Skip to Content

Will Vinyl Flooring Stick to Plywood? (Explained!)

The plywood underneath of a new vinyl flooring works as an underlayment over a wooden floor. But many of you may not know exactly which types of vinyl floorings can be stuck to plywood, as there are various types of vinyl floorings like vinyl times, vinyl planks, etc.

So, naturally, you’ll think about whether you can stick vinyl flooring as well to plywood or not if you are thinking of installing vinyl flooring over plywood. 

So, through this article, you will get to know this important topic with all justifications. 

Will Vinyl Flooring Stick To Plywood? 

The peel and stick vinyl tiles will stick to bare plywood. Plywood will make a smooth, even, and flat underlayment for the peel and stick types of vinyl tiles. But before installing peel and stick vinyl tile, one must ensure that the plywood has been installed securely to the floor and it’s clean.

Can You Put Vinyl Flooring On Plywood?

One can put vinyl flooring on plywood. Especially, for the peel and stick type of convenient vinyl tiles, plywood makes a great underlayment. And one can put those vinyl tiles on the bare plywood underlayment. 

Plywood provides an even, flat, and smooth looking underlayment beneath the peel and stick vinyl tiles flooring. Because plywood is placed in sheets and is porous, therefore, it makes perfect underlayment. 

However, always lookout for a few things before putting vinyl flooring on plywood. The plywood underlayment must be thoroughly cleaned, debris-free, and securely installed on the main floor. 

How To Stick Vinyl Flooring To Plywood?

If you are worrying, how can you stick vinyl flooring to plywood, then stop worrying! Because the simplest and easiest steps have been explained below for you to follow. 

Clean The Floor 

A very neat and clean plywood surface is highly needed for sticking vinyl flooring over it. Because if there is dust or dirt the adhesive underneath flooring tiles will not stick to the plywood underlayment.

So, thoroughly sweep, vacuum, and mop the plywood leaving no residues or dirt/dust. 

Prime The Floor 

You can use a latex primer on the plywood surface to seal the floor in a better way. Also, prime the floor will help the peel and stick vinyl tiles to stick on the surface strongly.

If the room is small where you’ll be installing vinyl stick tile, use a handheld dye dollar to apply the primer. If it’s a large room, add an extended pole to the paint roller’s handle to apply the primer. Apply two coats of primer.

Take 3 portions of water-based primer with 1 portion of water, miss them and apply on the floor. 

Measure The Plywood Surface 

 Now, measure your plywood surface and make a square in the center of the surface to start work. It will help you to stick the vinyl stick tiles systematically. 

And in the case of the laundry room, measurement should be reduced to align the vinyl stick tiles with the doorway of the room. And make sure to hide the tiles under the green faux strips on the perimeter of the room. 

Acclimate The Tiles

Before you install the peel and stick vinyl tiles, you must keep them in the rooms where they are going to be installed for at least 24 hours. So that they can get acclimated to the temperature of the room. 

Install The Peel And Stick Vinyl Tiles 

Peel and stick vinyl tiles has many varieties. Some of them are flexible, and some are rigid. Tiles should be installed in a staggered pattern so that you can get two tiles to make an alignment while installing. 

Peel off the paper guarding the adhesive, place it on the measured square setting one edge on the plywood, install it carefully, and then apply force on it to stick on the plywood tightly.  

Remember that even if slight adhesive comes off with the guarding paper, you will need another new tile to install over plywood. 

Rolling 

You can use a 75-100 pounds floor roller to apply pressure on the tiles so that they make a better contract with the plywood. And for a small room, a kitchen rolling pin will do the job. 

Do I Need Underlayment For Vinyl Flooring On Plywood?

You will not be needing an underlayment for vinyl flooring on plywood. Because plywood itself will work as an underlayment beneath the peel and stick vinyl flooring. 

When you will be installing peel and stick vinyl flooring tiles, you will be needing a subfloor. And the plywood makes the most perfect subfloor for peel and stick vinyl tiles.

Plywood plays a dual role in this case, it acts as both a subfloor and underlayment for vinyl stick tiles. Therefore, another underlayment is not required at all, neither a moisture barrier is required. 

You can directly install the peel and stick vinyl flooring tiles on the plywood subfloor.  But do remember to have a totally clean and dust-free plywood subfloor before you stick the adhesive on the plywood. 

How Do You Prepare Plywood For Vinyl Flooring?

Preparing the plywood surface is a must-needed job to do. Because it will ensure how strongly and tightly the peel and stick vinyl tiles will stick to the plywood subfloor/underlayment. 

So here is a step-by-step guideline described below so that you can easily prepare your plywood subfloor. 

Assess The Condition Of The Plywood Subfloor/Underlayment 

Take a walk in the plywood subfloor to understand the current condition of it. Then make a circle with chalk at those loose or squeaky spots.

Also, check precisely to find any structural damage. Because the plywood subfloor has to be structurally fine to support the vinyl stick tiles. 

Secure The Loose/Squeaky Areas 

Take 1/4 inches nails and hammer them down on the loose or squeaky spots to ensure that the plywood subfloor has been firmly fixed. Squeaky plywood subfloor is caused when the plywood rub against loose pegs. So securing it with new pegs will confirm a strong hold. 

Apply Wood Leveling Compound 

Now, take a bucket, pour the wood leveling compound and water, and mix it with a paddle mixer. Follow the instruction while adding water.

Then use a dry well or putty knife to apply a thin layer of the leveling compound mixture covering the trenches between plywood boards. Ensure that the compound has covered the seams perfectly to stave off moisture to penetrate through the seams. 

After that allow to dry the compound as long as it’s fully dried out. 

Smooth The Leveling Compound 

Sand down the leveling compound covered seams by using a 100-grit hand sander and smooth out the plywood subfloor surface. 

Clean The Floor 

Now, vacuum the entire floor leaving no debris, dirt, dust, and residues. 

Can You Put Peel And Stick Vinyl Over Plywood?

You certainly can put peel and stick vinyl over plywood. In fact, plywood is considered as the best kind of subfloor/underlayment for peel and stick vinyl flooring tiles. 

Plywood will create a even, flat, and smooth-looking subfloor over the main floor for peel and stick vinyl flooring. And you will not even need any extra underlayment to place underneath the tiles as plywood will act as both a subfloor and underlayment. 

All you got to do is peel off the guarding paper and stick the tiles directly on the plywood subfloor. However, ensure that you got clean and dust-free plywood before putting the peel and stick vinyl tiles over the plywood subfloor. 

What Is The Best Adhesive To Glue Vinyl Over Plywood? 

While installing vinyl over plywood, you may need additional adhesive to glue down the vinyl flooring. So in this section, 5 top-picked adhesive names have been suggested for you. 

  • Loctite Vinyl, Fabric, And Plastic Repair Adhesive 
  • RH Adhesive HH-66 Industrial Strength Vinyl Cement Glue With Brush 
  • Henry Vinyl Flooring Adhesive 
  • Rhino Glue Pro Kit
  • Gorilla 7700104 Super Glue Gel 

How Do You Glue Vinyl To Plywood? 

Gluing down your vinyl flooring to plywood is easy. First, you need to prepare the plywood subfloor by securing all the loose or squeaky spots, leveling the plywood subfloor by using won’t leveling compound, making the floor smooth, and drying out the compound. 

Then, clean the floor thoroughly and measure the subfloor where the vinyl floor will be installed.

Next, allow the vinyl flooring tiles to get adjusted to the room’s temperature, and lastly, peel off the paper guarding the adhesive and stick the tiles on the plywood subfloor/underlayment. To stick the tiles strongly to the plywood, use a floor roller. 

How Do You Get Cricut Vinyl To Stick To Plywood?

Getting your Cricut vinyl to stick to plywood is super easy. Just use a coat of polyacrylic on the plywood surface. Minwax polyacrylic a recommendation for you as it is a water-based polyurethane, therefore, it dries quickly in 20 minutes. 

After that stick the vinyl design on the plywood and rub the design with a scraping tool. And instantly, you will see the Cricut vinyl to stick to the plywood. 

What Kind Of Flooring Can You Put Over Plywood?

Most of the engineered flooring can be installed over plywood. For example, various types of vinyl flooring such as peel and stick vinyl flooring tiles, and others.

You can also our laminate flooring over plywood but in this case, you need to install a suggested foam pad over the plywood subfloor. 

Peel and stick vinyl flooring tiles will surely stick to the plywood. Just make sure that you have a neat and clean, debris, residue, and dirt-free plywood subfloor/underlayment.