The fastest-grow category in the flooring industry is Luxury vinyl which purplez will explain in the blog below. Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) is usually named Vinyl Plank Flooring (VPF), and you may see it as Luxury Vinyl Flooring as well. VPF is available in square, long and narrow strips, often 48 or 36 inches long. VPF is famous for its high durability and ease of maintenance.  Its main property is being waterproof and extremely stable. This affordable flooring has a rigid core flooring and mostly appears in wood or stone patterns. Besides, antimicrobial padding is attached to the bottom of LVP. It is suitable for almost any environment, such as bathrooms, basements, and laundry rooms. With no acclimation requirements, it is the best choice for a project with a short installation time.

See some reviews about Vinyl plank flooring here.

 

Which method of installing Vinyl Plank Flooring would you like to choose?

Generally, Vinyl Plank Installation can be categorized into three different types of flooring regarding the installation method.

1) Click-lock vinyl Plank flooring

One of the floating floor methods is created with click-lock or interlocking. It is a practical method, and you don’t require adhesive to connect the planks. Instead, the planks interlock with tongue-and-groove joints. They easily snap together and make a reliable fit.

You could watch how to install the Click-lock VPF.

2) GripStrip vinyl plank flooring

Manufacture applies an adhesive layer to vinyl planks which connect them to each other. GripStrip method creates a floating floor. It means the VPF covers the subfloor without any adhesive. In any case, it doesn’t fasten to the subfloor either. GripStrip is a clean and straightforward installation method, and it doesn’t require removing the existing flooring.

There is a sample video here for GripStrip VPF.

3) Glue-down vinyl plank flooring

In this method, VPF adheres to the subfloor with either one or two types of adhesives:

  •  Hard-set

Along with the subfloor, Hard-set will be spread. After that, vinyl planks are laid down on top.

  •  Pressure-sensitive

The adhesive is already on the bottom of the planks. It will bond to the subfloor when the planks are pressed into place.

If you want to know how to install Glue-down VPF, please watch this video.

Consider that both adhesives are fast to install, but it is easier to change the vinyl planks in pressure-sensitive adhesive types. When you want to choose between floating flooring options, you should note that GrioStrip VPF is often water-resistant, while click-lock VPF can be entirely waterproof.

To watch the pros and cons of Vinyl Plank Flooring vs. Laminate Flooring, please click here.

 

DIY or hire a professional?

All of the three mentioned methods are suitable for novices. It only requires a little time and patience. To have a perfect result, laying vinyl plank flooring down over any rigid and level floor is necessary.

As the vinyl flooring industry develops, it makes the products more DIY- friendly.

 

DIY vinyl plank flooring requires relatively few tools:

  • Air compressor

  • Air hose

  • Aviation snips

  • Belt sander

  • Brad nail gun

  • Chalk line

  • Cold chisel

  • Dust mask

  • Hammer

  • Hearing protection

  • Jigsaw

  • Knee pads

  • Putty knife

  • Rubber mallet

  • Safety glasses

  • Sanding block

  • Spacer

  • Square

  • Straightedge

  • Tape measure

  • Utility knife

You could buy all of them here.

Before starting installing vinyl plank flooring, 10 Beginner Mistakes to Avoid is what you need to know!

By following these seven steps, you can easily install Vinyl Plank Flooring:

I. Select a VPL product

Many companies produce vinyl plank flooring. Please click here to find a great product.

II. Determine Your Layout

Figuring out the way the planks should put together is an essential step in the installation. You will need about 10% extra flooring for cutting waste, and for fancy patterns, we recommend having roughly 15% additional material. The things that also you should take into account are:

  • Shape of the room
  • Sources of natural/electrical light
  • Special features in the room

Read this blog to learn more about how to calculate the layout.

III. Make Subfloor Flat and Smooth

Check if the subfloor is in good condition. It should be flat and completely smooth. Prepare subfloor for vinyl plank flooring installation. With a patching compound, fill in any holes or low-lying areas and sand down the high spots on concrete subfloors. You could watch this video for more info.

IV. Prep Door Jamb and Transition

You should make sure that the subfloor is clean. Remove any trim work such as shoe molding. If you want the seamless installation, you should trim the door jamb so that the vinyl flooring will fit in nicely. To have a clean appearance wherever one kind of flooring meets with another, you require a transition piece. Think about the two kinds of flooring you are joining to determine which transition piece will work best for your floor. This video is also available to learn more.

V. Adjust Width of Start Row

It would be best if you decided that you will start laying vinyl planks from which side of the room. Be sure how wide your last row will be before beginning the first row with full planks. Starting to lay the planks parallel to the longest wall causes them to end up with fewer cuts. But take care neither the first nor the last row should be cut much smaller than half a plank. Snap the planks in the first row together from end to end. Please watch this video to learn more detail. Watch this video to find more practical tips.

VI. Lay Vinyl Plank Flooring to Fit the Room

In the first row, snap the planks together end to end if using a floating floor style vinyl plank. Now connect another plank into your first plank. Continue laying down VPF until the last row.

VII. Reinstall Molding and Transition

At the end, when all planks are installed and looking great. At this point, you need to use a pull bar and rubber mallet to make sure every board is appropriately locked into place. Remove all spacers that you taped to the wall initially once the floor is all secure. Here is a video to show you how to do it.

If you decide to hire a professional, we can give you tips and tricks to find a licensed flooring expert in Orange County and get free, no-commitment estimates for your project. Our flooring installer confirmed the high-quality products. So please schedule a consolation today!

What about the Cost?

The price for Vinyl Plank Flooring is more than sheet vinyl and sheet linoleum. But, it has worth it as you consider the aesthetic appeal difference. Besides, it is much less expensive than wood flooring. The average cost is $8 to 14$ per square foot. And if you ask a professional to install it for you, $4 to $8 per square foot payment will be added.

 

 

Sources:

DIY Guide: How to Install a Floating Vinyl Floor

https://goodguyflooring.com/blogs/home-improvement-blog/diy-guide-how-to-install-a-floating-vinyl-floor

 

How to Install Vinyl Flooring

https://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/rooms-and-spaces/floors/how-to-install-vinyl-flooring

 

Handyman, Family.   How to Install Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring

https://www.familyhandyman.com/project/how-to-install-luxury-vinyl-flooring/

 

Rodriguez, Brad.   Installing Vinyl Plank Flooring – How To

https://fixthisbuildthat.com/installing-vinyl-plank-flooring-how-to/

 

Luxury Vinyl Tile and Plank Installation Methods

https://shawfloors.com/flooring/how-to/vinyl/installation/luxury-vinyl-tile-and-plank-installation-methods

 

Provey,Joe.  Quick and Easy Vinyl Flooring

https://www.bobvila.com/articles/installing-vinyl-plank-flooring/

 

Vinyl Installation Guide, Vinyl Flooring Installation Instructions: Mohawk Flooring

https://www.mohawkflooring.com/luxury-vinyl-tile/guides/luxury-vinyl-installation

 

How to Install Vinyl Plank Flooring

https://www.homedepot.com/c/ah/how-to-install-vinyl-plank flooring/9ba683603be9fa5395fab90188fe437f