We just got in something new, and I mean new as in a brand new kind of flooring. It's vinyl, which is not new, plus it's 100% waterproof, which is also not new anymore. What's the big deal with this, then? It's the feature which gives it the "Loose Lay" name. Check out our new Loose Lay Vinyl Flooring here, and you can see Brian demonstrate this in the first video.

It needs no glue, but it also doesn't have a clicking mechanism. This floor just lays down. You lay each piece on the floor, snug together... and we call that "installation."

What holds it in place? First, gravity itself. Second, it has a special backing that increases friction on a floor, gripping it. Each plank is designed not to move once laid in place. When you put many planks together, they support each other and add to what I'll call "lateral stability".

In addition, this floor is installed right up against the wall, as snug as each piece is to each other. With most floors that are not glued or nailed down, especially wood based ones, you leave an "expansion gap," a 1/4" to 1/3" space between the edge of the flooring and the wall (or other vertical surface). This gap is always hidden by the trim pieces. Nailed to the walls, they sort of float over your floating floor. This is to accommodate the material expanding or contracting in response to changes in temperature and humidity.

Waterproof Loose Lay Vinyl Plank does not do that. This perfect "Dimensional Stability" means that you can put this floor right up against the wall. This basically gives these planks nowhere to go, regardless of the friction already holding them in place.

What does this mean for installation? Is it as easy as it sounds like it would be? The short answer is "yes." It is very easy to install.

It's thick. It's waterproof. It has real wood looks. Right now we have four, with more coming in. It's very durable - this comes right off the box:

This is a definite advancement in flooring technology, and kind of a big one. It's probably, as Brian said, the biggest since laminate hit the U.S. in 1994.

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David is has written and made videos about flooring products and installation since 2011 at Floors To Your Home (.com), where he is also the PPC Manager, a Researcher, a Website & Marketing Strategy Team member, Videographer, Social Strategist, Photographer and all around Resource Jito. In my spare time I shoot and edit video, put together a podcast, explore film history, and mix music (as in ‘play with Beatles multi-tracks’). Connect with  W. David Lichty

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