First, cut through any paint sealing the baseboards to the wall using a utility knife. we need to layout some pad along the wall where we plan to start. Be sure to nail the trim pieces to the wall, not the floor. Your email address will not be published. I first showed you how to just find the center of the room. After cutting the first board, put the piece you have cut just now on the right side of the board. To get under door jambs, slightly bend the planks into place, and use a pull bar or tapping block to lock the joint if necessary. The tongue and groove will hold them … … If the last plank’s leftover portion is 6 inches or longer, use that to start your second row. Steps for staggering vinyl plank flooring: Lay a full plank to begin row one. If you lay the planks parallel to the longest wall as you're installing vinyl plank flooring, you’ll end up making fewer cuts. (This gap will get covered up by baseboard trim or quarter … Properly laying the first three boards in a hardwood flooring installation is essential to a quality install. Self-leveler dries fast, so you have to work quickly. Once your first row is in place, lay the second row. Score and cut the tongue off the first row of vinyl planks using a utility knife. Once you put these together we need to get the floor into perfect position. The other day I made caramel rolls for the first time. So the next step in how to start a laminate or vinyl plank floor is also pretty simple. This foundation I’m talking about is at least 4 rows of planks. If you lay the planks parallel to the longest wall as you're installing vinyl plank flooring, you’ll end up making fewer cuts. SIDE NOTE: You will want to cut the tongue from the plank when you start … The distance between joints from one row to the next must be 20 cm (8”) or greater for the remainder of the installation. Install remaining full planks in the first row. The first row of planks is snapped end-to-end. It is really important to build a solid foundation to work off of. It just looks better! When using tongue and groove planks, vinyl flooring installation should start in a lefthand corner with the tongue facing the wall. The first row of flooring should be this distance from the wall on the wider end of the room. If the width is less than ⅓ of a plank, cut roughly ⅓ of the plank in the first row. So by following what I just showed you, the piece against the wall would be the same on both sides. Measure and cut your first piece accordingly, using a cut end from the first row if necessary. The width will be determined by what type of laminate floor you purchase. Installing vinyl plank flooring? Lay it at the end of the row up to the wall leaving a 1/4 inch space. My wife and I are installing an Allure Ultra vinyl plank floor in the basement. Then you lay it on the floor and work your way down the room. Gradually lower the plank down flat, applying pressure inward and downward, until the end joint closes, insuring that the planks are perfectly aligned. This will ensure an even start and finish of the rows and reduce the number of rejects. Keeping in mind that existing walls may not be entirely square, lay out that first row of luxury vinyl flooring. Press the plank flat to snap in place. You can also use excess cut pieces to start rows if the pieces are at least 6 inches long. For the next piece, connect the short end first and then the long end. How to Stagger Vinyl Plank Floors. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. This is where our 10 boards will come into play. Learn how your comment data is processed. The very last row of your vinyl plank flooring is most likely going to be what causes you problems. Procore vinyl plank flooring reviews. I can’t even stress to you enough how important this really is. Take the first plank that you are starting this final row with and measure how much you need to cut. Why Staggering Planks is Important When laying any type of engineered or solid flooring, it is structurally and visually imperative that you stagger the ends in adjacent rows. A laminate flooring stagger pattern is ideally random, with spacing between end joints between 6 and 10 inches, depending on the plank width. Position the next plank on an angle to connect into the locking system without lowering the edge onto the glue. Getting the first row down properly will help ensure a successful vinyl flooring installation project. They allow the vinyl plank flooring to adjust to temperature changes and will allow some leeway for the contraction and expansion of the house. Link to Lowe's Home Improvement Home Page, Utility Knife or Power Saw (Depending on Plank Type). Begin the first row of flooring by placing the planks with the tongue side facing the wall. Assemble the first row of vinyl plank flooring, putting the tongue of one board into the groove of the previous board. I always run the planks in the direction of the longer part of the room. 4. CLICK HERE, Tools and Products I use and Recommend for Tile, Tools and Products I use and Recommend for Laminate, Click here if you are installing into multiple rooms, cutting laminate flooring around a doorjamb, how to install laminate flooring transitions, how to install laminte laminate installation, Where do I start installing my laminate or vinyl plank floor, How to start a laminate or vinyl plank installation, how to make a grid for an easy tile installation, you can secure the floor easily without damaging it, you can secure the floor so it will not move at all- which makes the install go much easier, you won’t have to worry about mis-cutting a vent. Install one row … You need to connect the end of a plank to the previous one first. Measure the distance between the wall and the surface of the last full plank. Also it needs to be the correct distance away from the line. After this, connect the next plank in the row against the end of the first plank. Determine the width of the last row of vinyl plank flooring. We are going to do this by measuring from the line we snapped on the floor to the planks we just put together. Once the realm of professional installers, resilient flooring installation is greatly simplified with vinyl planking. Start with a full plank at the center, and work to either side, so that cut planks at the ends will be of equal length. You will need to put together 10 planks. The first consideration in the installation process is which direction the flooring will run. Step 1: To begin with the installation and stagger the vinyl planks, the first thing you need to do is to cut the top 1-inch adhesive strip from the first board. You should plan your peel & stick vinyl planks the same way you plan rigid vinyl planks: mix up several boxes of planks to make sure variations of color or thoroughly mixed in and use the end of the first row as the start of the next, and so on. Ok, so now that we know what size piece we are going to need, we need to mark the floor on both sides of the room and then snap a chalk line on them. Now this doesn’t need to be perfectly in place but close. You should plan your peel & stick vinyl planks the same way you plan rigid vinyl planks: mix up several boxes of planks to make sure variations of color or thoroughly mixed in and use the end of the first row as the start of the next, and so on. Both are fully acceptable options. Set the first plank in place on the starting line with the cut side toward the wall, maintaining the expansion gap. Compared to installing a hardwood floor, or even a laminate one, installing a vinyl plank floor is a walk in the park. I watched his video at least 6 times while I was making the caramel rolls. If you have a question you can ask below. If the floor is secured it makes the installation go so much easier. Choose a Starting Point. To begin installing your vinyl plank floor you will need to cut off the tongue of the first row with a utility knife and place the cut side of the plank towards the wall. This is because as well as cutting the first and last plank along the top, you are most likely going to have to cut the planks along their whole width. Ensure that the plank at the end of row one is no less than 6 inches in length. When you start the second row, the tongue of the first plank in the second row slides into the groove of the first row at a low angle. If you have chosen a luxury vinyl plank with a lot of color and pattern variation, mix and match a few planks from various boxes so that any variations are evenly dispersed throughout the floor … If the width is less than ⅓ of a plank, cut roughly ⅓ of the plank in the first row. Snap the planks in place. Watch our DIY Basics video: How Do I Use a Chalk Line? This will give us the center of the room. This will give us a line that will be our guide to show us where our first plank will start and to make to use to get our planks straight before securing the floor. This gives you a solid foundation to work off of. Prepare the Floor. Measure from the center to the starting wall using a tape measure, subtracting the 5/16-inch expansion gap, and mark this distance at each end of the wall. Now we will be able to find out what size piece we will have along the wall. I'm still not confident in how I make sure my first row … Staggering keeps off distracting lines from running across the floor. I am going to bring you on a short journey through your installation and the instructions are going to be easy to understand. Required fields are marked *. Luckily, I have the best husband in the world and he has learned, over the past 36 years, how to just let me have my breakdown and give me space to calm myself down. Continue the installation, making sure to stagger the joints by 6 inches and maintain the expansion gap. This is more robust than sheet vinyl but not as thick as most laminates, and because LVP and LVT flooring is waterproof and doesn't require an underlayment, it can go right over your existing flooring without raising the level of the floor by a significant amount. When measuring, remember to allow for the 3/8-inch gap at each end. It’s typically easiest to apply vinyl in rows, but you may want to change the direction of the rows (for example, have them go diagonally across the room). Finally, calculate the width of the last row. HOWEVER, I want to remind you once again … What I mean is, if you keep the floor away from the wall 2 to 3 rows, then measure from the line to the planks that you put together, it should equal a certain amount of planks. Start by removing the baseboards. I did this until I was all done with the rolls. Snap a chalk line between these two marks to get a straight line against the wall. Then we need to start laying out some laminate or vinyl plank and begin to put together 4 to 6 rows. So if 16 planks equal 96 inches then you would move the floor 96 inches away from the line. Hold the next plank at a slight angle against the previous plank's end and fold down to click it into place. Score the First Row of Planks I use scrap boards that i connect to the floor temporarily and then i screw those scraps into the floor. Then we checked to see how big our piece would be along the wall. It’s really very easy to get started with the methods that I am going to show you. Determine the width of the last row of vinyl plank flooring. Laying the First Row. This will ensure an even start and finish of the rows … Start the first row with a full plank, the second row with 2/3 of a plank and the third row with 1/3 of a plank. Do not use polyethylene film over wood sub floors. If it'll be less than 1/3 of a plank, cut about 1/3 of the plank off the first row to create even starting and finishing rows. At least 48 hours prior to installation, place the new vinyl plank flooring in the room for acclimation. Pretty simple right? You'd want to stagger the planks after each row, and making sure the first row has a space of about 1/4" or 1/8" from the wall to ensure it floats over the subfloor properly. Start by cutting your first plank row to the size determined above. Unlike tile, which is started in the center of a room, laminate flooring is typically installed by starting at the wall. #Determine how you will lay the floor. We will also be able to decide if it is too small and if we want it to be bigger. Test fit the first row of vinyl planks down the length of the wall. Lay the first full plank on the floor, beginning on the right-hand side corner of the room with the visible adhesive tongue facing out toward the room. The piece of plank left over from the first row should be used at the beginning of the second row. To cut the last piece to fit, score it with a utility knife and snap the plank. If you have a bigger installation with multiple rooms, then you would want to go to this post here. It also keeps the boards intact to ensure they do not create gaps. 4. You should feel it lock. Step 10: Tap Together: Use the pull bar on the side of the plank like previously stated. Prepare the laminate flooring for installation as recommended by the manufacturer. Once these are together then you need to decide which direction the plank is going to run. Then take a full plank and spin it so it is reversed in relation to the floor your installing. To install each piece, peel the adhesive backing off the plank and stick it to the subfloor. For this step you will need a T-square and a utility knife or a handsaw. This is pretty easy to decide. How to Install Vinyl Plank Flooring in a Long Narrow Room. (here is a refresher course) You measure 1 plank and divide that in half, then add that amount to your original mark on your 10 planks. The distance that we need to measure is going to come from measuring the 10 boards that we put together earlier.We need to move the floor so it is straight with the line that we snapped earlier. Position the first plank from the starting wall using ¼-inch spacers. To finish installing vinyl plank flooring, replace the baseboards and add floor transitions and additional trim pieces, like shoe molding, if desired. Peel & stick vinyl tiles will be a little bit different, depending on the pattern. Since wood is a dimensionally-imperfect material, this can be a challenge to get right, but the extra effort is worth the time investment. That distance is going to be the measurement of a certain amount of planks. I generally lay out the … Yes, always stagger vinyl when installing the floor. I'm a little tentative (overly cautious according to the wife) about getting started. We are also going to keep the floor away from the wall far enough so we do not need to cut any vents or the very first row. If you have movement in the floor while you are installing the boards will not go together correctly, they will come apart while you try to install another board and mess goes on. Let’s get started and I will show you how to install the first row of laminate flooring. Mark the Expansion Gap. During installation, you can mix planks from different boxes to blend the dye lots/patterns to create a more uniform appearance. Insert the tongue of the first piece into the groove of the previous row's first plank and rotate down to click together. If it is less than 6 inches, cut off... For row two, score and snap the first plank … It's actually the LAST row of planks that you'd need to determine how they will be arranged. Look, I’m not saying watch my videos a hundred times, but what I am saying is follow the video along during your laminate or vinyl plank installation. This ensures that the last plank, which generally must be cut to width, will be at least 2 inches wide. Peel & stick vinyl … Step 3: Assemble First Row of Planks. We are going to use these to figure out what our starting point is going to be. The next step in how to start a laminate or vinyl plank installation is we want to find the center of the room. The only way to the Father is through the Son. How to Lay Vinyl Plank Over Existing Flooring. I got the recipe from Crouton Jack(he has a youtube channel). Mark the center of each wall and snap lines between them with a chalk line. In this post I will share with you how to start a laminate or vinyl plank installation in a one room installation. Then go along the side of the plank so it snaps into the previous plank. We do this by measuring the width of the room and then divide that number in half. The end piece must be at least 6 inches long. Place the first board on the chalk line, ensuring perfect alignment with the line. The first row of planks is snapped end-to-end. You may install vinyl over vinyl if the existing floor is one layer thick. This is one of the most important steps in your installation and this article on how to start a laminate or vinyl plank installation. Install remaining full planks in the first row. Why, because we all know that the instructions that came with any of our purchases are usually just terrible!! for example- my plank is 6 inches wide x 48 inches long So if my room was 16 feet wide and 20 feet long, I would run the length of my plank (the 48 inch side) parallel with the 20 foot wall. Step 1- Layout the first few rows of laminate or vinyl plank flooring. And I made them again the next weekend and I found myself watching that video another 6 times. We will come back at the very end to do this. But don’t start that first row with full planks without figuring out how wide your last row is going to be. Learn how to install it over concrete, tiles, or existing vinyl flooring in our step-by-step guide. Laying the First Row Starting in the left corner place 1/4″ spacers (2 per plank) against the wall for expansion and contraction. It distributes expansion pressure more evenly, and the floor usually looks better. Step 1: Install the first row. The instructions are in the box Let’s find the center of the room. Still preparing to install Bruce 3/4" pre-finished nail down Hickory hardwood flooring. Mix and Match Planks. Then you would add the amount of a half of plank to the measurement that you have for the center of the room. Then use a pry bar to gently loosen the baseboards. To begin with the installation and stagger the vinyl planks, the first thing you need to do is to cut the … The technique is to lay one row, tap a false spline into the grooves of the planks, then lay another row with its tongues facing in the opposite direction. Prep your subfloor so that it's clean, dry and level within 3/16-inch change per 10 feet. If you’re looking for ease-of-use, durability, and water-resistance, vinyl plank flooring has simplicity and style in spades. Which to Install First. This statement is almost laughable! Seams do not have to be taped. When you come to the end of the first row, cut the length of plank needed to complete the row. Many flooring professionals prefer to lay the first row down the center of the room, rather than laying it against a wall for two reasons. So if you measure that distance and the line is 99 inches away from the planks, go to your 10 boards and find the measurement closest to 99 inches in full planks. It is easier. The first three boards set the tone and direction for the floor. Self-leveler is available in powder and pre-mixed form and is used to create a flat, smooth surface in flooring projects. Dry fit your first row to ensure that your final plank is at least 6 inches long. Install the second plank next to the first by aligning the tongue into the groove and press the plank down to snap it in place. So the next step in how to start a laminate or vinyl plank floor is also pretty simple. Remember to do the handy calculation described above. (This gap will get covered up by baseboard trim or quarter-round molding after the flooring is complete.) Mark this point on the moisture barrier with a pencil, then go down to the other end and make a … You should be following this step precisely as it will help to give the floor a smooth surface. Other than having coreys help with prep work and moving furniture i installed all of the vinyl plank flooring in our house by myself click here to see the details on the installation process. Remove all existing trims and wall base as necessary. One of the evolutions of the do-it-yourself industry has been the creation of easy-to-use and easy-to-install products, such as vinyl plank flooring. Make sure to do this step first, to eliminate any thin rows at the final row. If it'll be less than 1/3 of a plank, cut about 1/3 of the plank off the first row to create even starting and finishing rows. Lay Down the First Plank Score and cut the tongue off the first row of vinyl planks using a utility knife. When you say you are trying to determine width, are you just talking about setting down the first row of planks? The strength of the product is similar to concrete. Which side is the tongue, which the groove, and which goes first during installation?The tongue is the side that you will want to place against the wall as you start your laminate-flooring installation. It will make things a lot easier for you!! Use a self-leveler on low spots and/or sand high spots of wood or concrete. If you were able to make the piece bigger by following the method that I showed you. I've done a lot of research, and watched a ton of YouTube clips. Vinyl plank flooring can usually be laid right over existing flooring, but if there are … This is a simple answer….. This should be the first cut you make. Divide the width of the room by the width of the plank. I say this to you because you might need to watch my video more than once. I will try very hard not to speak a foreign language while I do this. A random pattern can be hard to achieve when all the planks are the same length, but you can do it using offcuts from previous rows to start new rows. Now that we have are floor in place we need to secure it from moving. Moving the floor … I wanted to be sure I didn’t miss any of the steps, so I would pause the video complete a step and then start it again to see the next step. Your email address will not be published. The joints of your vinyl flooring must be staggered at least 6 inches. This is really a simple process….. Use your chalk snapline to make a line 1/4 inch out from the starting wall. Installation steps for Tiling a Tub Surround, Installation Steps for Tiling a Custom Shower, My Facebook Page- this is by far the fastest way to get your question answered. Learn how to lay vinyl plank flooring over concrete, wood or existing vinyl flooring for a durable floor that stands up to moisture. Before you start laying the floor, keep in mind: the first and last row should be at least 2” wide. We now answered the question ” where do I start installing my laminate or vinyl plank floor” now I need to show you how to start. Gradually lower the plank down flat, applying pressure inward and downward, until the end joint closes, insuring that the planks are perfectly aligned. Don't sand vinyl flooring as it may contain asbestos. Then mark the plank where the last plank installed ends. Pros cons costs and a buying guide for the top and most common brands including lifeproof coretc smartcore ultra and more. Running it front to back can help a room feel deeper while running it from side to side can make a space feel wider. They turned out great! They must be absolutely straight and laid without gaps or bends. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 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