Luxury vinyl plank flooring is a great way to give your home a contemporary, chic look. It is highly durable, affordable, and easy to install. Unlike carpet, Luxury vinyl plank flooring requires no underlayment, and it can be installed by floating or gluing it down. This makes it an excellent choice for DIYers. However, it is important to read instructions carefully to ensure the installation is successful.
You should measure and cut to fit the gap if you’re installing luxury vinyl flooring over other floorings. It’s easy to install vinyl over carpet or hardwood, but you’ll need to ensure that the transitions have the same expansion gap. Most transitions comprise a plastic or metal piece that snaps into place on the subfloor. Once the transition is installed, you can install the new flooring.
Before you begin, clean the solid surface under your existing floor. Blemishes or other imperfections in the subfloor can interfere with the quality of your installation. Make sure that the surface is clean and dry. If there are blemishes or imperfections, you should fix them before you begin installing the vinyl planks. You should also consider moving furniture so that the flooring is leveled.
Luxury vinyl planks often come with underlayment attached. This layer protects the subfloor and makes the vinyl flooring softer underfoot. Underlayments can be made of foam or cork. You can skip this step if you don’t want to use an underlayment. Alternatively, you can use a different type of subfloor for your luxury plank flooring. A good choice for water-prone areas is WPC/SPC vinyl flooring.
When installing luxury vinyl plank flooring, keep in mind that the flooring will expand and contract with temperature changes. You should allow an expansion gap of at least 1/4 inch from the baseboard or wall. It is also wise to use shims between the holes in the floor. The floor and underlayment will expand and contract with temperature variations. You should also pay attention to snapping. To do this, snap one plank end to end and then snap the second plank into its groove at the lowest angle.
After you’ve completed your luxury vinyl plank flooring installation, you’ll need to add a few finishing touches. If the floor is uneven, use a trowel to level it. Putting down a self-level patch isn’t recommended, and you should only place half of a plank in the first and last row.
Luxury vinyl plank flooring has several benefits over traditional hardwood. The first is that it is less expensive and waterproof, which means it can be used in wet areas of the home. Moreover, luxury vinyl plank flooring is a good choice for rooms with damp conditions. You can also choose between smooth, textured vinyl planks or a matte or glossy finish.
When laying out the planks, you should consider the seams’ size and spacing. Mixing and matching different planks is important to create a more interesting pattern. Also, remember the length of each piece and the length of the last piece.
Once you’ve determined the length of each row, use an oscillating multi-tool to install the flooring. If you are unfamiliar with this tool, you can use a scrap piece of flooring to guide you while laying out each row. Once you’ve finished installing the row, you can use shims to create a gap between the flooring and the wall. If you want to make your installation quicker, you can also use a jigsaw to cut off the last row of flooring.
You should also think about the direction of the planks. Ideally, you want to install vinyl plank flooring parallel to the hallway, making a smooth transition between rooms. You should also check for mismatches between floors in adjoining rooms. If your planks are not parallel to the hallway, the room will feel much more open and airy.
Luxury vinyl plank flooring is a great option for high-traffic areas of your home. These floors can be stylish yet durable and waterproof. You may want to consider rigid core luxury vinyl planks for high-traffic areas.