By Daragh Giannasi | 9 May 2026
If you’re installing LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tile or Plank) in a Peterborough home — or specifying it for a Cambridgeshire buy-to-let or new build — the installation method matters as much as the product itself. Click-lock and glue-down are the two dominant methods, and choosing the wrong one for your subfloor or lifestyle is a mistake that can be expensive to undo.
This guide compares the two methods from a fitter’s perspective, covering when each method is the right call for homes across Peterborough (PE1–PE7), Huntingdon PE29, Stamford PE9, and the wider Cambridgeshire area.
Click-Lock LVT — How It Works
Click-lock LVT (also called ‘floating LVT’) uses a mechanical tongue-and-groove joint. Individual tiles or planks lock together at the edge without adhesive — the floor ‘floats’ over the subfloor as a single connected panel. Installation is faster, requires no drying time, and is reversible (the floor can be lifted and relaid).
Best for:
- Upper floor rooms in Peterborough terraced houses and semis (PE1–PE4) where the timber subfloor has some natural movement
- Renovation projects where speed matters — click-lock is typically 30–40% faster to fit than glue-down
- Rooms where future removal is a possibility — rental properties, buy-to-lets in Peterborough’s PE1 and PE2 HMO stock
- Subfloors with minor undulations (within 3mm per 1.8m)
Not ideal for:
- Ground-floor rooms in older Peterborough properties with high moisture subfloors
- Large open-plan areas where thermal expansion may cause gapping at the perimeter
- Rooms where heavy fixed furniture (fitted wardrobes, islands) is being installed directly onto the floor
Glue-Down LVT — How It Works
Glue-down LVT is adhered directly to the subfloor with a specialist vinyl adhesive. Each tile or plank is pressed into wet adhesive and rolled. The result is a floor with no movement, no expansion gap at the perimeter, and zero hollow-spot risk. Installation takes longer (adhesive drying time, roller finishing) and requires a perfectly flat subfloor.
Best for:
- Ground-floor rooms in older Peterborough properties where subfloor stability matters — particularly post-war concrete slabs in PE2 and PE3
- Open-plan spaces over 50m² where thermal expansion in click-lock could cause perimeter gapping
- Kitchens and utility rooms where appliance weight and point loads are a factor
- Rooms with underfloor heating (UFH) — glue-down is generally recommended for direct-contact heat transfer in Hampton PE7 and Cardea PE2 new builds
Not ideal for:
- Rental properties where future removal may be needed (glue-down is difficult and time-consuming to remove)
- Rooms with significant subfloor undulation (levelling compound required first)
Subfloor Requirements: The Critical Difference
Both methods require a clean, dry subfloor — but their flatness tolerance differs. Click-lock LVT typically accepts a 3mm variance per 1.8m. Glue-down LVT requires a 2mm or better variance per 1.8m (3mm in some manufacturer specs). The flatter tolerance for glue-down means more subfloor prep work in older Peterborough housing stock — levelling compound is often needed in PE1, PE2, and PE3 properties.
Our fitting team always checks subfloor flatness at the home visit stage. For properties in Peterborough’s pre-1970 housing, this assessment directly informs the installation method recommendation.
Cost Difference: Click-Lock vs Glue-Down in Peterborough (2026)
- Click-lock LVT: £10–£16/m² labour
- Glue-down LVT: £14–£22/m² labour (includes adhesive cost)
- Subfloor levelling (if required): £6–£12/m² additional
See our flooring prices page for full supply-and-fit rates.
Which Method Should You Choose?
For most Peterborough homeowners, the decision comes down to subfloor type and room use:
- Timber upper floors, rental properties, or speed-priority projects: click-lock
- Ground-floor concrete, open-plan over 50m², UFH-equipped new builds, or kitchen/utility rooms: glue-down
Our team makes this assessment at the home visit stage — there’s no obligation to proceed, and the visit is free across all Peterborough (PE1–PE7), Huntingdon, Stamford, Ely, March, and Wisbech postcodes. Call 01733 924009 or message us online.