I live in an old house built in 1882 and I'm dealing with some serious floor issues. We had the floors on the first level replaced with luxury vinyl plank (LVP) last year, but now most of the planks are breaking, especially at the seams and sometimes in the middle. I believe this might be due to the floor being uneven or shifting over time. I'm looking for advice on why this is happening and what cost-effective options I might have besides carpeting. Would peel and stick tiles be a good choice?
1 Answer
The breakage and separation you're experiencing is likely due to the unevenness of the floor. Most flooring manufacturers set strict flatness requirements—usually about 3/16" to 1/4" over a 10-foot span. Being an old house, it’s possible that these standards weren't met during installation, which would explain the problems you're seeing. Adding a plywood underlayment might help, but it's essential to first address any leveling issues. A properly prepared base is crucial for any flooring to hold up.
Got it! So would using plywood really make a noticeable difference even if we don’t level it all out first?