Tips for Installing Vinyl Plank Flooring

Vinyl plank flooring has solidified itself as a cost effective and high quality alternative to hardwood or tile. Until quite recently the look and quality of vinyl flooring just didn’t measure up compared to other flooring methods. However, much of the vinyl flooring available in today’s market is highly durable, can be installed by the homeowner, and perhaps most importantly, looks nice enough to be laid down in a main living space. Also, many types of vinyl plank flooring now have built in base pads saving you time and money on the subfloor. As good as this may all sound, I’m here to clear a few things up before you start ripping up that old nasty carpet. I just finished laying over a thousand square feet of vinyl plank and I’m here to share my lessons with you.

1.     Your Subfloor is Important

Although most vinyl plank flooring has a built in base pad and offers some forgiveness on uneven surfaces there is definitely a limit. If you’re planning on laying vinyl plank flooring first make sure your base surface is clean of all debris. Even a small piece of chipped concrete can cause major problems when laying vinyl flooring. Make sure you thoroughly clean and vacuum your base floor surface. If you’re trying to lay vinyl flooring over a noticeably uneven surface I highly recommend putting down self-leveling concrete first. This stuff is quite expensive but it will give you a very clean and level base surface.

2.     Use the Spacers!

Most vinyl plank flooring kits come with innocuous looking plastic spacers. The instructions recommend the use of spacers but I don’t think they properly communicate the necessity of their use. The spacers are used to fill the gap between the baseboards (which should be removed) and your newly laid floor. In order for the floor planks to correctly snap together they must not move at all when pressure is applied. Therefore, before trying to snap planks together make absolutely sure that spacers completely fill the gap between the floor planks and the wall. This will remain the case even after laying several rows of flooring. If your floors aren’t snapping together it’s most likely an issue of not properly using the spacers.

3.     Enlist a Friend

New vinyl flooring is advertised as being much easier to install than tile or hardwood. While this is definitely true, laying vinyl is not as easy as snapping together Lego pieces as some instruction manual would suggest. Having another person to help set up the spacers and take measurements really helps. This is not a job I would recommend trying to do completely alone.

4.     Have the Tools

Some vinyl flooring manufactures say that the planks can be cut to size with a razor. I’m here to say that if you’re putting flooring down on any remotely sizable area that this is not a viable option. Therefore, you may need an electric saw. These can be rented at a reasonable rate so save yourself hours of labor and frustration by having this important tool. Also have a rubber mallet which you will need for pounding together the planks. Use the tools that come with your kit to properly assemble your floors.

5.     Watch the Seams

Most vinyl plank flooring operates on some sort of tongue and groove system allowing the planks to snap together. These tongue and grooves must be clean and clear of any debris. Even the most benign piece of debris can prevent planks from properly fitting together.

The Takeaway:

Vinyl plank flooring just keeps getting better and better. Installation isn’t as easy as some       manufactures want you to believe but by following these tips you’ll be well on your way to              having great vinyl flooring in any room.