How to Install Vinyl Plank Flooring

It's time to take a look at how to install vinyl plank flooring. This post will cover all the steps you need to know, from preparation and removal of old flooring, to laying out the planks and finally sealing them for protection. With this information in hand you'll be able to tackle any project with ease!

If you're looking for an easy way to spruce up your home without breaking the bank, then installing vinyl plank flooring is a great option. Vinyl has come a long way since it was first introduced as linoleum-type material back in 1947. Today it looks more like real wood than anything else and can be installed over just about any surface that's sturdy enough - including concrete or tile floors.

Table of Contents

What Is Vinyl Plank Flooring?

Vinyl plank intended to look like hardwood, and it comes in floorings. You can discover this item in various graces, each emulating a particular kind of wood, from hickory to oak and past. Since vinyl board mirrors hardwood, you're sure to discover a form that coordinates the remainder of your home's stylistic theme. Also, vinyl is the spending plan amicable decision for renovators who need the appearance of hardwood floor without the difficult establishment and expenses.

What Tools Do I Need to Install Vinyl Plank Flooring?

Measuring Tape, Learn about how to read a tape measure and understand what it means for your project in order to get the most accurate measurements possible!
Sharp Utility Knife, To cut the plank straight in shape. There are many uses for a utility knife and the best way to learn more about them is by checking out our blog post on it!
Rubber Mallet, To install flooring.
Marker, To mark the work piece.
Spacers, It helps to create a gap while installing the floor.
Tapping Block, To protect the floor from damages.
Chalk, To mark the center of each wall and snap lines between them.
Level, To indicate parallel or perpendicular surface. We want to help you find the perfect torpedo level for your home improvement project! We have already picked out our favorite list, check them all out.
Plywood, To use under resilient flooring materials.
Sander (If needed), To sand down the high crests of the subflooring. If you're looking for the right sanding machine, we've got some great advice on how to choose a random orbital sander for your floor!
Flooring Pull Bar, To snap in the last tiles.
Nail Gun, To snap in the last plank..
Leveling Compound (If needed), To build up the lower regions in the subfloor.
Oscillating Tool (If needed), To create a gap under the jambs of doors.
Crowbar, To remove baseboard.

Must Have PPEs

Knee pads, to protect your knees while working.
Hearing protection, to protect your ear from the loud sounds.
safety goggles, to protect your eyes from getting any kind of dirt. You may not know what safety goggles are used for but now you will.
Dust mask, to protect you from inhaling the dust. Check out our guide on how to wear your mask in order for it be effective and safe.

Which Direction to Lay Vinyl Plank Flooring?

The direction of installing vinyl plank flooring hinged on the type of installation you are performing.

If your floor is in fairly good condition and only require leveling or small repair, you can install the planks parallel to the walls, one row at a time and stagger joints between rows. This method is known as "wall-to-wall" installation.

However, if your floor has serious damage throughout such as buckled boards or excessive warping, it needs to be completely removed first before laying new flooring. On the other hand, if you are new to vinyl planks installation and need a quick tutorial on how to lay vinyl plank flooring, there is only one method you should use: "the line-to-line" system. It's the same method that professional installers use when laying flooring for clients.

That's right. When your floor is in a bad shape and when you are laying new vinyl planks for the very first time, there is only one way to go about it. By using the line-to-line installation method as shown in this tutorial, you will gain experience quickly that could save you a lot of money down the road.

By installing vinyl plank flooring "the line-to-line" system, your job will be much easier because: It helps prevent costly mistakes from novice installers who may unknowingly damage weak subfloor or lay badly uneven floors by doing things wrong. You can look into your job more closely and check out each board before locking down its position into place. This process allows you to check your floor from every angle to ensure perfect rows and alignment of planks. You can use the method for small or large jobs. And you don't have to follow any complex instructions either; just check out this easy-to-follow tutorial that will walk you through it step by step!

How to Installing vinyl plank flooring? [11 Steps]

Step 1: Plan of Flooring Layout

There is a wide range of examples you can follow when you are installing the vinyl flooring. Possess it straightforward and propose stunning your planks by utilizing whatever is cut from the finish of the central column, as the beginning of your next line as extended as it's at any rate 6 creeps long. This example will make a progressively natural look to the vinyl flooring. Also, it's a smart thought to stir up your vinyl flooring from isolated boxes, to ensure any varieties in shading are lurched all through your ground surface, and not moved in one region.

Step 2: Gather materials to start the job

Now all you need is to gather all your material to start the job. You need a safe place to keep it together and where you can take it and use it safely whenever you want. Ensure that you got everything while working.

Step 3: Remove old flooring and baseboards

First of all, you need to remove the old flooring. Get started with deleting your baseboards. Simply use a crowbar by beginning in the center and pull out the board slowly and work all way down the board on every sideways. Then remove the old flooring. Firstly, cut it into equal strips around six inches wide with a utility knife. Utilize a sled to tap a hardened clay blade or block etch under the tile to loosen up. Pull the pipe up in strips to uncover the sponsorship or the paste.

Step 4: Level, clean, and prep the subfloor

Now you need to prepare your floor. First of all, use a broom, a vacuum, and a mop to clean and dry it entirely. Take the level, what's more, ensure there aren't in zones of rising or wretchedness more prominent than 3/16 inches and more than ten ft. Then sand down any zones of height. Fill in zones of despondency with leveling compound. Expression of caution: work quickly! It dries rapidly.

Check little flaws like knocks from nails, paste, or nails. Evacuate those things if conceivable. Then Fill-up any slight marks on the subfloor using a leveling compound.

Step 5: Choose Planks

Now choose planks. In case you're installing the floor in a low rush hour gridlock zone, pick a thickness of two to three mm. For most zones in your home, counting the kitchen and family room, select vinyl boards amongst 3.2 to 4 mm.

Step 6: Installing vinyl plank

Don't jump straight to installing the vinyl plank. Your subfloors are already ready for the installation. First of all, take an extra 20 minutes and plan on how to fix it carefully. It is going to make your headache less while working.

Step 7: Cut Vinyl Planks to Fit Room

How to cut vinyl plank? Follow below procedure for perfections:

1
First of all, you need to relax and think about three rules of thumb before installing vinyl plank. It is the 5/6 inches, 6 inches, and 1/3 rule.
2
First of all, leave the 5/6 inches between the vinyl plank and dividers. If you don't leave the hole, the boards will clasp.
3
Leave in any event 6 inches of a plank when you go to a divider. In case you're spreading out your vinyl board, and you have under 6 inches left on the last plank, cut the beginning plank 1 inch more than expected to make your final plank 6 inches. Also, consistently go in any event 6 inches between creases of adjacent columns.
4
The last column should be multiple 1/3 of a plank-extensive. You can get this early by placing a plank one next to the other. You can "ogle" if completing it will necessitate < 1/3 of the plank, or you can gauge a plank and the hole. Take the width of the plank, isolate it by 3, and check whether the breach is not as much as that. If it is less than 1/3 staying, cut around 1/3 off of the significant push, that is going to repair the issue.

Step 8: Lay the planks

Follow below procedures to lay the planks:

1
Start the installation and start laying those vinyl planks. First of all, you need to with one column/row. Now think and decide in which direction the vinyl planks should get laid.
2
Attach every plank into the primary column and by keeping that next plank at a small position to that. Now push it down into the earlier vinyl plank.
3
If you want or need to cut any vinyl planks, just use a utility knife to cut it and snap it by winding the vinyl plank within the score borders.
4
Now you are moving to the next row. If you are cutting off a piece of the first column and it is more significant than six-inch, it can get used to starting the second column. If it is not like that, then cut a piece to begin in the column, which is a minimum six-inch lengthier an also leaves six inches in between the seam of the first column.
5
Now just lay down all the planks just like you did the time of the first column. The main distinction is you point the tongue of that fresh part into the notch of the first column piece and snap that inside.
6
Complete the procedure until you've completed your final column.

Step 9: Reinstall Trim and Transition Strip

Now we need to reinstall trims and transition strips which we removed during the floor preparation time. They are complement the flooring.

Step 10: Finishing touches

Now all you need to do is just hide those traces of the installation. That means start with reinstalling those baseboards. Nonetheless, you can get any trim strips added to smoothen any transitions.

Step 11: Walking on a dream

Finally, the installation of vinyl plank flooring is all set. Now just wait for 24 hours to put your furniture, and you can walk like you are walking on a dream.

Check out the video below if you want to know about vinyl plank flooring installations!

10 Tips for Laying Vinyl Plank Flooring

Measure the room's dimensions and cut the planks to fit, leaving a quarter-inch space on each side between them and the walls.
Apply masking tape to the floor an inch or two beyond the perimeter, where you'll be laying down the planks for extra protection from possible leaks.
Use a drywall knife and utility knife (or other sharp blades) to score lines about 4 inches apart through the vinyl using your square as a guide, thus creating tabs that allow easy removal once laid down permanently. Remember: your plank will expand upon contact with moisture, so it's best to oversize rather than undersize it by more than an eighth of an inch all around when cutting it to size.
Unroll a runner section at one end of your floor, then carefully slide it along the floor until you reach the opposite wall.
Work out from that first plank, cutting four additional sections to fit and place them side by side with the first. Repeat this process, working toward each corner of the room and slightly overlapping each plank onto ones already laid down to achieve an even distribution along your perimeter. Learn how you can easily cut vinyl plank flooring at the corners of your room so they are all even.
Cut planks for around obstacles—such as radiators or cold air returns—and align them using scraps placed on either side, making sure they connect seamlessly with those leading up to and away from them (i.e., no gaps).
For very tight spaces, you may need to overlap the planks by half an inch for them to fit.
Alternate your rows, using offset joints to create a professional look as you work. (Think of it like laying brick.)
With the first row of planks down, measure and cut individual lengths for all vertical sections. Watch out not to include any scrap or join pieces on either side with horizontal boards lined up next.
Securely attach wall spacers at regular intervals across the floor so that they're level and flush with floors baseboards—but not touching them; use finishing nails or screws to keep them from shifting once installed on both sides of each wall spacer.. (This will help ensure planks don't pop up as the adhesive dries.)

Can You Use a Steam Mop on Vinyl Plank Flooring?

This would be the very last surface you should use a steam mop on, especially with vinyl plank flooring. With this type of flooring, all it takes to warp or crack is moisture and tugging. Planks are already designed to expand and contract because they're not glued together, but using a steam mop will mess up their natural design by causing seams to pull apart when you clean them. In addition, tugging these seams will cause damage from water seeping in between planks instead of going right over them as originally designed.

In short, it's best not to use many cleaners or harsh chemicals on vinyl plank floors at all so that the integrity of the material is not compromised and water damage doesn't occur.

How Much to Install Vinyl Plank Flooring?

Flooring substantial is what covers the floor construction and makes the floor exterior. Plank floor gets comprised of sheets and as a rule with dialect and furrow ends.

You will catch the expense to install typical vinyl plank flooring relies on substantial and texture status, external territory, planning, and unique prerequisites, and the work amount.

Sheet vinyl establishment begins around $15 a sq plot, while vinyl tile establishment starts around $1.49 an sq. Feet. An additional alternative is that vinyl plank click-lock establishment, which begins around $1.99 per sq. ft.

Final Words

We hope you found this guide helpful. If you decide to install vinyl plank flooring on your own, be sure to take the necessary precautions and read all of our instructions carefully before starting. Remember that it is always best to consult a professional if possible!