Fiberglass backed vinyl is gaining popularity across the country. This new product offers all of the benefits of traditional sheet vinyl with some added benefits and fewer limitations. For the professional installer, however, there are some potential pitfalls that can be avoided with a few simple tricks.

1. Always follow manufacturer guidelines, but if you're struggling with bubbles after letting the pressure sensitive adhesive tack-up, try laying your next floor in "wet." Some open time is still good, but don't let the adhesive skin over completely. This will create a stronger bond that will minimize bubbles and call backs. Keep in mind, however that this will also make the floor more difficult to remove in the future.
2. Fiber floors are much more pliable than traditional sheet vinyl products so you can get away with more wrinkles while wrestling into difficult spaces. Avoid the temptation to treat it like carpet, however, as excessive wrinkling during installation will cause bubbles in the finished floor. Fiberglass backed vinyl is a fantastic product that is here to stay, and with some minor variations to your traditional vinyl installation methods, it can be a pleasure to install.