation method is different because adhesive must be applied to the back of the planks or the subfloor to hold them in place. They come in different thicknesses, which can drive costs, with 12 mil being a very basic and low-cost plank. 20 mil is standard, and very thick planks are around 40 mil. In addition, planks with a peel-and-stick backing may be easier to install, keeping labor costs down. The costs below are for varying qualities of vinyl planks in a 200 sq.ft. installation.
Glue-down vinyl planks are most commonly used where the subfloor is not level. Click-lock vinyl requires a very smooth and level subfloor, but glue-down planks can be more forgiving. Of these, peel-and-stick is the simplest to install and most popular with DIY homeowners. True glue-down, which involves putting an adhesive on the subfloor and rolling the vinyl into place, is more difficult and time-consuming to install. Once down, glue-down vinyl adhesive becomes stronger with time. This means that once this floor is down, it can be very hard to remove.
Additional Considerations and Costs
- Underlayment. Glue-down vinyl flooring should not be installed over an underlayment, except a vapor barrier in a wet area.
- Radiant heating. You can install glue-down vinyl flooring over radiant floor heating. The cost of radiant floor heating is $10 to $25 a sq.ft.
- Vinyl vapor barrier. If you install your vinyl planks in a damp area, you may want to put a vapor barrier down first. This prevents moisture from collecting beneath the flooring.
- Smoother transitions. If you install your vinyl in a room that abuts a space with different flooring, you may want to install a transition strip or threshold. These cost $5 to $30, depending on the material.
- Pets. Glue-down vinyl is a great choice for homes with pets. It is easy to care for and durable.
- Sustainability. Some vinyl types may contain recycled content. However, vinyl flooring cannot be recycled, meaning this is not considered a sustainable material.
- Subfloor. Glue-down vinyl can be installed on different subfloors that are not level, unlike click-lock vinyl, which needs a smooth subfloor.
FAQs
- How long does glue-down vinyl plank flooring last?
The glue holding this flooring becomes stronger as it gets older. These floors can be down for decades without issue.
- Is glue-down vinyl better than click?
Glue-down works better in rooms where the subfloor is not perfectly level. It is also harder to get up, so it can last longer.
- Can you install glue-down vinyl plank flooring over laminate?
If you install one flooring over another, your top flooring is only as secure as the bottom. This only works if your laminate is firmly attached and well installed. Otherwise, you risk both layers coming up.