Glue Down Vinyl Plank Flooring: How It's Laid, What Glue and What It Costs
Glue down vinyl plank flooring is thin, flexible vinyl planks bonded to the floor with adhesive spread over the whole area. It's solid, quiet and 100% water resistant, it needs a smooth, flat floor underneath, and ours costs $22 to $39.95 per m², plus about $30 per m² to have planks laid.
Every vinyl plank we sell is glue-down, so this is the floor we know best. Below: how it compares with click vinyl, what glue to use, how it's laid step by step, what it can go over, and what a room really costs. The facts come from the installation manual and warranty for our planks, with our own prices (checked 31 October 2026).
What is glue down vinyl plank flooring?
Glue-down vinyl, also called dry-back vinyl, is luxury vinyl made as long timber-look planks with no click joint on the edges. Each plank is laid into a bed of flooring adhesive and rolled flat, so it bonds to the floor below. That's why it can be so slim: our Timberland 2.5mm planks are 2.5mm thick, and our 4.5mm planks and herringbone vinyl are 4.5mm.
It must be glued down over the whole floor. It can't float like hybrid or laminate, and it isn't a loose-lay floor.
Is glue down vinyl better than click vinyl?
It depends on your floor and your job. Here's how the two compare.
| Glue-down vinyl | Click vinyl and hybrid | |
|---|---|---|
| How it goes down | Glued to the floor below with flooring adhesive | Clicks together at the edges and floats, with no glue |
| Underfoot | Solid and quiet, with no hollow sound | Firm, with underlay to soften footsteps |
| Thickness | Slim: 2.5mm to 4.5mm, easy under doors and over old tiles | Thicker, with underlay attached or laid first |
| The floor below | Must be smooth, flat, clean and dry. Bumps can show through | Flat, clean and dry. The underlay hides small bumps |
| Big, open rooms | Bonded down, one floor can run right through | Very long runs may need expansion gaps or trims |
| Laying it yourself | Doable in a simple room. Most of the work is the floor prep | The easiest floor to lay yourself |
| Replacing a plank | Harder, as each plank is glued | Easier: the floor unclicks back to the damaged board |
Choose glue-down for kitchens, laundries, rentals, shops and offices, and for going over old tiles. Choose click if you're laying it yourself over a floor that isn't perfectly smooth: see our hybrid flooring.
What glue do you use for vinyl planks?
Use a flooring adhesive made for glue-down (dry-back) vinyl, and follow what its label says. Three things on the label matter:
- The trowel. The adhesive names the notched trowel to spread it with. The notch sets how much glue goes down, so use that one.
- The open time and working time. How long to wait before laying planks into it, and how long you have to lay and roll them.
- The floor it suits. Concrete, plywood and old tiles can each need a different adhesive or a primer first.
In a room where sun through glass can heat the floor to 45°C or more, like a glassed-in sunroom, use a high-temperature adhesive. Standard adhesive isn't made for that heat.
Not sure which adhesive suits your floor? Ask the adhesive maker, or get a laying quote and the installer brings it.
How do you lay glue down vinyl planks?
You'll need the adhesive and its notched trowel, a floor roller of 50kg or more (you can hire one), a sharp knife, a straight edge and a tape measure. Then:
- Get the floor ready. It must be flat, smooth, clean and dry. Fill cracks, holes and grout lines with a levelling compound.
- Check for moisture. Test a concrete slab for moisture before you start, and give new concrete at least 28 days to cure. Timber sheet floors should be at 10% moisture or less.
- Let the planks settle. Leave the boxes in the room for at least 48 hours. Keep it between 18°C and 27°C from a day before laying until two days after.
- Spread the adhesive over the whole floor with the right trowel, following its open time.
- Lay the planks. Start in a corner and stagger the end joins with offcuts. Never start a row with a piece shorter than 150mm. Fit the planks tight together, and trim them neatly to the walls without forcing them.
- Roll the floor in every direction with the roller, during the adhesive's working time.
- Keep off it for 72 hours. No walking or furniture. Then clean it with warm water and a pH neutral floor cleaner.
Want the full detail? The installation manual is in the downloads on each colour's page. More on technique: how to lay vinyl plank flooring.
What can you glue vinyl planks onto?
| Floor below | Can you glue onto it? | What to do first |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete slab | Yes | Test for moisture. New slabs need at least 28 days. Fill cracks and grind high spots. |
| Ceramic tiles | Yes, if flat and firmly stuck | Fix hollow-sounding tiles, then fill the grout lines with levelling compound. Full guide: vinyl flooring over tiles. |
| Plywood sheet floor | Yes, if it's an approved plywood, sound and dry | Screw down anything loose and fill the joins smooth. Plywood laid straight onto concrete isn't suitable. |
| Particleboard, pressboard or hardboard | Not straight on | Screw down an approved plywood underlay first. |
| Timber floorboards | Not straight on | The joins and any movement show through. Fix loose boards and screw down an approved plywood underlay first. |
| Hybrid, laminate or other floating floors | No | Take the old floor up first. |
| Old vinyl or lino | Only if flat and firmly stuck | Repair any damage first, as flaws in the old floor can show through over time. |
How much does glue down vinyl plank flooring cost?
Our three glue-down ranges, with a 20 m² room worked out in whole boxes (10% extra for cuts on planks, 15% on herringbone):
| Range | Price | 20 m² room, floor only | Laid (from our instant quote) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Timberland 2.5mm planks | $22/m² ($85.80 a box of 3.9 m²) | 6 boxes: $514.80 | $1,114.80 |
| Timberland 4.5mm planks | $35/m² ($97.65 a box of 2.79 m²) | 8 boxes: $781.20 | $1,381.20 |
| Herringbone vinyl | $39.95/m² ($66.72 a box of 1.67 m²) | 14 boxes: $934.08 | Priced for your room |
Laying is $30 per m² for vinyl planks in our instant quote. Adhesive, levelling, taking up an old floor, trims and delivery are extra. Prices were checked on 31 October 2026; each range page shows today's price and lets you work out your own room.
Found the same floor cheaper? We'll beat the price. More on costs: vinyl flooring cost in Australia.
How long does glue down vinyl last?
Many years. The clear top layer that takes the wear is 0.5mm on all our planks, rated for homes and businesses, and glued down the floor stays flat and quiet. The warranty is lifetime for homes and 15 years for businesses (both limited), as long as the floor is laid and cared for by the installation manual.
What wears it out: grit, chair castors, high heels, harsh chemicals and strong direct sun, none of which the warranty covers. Mats at the doors, felt pads under furniture and blinds against hot afternoon sun do most of the work. Care tips: how to clean vinyl floors.
Can glue down vinyl be replaced or taken up?
Yes, but it's more work than a click floor. A damaged plank can be cut out and a new one glued in, so keep a spare box from the same batch: colours can vary a little between batches. Taking up a whole glued floor is a bigger job; our instant quote prices removing stick-down vinyl.
Glue down vinyl questions
Is glue down vinyl plank better than floating?
For a solid, quiet floor in kitchens, laundries, rentals and shops, glue-down is hard to beat: there's no hollow sound and it's slim enough to go over old tiles. Floating click floors are easier to lay yourself and forgive a less-than-perfect floor below.
Can all vinyl plank flooring be glued down?
No. Glue-down planks are made to be glued. Click vinyl and hybrid are made to float, and gluing them can cause problems. Check the installation manual for the floor you buy. Every vinyl plank we sell is glue-down.
Do you need underlay for glue down vinyl?
Not usually. The planks glue straight to the floor below, and a foam underlay would stop the glue holding. A smooth, flat floor is what makes them feel good underfoot. In a unit that needs a better sound rating, an installer can lay a glue-down acoustic underlay made for vinyl first.
How long before you can walk on glue down vinyl?
Keep everyone off it, and keep furniture out, for 72 hours after laying.
Can you glue vinyl planks over tiles?
Yes, if the tiles are flat and stuck down firmly. Fill the grout lines with a levelling compound first, or they can show through the planks.
Is glue down vinyl good for bathrooms and laundries?
Yes. The planks are 100% water resistant, so splashes and a damp mop won't hurt them. Wipe up water and don't leave it sitting. The floor below must stay dry, and floods and burst pipes aren't covered by the warranty.
What is the best glue down vinyl plank flooring?
Look for a thick wear layer (0.5mm is commercial grade), a P3 slip rating for wet areas, a tested sound rating if you live in a unit, and a clear installation manual and warranty. Ours has all four. See them side by side on our luxury vinyl plank flooring page.
Updated October 2026 · Hybrid Floors Australia
