Can LVT Be Laid in a Herringbone Pattern?
Herringbone floors feature a highly distinctive V-shaped pattern that takes its inspiration from twill fabric. While similar to a plain chevron pattern, herringbone is more like a disjointed zigzag. And when it’s put together on a floor with quality wood, it can transform a room instantly.
The good news is that you don’t need to spend a small fortune on real wood flooring to achieve this effect in your home. Laying a herringbone floor is simple, effective and very affordable when you use luxury vinyl tiles (LVT).
The quick answer is yes, you can use LVT to lay a stunning herringbone floor. But the process can be tricky, which is why it’s always best to leave it to an experienced flooring professional.
What Does Herringbone Mean?
In simple terms, the herringbone effect is created by laying each tile or plank diagonally. It takes its name from the bones of the herring fish, which are arranged in a similar fashion.
Laying LVT in a herringbone pattern is tricky — even for professionals. Every row must line up perfectly to create a uniform effect throughout the room. This requires both the walls and the floors to be plumb.
The key to a successful LVT herringbone floor is preparation.
Preparing the Floor
The first job is to prepare the floor, which includes removing any exposed nails, adhesive remnants and broken floorboards. Once the floorboards are repaired or replaced, the entire space must be swept and cleaned thoroughly. Even the slightest amount of debris can cause imperfections.
Once clean, the floor must be screeded a day before installation. This process requires patience and skill, and a high-quality latex levelling compound should be used.
Note: For the best results, completely clear the space of furniture and obstacles.
Lay the Tiles in Formation
Before adding any adhesive, lay the tiles on the floor to practice the herringbone layout. This will help you to ascertain the best starting point. You’ll also get an idea of where you’ll need to make cuts.
Use Vinyl Adhesive
Once you’ve created a plan for the arrangement and placement of your flooring, you can start sticking down individual luxury vinyl tiles at 90-degree angles with one another. Take your time to ensure the correct placement of each tile, however. Just one out-of-place tile can leave an entire floor looking lop-sided.
Work in sections. Once you’re happy that a section is lined up correctly. Use a heavy roller to flatten the tiles and stick them firmly to the floor. This should also ensure any air bubbles are pushed out completely.
Cutting
Most of the time it takes to install a herringbone floor is used up on cutting. Use a tape measure, set square, utility knife, pencil and ruler to ensure your cuts are perfect. This is a highly technical job, however, which is best left to people who know what they’re doing. Inaccurate cuts against skirting, doors, walls and fixtures can spoil the look of an entire herringbone floor.
Top Tips for Laying Perfect LVT Herringbone Floors
We always recommend hiring a professional to lay an LVT herringbone floor. Unless you have the experience and know-how to take on such a technical job, you could waste a lot of your tiles during the cutting process. Not only that, a professional floor installer knows a few tricks to maximize the impact of a herringbone floor.
But if you’re determined to do it yourself, here are a few tips to maximize your chances of success:
Get Cleaning!
Like we said at the top of this article, take the time to prepare your floor. Remove all debris, replace or repair damaged boards, and clean your floor thoroughly. You’ll be glad you took the time to do all of this when you start laying your tiles.
Start in the Right Place
This is why it’s very important to dry lay your tiles before you even touch your adhesive. One thing you should never do, however, is to start your herringbone floor in the corner or on the edge of the floor. In most cases, the best place to start is right in the middle — working your way outwards.
Use a Set Square
Use a carpenter’s square or set square to ensure your first few tiles are laid at angles of exactly 90 degrees with one another. A mistake at the beginning of the process will affect your entire floor.
Start With Whole Tiles
Continue laying whole tiles until you’ve covered everything but the corners and edges of the room. Once you’ve laid your whole tiles, start the cutting process.
Are You Grouting?
If you’re grouting between tiles, don’t forget to leave one to two millimetres between each tile. However, with click LVT flooring, you don’t have to worry about grouting — which will save you time and money.
Why Choose LVT Instead of Wood, Tiles or Laminate?
Luxury vinyl tiles look exactly like the type of floor you’re trying to replicate. Whether you’re going for a natural wood effect or something similar to stone, high-quality LVT will deliver the look — but with a few added benefits:
- It’s far cheaper than natural wood planks, ceramic tiles, stone
and most other types of flooring
- It’s soft and cushioning underfoot, which makes it ideal for
domestic kitchens
- It’s effortless to clean and maintain
- It possesses excellent sound-absorption properties
- Good LVT is both moisture and scratch-resistant
If you’ve got your heart set on a herringbone floor, you can save yourself a lot of money by choosing LVT. But for the best results, get experienced floor installation specialists in laying your floor with skill and precision — it’ll save you a lot of time and money in the long run!