Recent studies show that more people now attempt tasks previously confined to specialised trades. These handy D.I.Y. people attempt and succeed every day in creating, building, writing, repairing, trying, and completing tasks previously in the domain of professionals. Undoubtedly, many handy people have a range of personal requirements, skills, and the opportunity to do it themselves. Still, they must gain skills, knowledge, or specialised tools. This book demonstrates that this fear is unnecessary. You can undoubtedly surprise yourself with a few simple tools, some practice, and assistance from 50 years of experience as a floor-covering professional. Often, these specialised tools are merely adopted to save time. The most crucial professional function is to save time. The hidden truth is that you are simply paying for YOUR OWN TIME saved in many circumstances. If you have spare or unused time, why not capitalise on it and buy yourself a sense of achievement, pride, and self-satisfaction?

BACK TO TODAY

A few months ago, I sold  a roll of 4-metre-wide sheet vinyl to a customer who asked, “Do you think I could lay this myself?”

“That is not a problem,”  I told him. 

He then asked me, “Do you have any tips on how to go about it?    “Tips?”  I asked. I could give you instructions that will have you laying it in no time.”

I have always believed that most people can achieve anything they attempt, provided they take small, simple steps and that each small step achieves success. From my past experiences, I also understood that I knew all the small steps he required and that I fully understood that minor failures cause the most significant setbacks.

  I promptly dedicated an hour to this customer. He wanted to buy the vinyl. I wanted to sell. But he had nagging doubts that he could lay the vinyl successfully. I had the know-how and experience to shatter those doubts.

In a very short time, I arranged it so that  this customer was cutting small off-cuts of sheet vinyl against the shed walls  Successfully,

Success breeds confidence. I showed him all the elementary tools he would require, and the sale was made. He left feeling completely capable.

He returned to see me about a week later and told me it went down brilliantly; “it looks like a professional laid it.”

                                              “You should write a D.I.Y. book.”  He said.   

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DO IT YOURSELF – LAY YOUR OWN SHEET VINYL 

PAT DAVIS

An expert vinyl layer shows how a complete novice can lay domestic sheet vinyl to complicated floor shapes’ Every trick in the book.’

In the Mid-1970s, When I was working for Manning Vally Floorcoverings in Taree, N.S.W.,-  Clive Norling (the Owner) asked me if I could do a demonstration in the shop to show customers how to D.I.Y. Rubber-backed carpets.  At the time, Rubber-backed Carpets were popular as ‘Kitchen Carpets’. Clive had just bought a heap of end-of rolls of a particularly cheap but trendy carpet.      Rubber backs were more straightforward to lay as they did not require stretching, tacking or fastening. At the time, many customers liked the idea of a soft kitchen floor.

So I said Yes! (I’ll try anything once)  Most of our rubber-backed carpets had a thin backing layer of black rubber. In no time, I realised that running a piece of white chalk around the room’s perimeter (generally  Kitchens) ensured a heavy chalk deposit at the base of the wall and floor. Simply Running A brickies, bolster held hard against the edge of the carpet and transformed the chalk line to the back of the carpet.  The old bolster was merely a tool I had handy at the time. It was heavy and worked a treat.  Resulting with a simple cut with scissors for a perfect fit

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I have chosen this particular bathroom, Toilet, and Laundry area (see images above). This area has nearly all of the problems a DIY sheet vinyl layer will encounter all in one place, including fitting (one piece) large sheet vinyl into a small, complicated area.

  Knowledge of these techniques will help install sheet vinyl into Caravans, Motor Homes, and any small intricate areas where laying a pattern square to the room is achievable. There is no need to lay boring, marbled, or bland, polished concrete non-patterns simply because patterns are too complicated and never seem straight.

     BACK TO TODAY

A few months ago, I sold  a roll of 4-metre-wide sheet vinyl to a customer who asked, “Do you think I could lay this myself?” 

“That is not a problem,”  I told him.

He then asked me, “Do you have any tips on how to go about it?    “Tips?”  I asked. I could give you instructions that will have you laying it in no time.”

I have always believed that most people can achieve anything they attempt, provided they take small, simple steps and that each small step achieves success.

From my past experiences, I also understood that I knew all the small steps he required and that I fully understood that minor failures cause the most significant setbacks.

  I promptly dedicated an hour to this customer. He wanted to buy the vinyl, and I wanted to sell it. But he had nagging doubts that he could lay the vinyl successfully.

I had the know-how and experience to shatter those doubts.

In a very short time, I arranged it so that  this customer was cutting small off-cuts of sheet vinyl against the shed walls  Successfully,

Success breeds confidence. I showed him all the elementary tools he would require, and the sale was made. He left feeling completely capable.

He returned to see me about a week later and told me it went down brilliantly; “it looks like a professional laid it.”

                                        “You should write a D.I.Y. book.”  He said.

                                              Type of  Vinyl We Shall Be Laying

 This image (below) is a typical modern soft ‘felt back’ sheet vinyl. These vinyls come in a general width of 4 metres.   At this time, imitation plank patterns are very popular.

Small areas can be challenging to lay square and true, especially where aligning the sheet vinyl with a longer wall is impossible.  Our intended area is one of these. We shall place some guide marks on the walls.

A little extra time lining up the sheet square to the walls can sometimes be favourable to simply laying a marble patternless sheet. Patterned ‘end of rolls’ offers a better discount on “END OF ROLL”  specials.  Many people will avoid patterns for caravans, etc. Floorcoverings sales staff know this: the patternless remnants and ends of rolls sell faster.  (lesser discount)

Knowledge of these following techniques will help install sheet vinyl into Caravans, Motor Homes, and any small intricate areas where laying a pattern square to the room is achievable, With no need to lay boring, marbled or bland, polished concrete non-patterns simply because patterns are too complicated and never seem to run straight.

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Small areas can be challenging to lay square and accurately, especially where aligning the sheet vinyl with a longer wall is impossible.  Our intended area is one of these. We shall place some guide marks on the walls.

A little extra time lining up the sheet square to the walls can sometimes be favourable to simply laying a marble patternless sheet. Patterned ‘end of rolls’ offers a better discount on “END OF ROLL”  specials.  Many people will avoid patterns for caravans, etc. Floorcoverings sales staff know this: the patternless remnants and ends of rolls sell faster.  (lesser discount)

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Previously, I mentioned That these newer felt-backed sheet vinyl are a gift to ‘Do It Yourself’ enthusiasts.

(a)    The soft backing on these vinyls is not abrasive.  

(b)    They can be accidentally (or carelessly) scraped against painted walls or skirting. without damaging paintwork

 (c)   The extra padding on the underside will cover most minor shortcomings of floor surfaces. And they will lay quite nicely without adhesives. This is Excellent because glueing sheet vinyl to the floor can be tricky and messy for the inexperienced Vinyl layer.

(D)    They are easily folded (carefully) so that The D.I.Y person can wrangle them into uncompromising areas. Like small caravans, toilets, children’s cubby houses,                   and mobile homes. 

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Tools you will require.

(2)                      The Stanley knife This  has proven to be the best shape,

A CONCAVE BLADE

A roofing Square

(3)  Masking Tape:
Never write or leave marks on sheet vinyl. Always write on masking tape so that any markings can be removed. REMOVE the tap as early as possible.

 If you write or mark the back of the vinyl, remember that felt pen markings will bleed through.

                                                              THIS PAGE TO BE CONTINUED

over the next few weeks