Liepāja Residents Reveal 5 Ways to Ruin Vinyl Flooring Faster Than Tram Track Replacement

While Riga is still wondering if vinyl is the same thing as a compact disc, we in Liepāja have long known that vinyl flooring isn't what the DJ spins in Karosta. But as it turns out, our townspeople can turn even this simple thing into a real work of art - the art of screwing up.

The first and most popular mistake - choosing flooring based on looks rather than functionality. "I saw pretty pictures on the internet and thought - well, how hard can it be," says Jānis, a Karosta resident whose kitchen now has flooring that looks like parquet but behaves like an ice rink surface. "Now I have skating practice in my kitchen every morning."

The second mistake is the same thing people do with winter tires - putting one model everywhere. "Hallway, bathroom, bedroom - the same vinyl everywhere," says Ausma, a Liepāja market vendor. "The result? They're replacing the hallway for the third time, but the bedroom still looks brand new."

The third mistake is base preparation, or as local craftsmen call it, "Russian roulette with concrete." Many think you can put vinyl on anything - over old flooring, over asphalt, over sand. "My neighbor put vinyl directly over cracked parquet," says a Pērkone Street resident. "Now his floor squeaks louder than our tram."

The fourth mistake - calculating material quantity on a "wing it" basis. Local craftsman Valdis admits: "People order exactly by square footage, but then it turns out you need to cut, adjust, and there's not enough left. Then they run around stores looking for the same color. But of course, it's no longer available - now a different shade is in fashion."

As experienced Liepāja flooring specialists say: "Better to buy with reserve than end up with a chess board of different vinyl colors at home." After all, it's not like our city lacks experience with uneven surfaces - just look at Lielā Street after winter.