Allure and Konecto Resilient Vinyl Flooring: Easy DIY Upgrade

If you walk into your local home improvement store, you will immediately notice a never ending slew of options in the flooring department. Your choices run from DIY friendly to professional installation only. Choices can range from 30 cents a square foot on up to $10 or more a square foot. You will be able to choose from carpet, linoleum, hardwood, engineered hardwood, tile, laminate, peel and stick vinyl, stone, sheet vinyl and so on. With so many choices, making a selection can be difficult, but for those on a budget with a little DIY knowledge, the options can be narrowed down to just a few.

DIY friendly flooring choices are mainly limited to skill level, but a few flooring options are easier for the average DIYer than others. For example, installing peel and stick vinyl, or click and lock laminate flooring is relatively easy while installing tile or hardwood is more difficult. A new option has hit the shelves of the local home improvement stores and is called resilient vinyl plank flooring. There are several makers of this flooring, but it is commonly sold under the Allure name at Home Depot, or the Konecto name elsewhere.

This vinyl resilient flooring is similar to sheet vinyl, but comes in 6 inch by 36 inch planks for easier install by the average DIYer. The planks can mimic a wood floor, a tile floor, a cork floor, or anything else. Selection is somewhat limited at this time as this relatively new product has not been on the market for long. The planks have adhesive strips on two side which allow it to attach to the next plank. The resilient and flexible nature of the vinyl allows it to conform to irregularities and to offer a sound deadening quality under foot. The product runs between $1 per square foot up to about $3 per square foot.

The resilient vinyl flooring is a great DIY option. It's thickness is much less than an average laminate flooring and merely requires a score and snap to make cuts. This means no power tools necessary, just a razor blade and straight edge. Further, the product is installed as a floating floor. No nailing or gluing required. Resilient vinyl flooring offers a water resistant finish that is durable and impact resistant.

Additional, this product is DIY friendly because it can literally be installed over any existing surface. The manufacturers allow the install over laminate, linoleum, concrete, tile, hardwood, and so on. This alone eliminates the time required to remove existing flooring especially tile which can be extremely difficult to remove. The manufacturer only requires that you fill any dips in the surface underneath such as large grout lines.

if you choose resilient vinyl plank flooring follow these tips. Allow the product to acclimate in the room it will be installed in for several days prior to install. Hand roll the seams where the adhesive strips are located. Leave expansion room around the perimeter of the floor. Keep the room temperature between 65 and 85 degrees at all times. Wipe up spills immediately and avoid walking on the flooring with high heels.

Resilient vinyl flooring is a great DIY option due to the ease of install. This flooring is budget friendly and the money saved by installing it yourself can go towards your next home improvement project.