11-04-2022, 05:59 PM
Vinyl plank flooring has risen in popularity in recent years, and with good reason: it is durable, easy to clean, and affordable. Luxury vinyl plank's durability and water-resistance characteristics, combined with its ease of installation, have made it a popular choice among professionals and many do-it-yourself homeowners alike. As a result of advancements in vinyl flooring manufacturing and technology, modern vinyl plank flooring is available in a variety of wood and stone patterns and textures that are extremely realistic. Because of its water-resistant characteristics, vinyl is now the preferred flooring material for a wide range of applications, including hallways, living rooms, kitchens, and even bathrooms. However, even though DIY installation of vinyl plank flooring is much easier than other types of floor coverings such as tile or carpet, Do-It-Yourselfers are often unaware of the common pitfalls that professionals are aware of.
THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF VINYL PLANK FLOORING
Vinyl plank flooring is designed to be installed in one of two ways: either glue-down or floating over subflooring. It is often less difficult to install floating or click-lock vinyl flooring than it is to install traditional vinyl flooring because there is no adhesive or mess to deal with. This method involves locking together floating floor style vinyl planks with a built-in tongue and groove system before laying them on the subfloor -- or even directly over an existing floor if the subfloor is already in place! This method of installation is referred to as "floating" because the flooring is installed above the subfloor without the use of adhesive, allowing for natural expansion and contraction due to changes in humidity or temperature. Because vinyl flooring is sensitive to changes in temperature, it is recommended that you leave a 14-inch expansion gap around the perimeter of your floor. By doing so, you can ensure that the flooring expands as needed and does not warp or buckle in the middle of a room. Having warped vinyl planks is the absolute last thing you want after all of your hard work planning, prepping, and laying your vinyl planks! It is not necessary to be concerned about this spacing gap surrounding your finished floor because decorative trim and shoe mold can be used to cover this space once the project is completed.
Vinyl planks that are glued down have their own set of advantages. As the name implies, this type of vinyl plank is adhered directly to the subfloor with a high-quality adhesive. One advantage of gluing vinyl planks down is that self adhesive vinyl floor makes it easier to make a repair later on because you can simply pop off a scratched or damaged plank, apply new adhesive, and then pop a new plank in its place if necessary. While it may seem simple to explain, glue-down vinyl planks require a steady hand and a lot of patience in order to achieve a professional-looking installation. As a result, this is an option that is best left to the professionals.
INSTALLING VINYL PLANK IN EASY STEP BY STEP DIRECTIONS
Determine which direction the planks should run before beginning the installation process for vinyl plank flooring. Having this forethought is critical in determining the additional materials required to account for cutting waste; for straight-lay flooring, you will need approximately 10% extra flooring, and for herringbone or other fancy lay patterns, we recommend having approximately 15% extra flooring on hand. The presence of natural or electric light sources, the shape of the room, any special features in the room, and of course your personal preference are all factors to consider. Running your vinyl planks along the most prominent wall in the room or in the same direction as the main light source (such as a window) opens up the space and is more aesthetically pleasing to the eye, making the room appear larger and more spacious. If the room is off of a hallway, you may want to keep the boards uniform and running in the same direction as the hallway to make the room appear larger. The planks would typically run the length of the house, from the front door to the back wall, if you were laying down flooring for the entire house.
As soon as you've decided which direction you want your planks to run, it's time to start squaring up your space. Take note of the steps outlined in our "DIY Guide: How to Properly Prep Your Floor for Tile Installation," as these are the same for the majority of hard surface flooring types. Take measurements of your planks as well as the space available. Check to make sure that the first and last planks will be the appropriate sizes before proceeding. Neither the first plank that you see when you walk into the room, nor the last row of planks that you see, should be too short or too narrow. Some people prefer to draw a rough sketch of how they want the layout to look before they start working on it. Making a sketch of your layout or laying out a "dry run" can save you a lot of time and aggravation later on by ensuring that the layout will turn out exactly how you want it.
Step 2: Preparation, Preparation, and More Preparation
As a result, the most difficult part of the next step is likely to be the first part: waiting. When installing vinyl planks in your home, whether they are glue-down or floating, they should be allowed to acclimate for at least 48 hours in the room where they will be installed. Because of the variations in temperature and humidity, vinyl planks, like other types of flooring, can have slightly different dimensions depending on the environment they are exposed to. Acclimatizing the product helps to prevent the natural expansion and contraction of this material from becoming a problem after it has been installed.
Take advantage of the time to complete the remaining tasks on your to-do list while you're waiting. If you are only installing vinyl planks in a single room, you will want to make sure that the transitions between rooms are properly installed. Transition pieces are used to create a clean look where one type of flooring meets another type of flooring. Consider the two types of flooring you are joining in order to determine which transition piece will work best for your floor. If the two types of flooring are hard-surface and approximately the same height, you will want to use a t-mold to connect them. If one is lower than the other, a threshold or reducer may be the most appropriate solution for the situation.
THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF VINYL PLANK FLOORING
Vinyl plank flooring is designed to be installed in one of two ways: either glue-down or floating over subflooring. It is often less difficult to install floating or click-lock vinyl flooring than it is to install traditional vinyl flooring because there is no adhesive or mess to deal with. This method involves locking together floating floor style vinyl planks with a built-in tongue and groove system before laying them on the subfloor -- or even directly over an existing floor if the subfloor is already in place! This method of installation is referred to as "floating" because the flooring is installed above the subfloor without the use of adhesive, allowing for natural expansion and contraction due to changes in humidity or temperature. Because vinyl flooring is sensitive to changes in temperature, it is recommended that you leave a 14-inch expansion gap around the perimeter of your floor. By doing so, you can ensure that the flooring expands as needed and does not warp or buckle in the middle of a room. Having warped vinyl planks is the absolute last thing you want after all of your hard work planning, prepping, and laying your vinyl planks! It is not necessary to be concerned about this spacing gap surrounding your finished floor because decorative trim and shoe mold can be used to cover this space once the project is completed.
Vinyl planks that are glued down have their own set of advantages. As the name implies, this type of vinyl plank is adhered directly to the subfloor with a high-quality adhesive. One advantage of gluing vinyl planks down is that self adhesive vinyl floor makes it easier to make a repair later on because you can simply pop off a scratched or damaged plank, apply new adhesive, and then pop a new plank in its place if necessary. While it may seem simple to explain, glue-down vinyl planks require a steady hand and a lot of patience in order to achieve a professional-looking installation. As a result, this is an option that is best left to the professionals.
INSTALLING VINYL PLANK IN EASY STEP BY STEP DIRECTIONS
Determine which direction the planks should run before beginning the installation process for vinyl plank flooring. Having this forethought is critical in determining the additional materials required to account for cutting waste; for straight-lay flooring, you will need approximately 10% extra flooring, and for herringbone or other fancy lay patterns, we recommend having approximately 15% extra flooring on hand. The presence of natural or electric light sources, the shape of the room, any special features in the room, and of course your personal preference are all factors to consider. Running your vinyl planks along the most prominent wall in the room or in the same direction as the main light source (such as a window) opens up the space and is more aesthetically pleasing to the eye, making the room appear larger and more spacious. If the room is off of a hallway, you may want to keep the boards uniform and running in the same direction as the hallway to make the room appear larger. The planks would typically run the length of the house, from the front door to the back wall, if you were laying down flooring for the entire house.
As soon as you've decided which direction you want your planks to run, it's time to start squaring up your space. Take note of the steps outlined in our "DIY Guide: How to Properly Prep Your Floor for Tile Installation," as these are the same for the majority of hard surface flooring types. Take measurements of your planks as well as the space available. Check to make sure that the first and last planks will be the appropriate sizes before proceeding. Neither the first plank that you see when you walk into the room, nor the last row of planks that you see, should be too short or too narrow. Some people prefer to draw a rough sketch of how they want the layout to look before they start working on it. Making a sketch of your layout or laying out a "dry run" can save you a lot of time and aggravation later on by ensuring that the layout will turn out exactly how you want it.
Step 2: Preparation, Preparation, and More Preparation
As a result, the most difficult part of the next step is likely to be the first part: waiting. When installing vinyl planks in your home, whether they are glue-down or floating, they should be allowed to acclimate for at least 48 hours in the room where they will be installed. Because of the variations in temperature and humidity, vinyl planks, like other types of flooring, can have slightly different dimensions depending on the environment they are exposed to. Acclimatizing the product helps to prevent the natural expansion and contraction of this material from becoming a problem after it has been installed.
Take advantage of the time to complete the remaining tasks on your to-do list while you're waiting. If you are only installing vinyl planks in a single room, you will want to make sure that the transitions between rooms are properly installed. Transition pieces are used to create a clean look where one type of flooring meets another type of flooring. Consider the two types of flooring you are joining in order to determine which transition piece will work best for your floor. If the two types of flooring are hard-surface and approximately the same height, you will want to use a t-mold to connect them. If one is lower than the other, a threshold or reducer may be the most appropriate solution for the situation.