Lay vinyl sheet flooring.

Sheet vinyl — large rolled rolls cut to room shape — is the cheapest waterproof floor available in the UK. Modern designer vinyls are surprisingly realistic and very tough. Expect to pay £15–£45 per m² fitted, including underlay and threshold strips.

What Does the Work Involve?

The fitter measures the room and orders the vinyl in a single piece (or with one well-placed seam). Subfloor is prepared — ply-lined, smoothed with self-leveller if needed. Vinyl is rolled out, trimmed to fit, and either fully glued, perimeter-glued, or loose-laid (smaller rooms). Edges are tucked under scotia or skirting; doors are undercut. Seams (where used) are heat-welded for waterproofing.

Typical Costs

How Long Does It Take?

Single 10–15 m² kitchen: 4–6 hours. Whole house: 1–2 days. Wet room with heat-welded seams: extra half day.

DIY or Professional?

Loose-lay vinyl in small rooms (under 10 m²) is DIY-able. Glue-down, large rooms, and seamed installs are professional work — getting the bedding flat is the skill.

Choosing the Right Tradesperson

A flooring fitter or general decorator. Ask whether subfloor prep is included — most cheap quotes assume it's not needed. Confirm seam locations before fitting (a badly placed seam ruins the look). For wet rooms, insist on heat-welded seams.

UK Regulations

No specific regulations. In wet rooms, slip-resistance is graded R10–R13 — R10 minimum for bathrooms, R11+ for wet rooms.

Common Problems

• Subfloor imperfections show through: Every dip and crack in the subfloor shows on vinyl. Ply-line or self-level before laying.
• Bubbles and ripples: Adhesive trapped under the vinyl. Roll out properly during install.
• Seam separation: Cheap installs use seaming tape instead of heat-welding. In wet areas, water gets under.
• Tearing at doorways: Heavy furniture dragged across the threshold tears vinyl. Use threshold strips.

Frequently Asked Questions