How Long Does It Take to Install LVT Flooring? Full Timeline Guide

By the FlooringFirst team

Most rooms take one to two days to fit with LVT, and a whole flat or house takes two to five days, once the planks have acclimatised and the subfloor is ready. Click-lock is the quicker method. Glue-down takes longer because of the adhesive and the extra preparation.

The same timings apply to vinyl plank (LVP), which is simply LVT sold as planks. Below you'll find a room-by-room table, drying and walk-on times, and the things that slow a job down. That makes it easier to plan around a move, a renovation or a business that can't stay closed for long.

How long does LVT installation take room by room?

These are realistic guides for a professional team. They include cutting, trims and thresholds, and they assume the subfloor is already prepared.

Herringbone patterns, lots of corners and alcoves, and unexpected subfloor repairs all stretch these figures. For a firm timeline on your own property, book a free site survey and the fitter can measure up and check the floor underneath.

What affects how long LVT takes to fit?

The fitting method is the biggest factor, but it isn't the only one. These are the things that add or save time:

• The subfloor needs to be clean, dry, flat and stable. Levelling compound or a damp proof membrane can add a day or two before any planks go down.
• A simple rectangular room is quick. Alcoves, bay windows, pipework and several doorways all slow the cutting.
• Click-lock is faster than glue-down, which needs adhesive spread in sections and time for it to bond.
• Lifting an old floor covering and clearing adhesive residue takes extra time, because the new floor needs a clean base.
• Furniture left in the room means the fitters have to move it first, so clear it beforehand.
• Underfloor heating has to be switched off before and after fitting, then brought back up gradually.

Acclimatisation and subfloor preparation before fitting day

Allow at least 48 hours for acclimatisation, plus a day or two for subfloor work if the floor needs it. Skipping either step is how lifting edges, gaps and uneven wear start.

• Take the planks or tiles out of their boxes and rest them flat in the room where they'll be fitted. Karndean, for example, asks for 48 hours, with the room held at a steady temperature before, during and after fitting.
• Clear the room of furniture, rugs and appliances, and remove the old floor covering and any adhesive residue.
• Test the subfloor for moisture, especially concrete and screed.
• Fill dips with a flexible levelling compound, grind off high spots and let the compound cure fully. Vinyl is thin, so small bumps show through. Manufacturers typically ask for no more than about 3mm of deviation over a 2 metre straight edge.

On concrete and screed, the usual limit under BS 8203 is a hygrometer reading of 75% relative humidity or below. A higher reading needs a liquid damp proof membrane first, and leaving that out is a common reason adhesive bonds fail and floors lift. Our damp proofing and soundproofing service covers moisture protection under the floor.

What happens on fitting day

Once the subfloor is ready, most domestic rooms are fitted in a single day by an experienced team. What the day looks like depends on the method.

• Click-lock planks lock together over the subfloor, usually on an underlay, with no adhesive. That keeps the job short and means no drying time.
• Glue-down LVT is bonded with adhesive spread by a notched trowel in sections. The planks go into the adhesive within its working time and are rolled for full contact, which is why it takes longer.
• Herringbone and other geometric layouts are normally glued down, because a floating floor can't hold the pattern as precisely.
• Finishing comes last: skirting boards or beading, thresholds, trims, door bars and undercutting door frames. In multi-room jobs this can take a surprising share of the time.

We choose the method to suit the room and how you'll use it. You can read more about how we work on our LVT supply and fit service.

How long does LVT glue take to dry, and when can you walk on it?

Click-lock LVT can be walked on straight away, while glue-down LVT usually needs about 8 to 12 hours before light foot traffic, depending on the adhesive.

Adhesive data sheets vary, so treat these as ranges. One UK acrylic adhesive lists foot traffic after about 12 hours and a full cure after 24 to 48 hours. Some pressure-sensitive adhesives allow light traffic sooner and ask you to keep heavy loads and rolling furniture off for 24 to 72 hours. Walking on the floor too early can shift planks or weaken the bond, so your fitter should give you the exact times for the adhesive they've used.

Keep the room at a steady temperature while the adhesive cures. When furniture does go back, lift it rather than dragging it, and use felt pads on the feet.

Can you fit LVT over floorboards, tiles or concrete?

In most cases yes, but what sits underneath decides how much extra time the job needs.

If you're still deciding where LVT will work in your home, our guide to which rooms suit LVT goes through kitchens, bathrooms, hallways and bedrooms.

How to get LVT fitted faster

• Use a qualified fitter. Click-lock on a flat floor is a manageable DIY job, but glue-down and subfloor preparation reward experience, and mistakes there cost far more time than they save.
• Start acclimatisation as soon as the delivery arrives, so the planks are ready by fitting day.
• Clear the room before the team arrives. It saves hours and lets them start straight away.
• Book the flooring after the messy trades. Painting, plastering and kitchen fitting should be finished first.
• Choose click-lock if time is tight. Glue-down suits long-term heavy use and patterned layouts but takes longer.
• Mention underfloor heating when you book, so the switch-off and warm-up are built into the plan.

Businesses that can't afford long closures can read about our fitting for businesses, where the job is planned to keep downtime short. Costs depend on the room, the subfloor and the product, so the price guide is a good first stop. If you're comparing other floor types, our day-by-day wood floor fitting timeline shows how they stack up.

Frequently Asked Questions about LVT installation time

How long does it take to lay LVT flooring in a bedroom or kitchen?

For a room of 10 to 15 m² with a ready subfloor, plan on about one day for click-lock and one to one and a half days for glue-down.

How long does it take to fit LVT in a whole house?

A whole flat or house of 50 to 100 m² or more usually takes two to four days for click-lock and three to five days or more for glue-down. Subfloor repairs, patterns and lots of small rooms push that higher.

Can you walk on LVT straight away?

You can on click-lock LVT. On glue-down LVT, wait until the adhesive allows light foot traffic, which is often 8 to 12 hours, and keep heavy items off for longer.

How long does LVT take to settle after fitting?

The planks don't need weeks to settle. What matters is keeping the room at a steady temperature for about 48 hours after fitting, as manufacturers such as Karndean ask, and letting the adhesive cure on glue-down floors.

Does LVP take as long to install as LVT?

Yes. Luxury vinyl plank is LVT sold in plank form, so the same methods, preparation and timings apply.

Does underfloor heating add time to an LVT installation?

It doesn't slow the fitting itself, but the heating usually has to be off for 48 hours before, during and for 48 hours after, then raised gradually. Plan for that before you book.

Book a free LVT site survey

If you'd like an exact timeline for your property, book a free site survey and we'll check the subfloor, moisture and layout, then confirm how many days the job needs before any work starts. You can also call us on 020 8830 9782. To see everything the service covers, visit our LVT flooring installation service in London, and once the floor is down, we also offer vinyl cleaning and polishing.