QA

How To Lay Vinyl Flooring Planks

Is there a certain way to lay vinyl plank flooring?

Flooring is typically installed in the same direction of your leading source of natural light, and the same goes for luxury vinyl. If you have large windows in a living room or an entryway that allows a flood of natural light, then run your planks in the same direction.

Is it hard to lay vinyl plank flooring?

Of all the do-it-yourself floor coverings, vinyl plank flooring (also known as luxury vinyl) is one of the simplest to install. It is easy to cut, requires no bonding to the subfloor, and snaps together edge-to-edge and end-to-end.

Do you have to cut the tongue of the first row of vinyl plank flooring?

Place the first plank with the tongue side towards the wall, being sure to allow 1/8″ for expansion. We recommend cutting off the tongue on this first row to avoid any problem with the expansion gap. If it is too short, cut a new plank in half and use one half to start the second row.

Does the tongue or groove go against the wall?

Which to Install First. 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.

Which direction should plank flooring be installed?

The most common way to lay hardwood flooring is by aligning the planks parallel to the longest wall. Apart from a few exceptions like sagging joists, this is the preferred direction to lay wood floors because it aesthetically provides the best result.

Which way do you lay vinyl plank flooring in multiple rooms?

In the same vein, it’s typically recommended that planks are installed parallel to the longest wall of the room. So, if you’re installing vinyl planks in a 12 foot by 18 foot living room, run the planks parallel to the 18 foot wall. This will make smaller rooms feel bigger and wider.

Is it better to glue or float vinyl plank flooring?

Floating vinyl plank floors are a great choice for bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and bedrooms. If you are laying floors in a large and expansive area, a glue down flooring application can provide more durability. Of course, glue-down applications are appropriate for smaller rooms as well.

What is the final step to install a floating vinyl plank floor?

Finishing. To finish installing vinyl plank flooring, replace the baseboards and add floor transitions and additional trim pieces, like shoe molding, if desired. Be sure to nail the trim pieces to the wall, not the floor.

What side of laminate flooring should I start?

We recommend starting in the left corner of the longest wall in the room and to install the planks in the same direction as the main light source (e.g. the main window). Planks are always installed from left to right.

What are the disadvantages of vinyl plank flooring?

Cons of Vinyl Plank Flooring Vinyl doesn’t feel quite as comfortable to walk on if barefoot. Vinyl won’t look as luxurious as natural hardwood. Vinyl wood plank floors are not able to be refinished. LVP flooring if glued down can be very hard to remove if you ever want to replace.

What do you put under vinyl flooring?

Any type of flooring can benefit from an underlayment — even luxury vinyl tile. This holds true no matter what type of subfloor it will be installed on, including concrete, wood flooring, or any other type of flooring. Underlayment can improve the vinyl tile’s ability to absorb sound.

Why is my vinyl floor separating?

So, what actually is vinyl plank flooring separation? It is simply the formation of gaps or separations in between the vinyl planks. Many factors engender expansion and contraction of vinyl planks and weaken inter-planks bonds, eventually leading to such gap formation.

Where do you start when laying laminate flooring?

Start at a straight wall and lay your first row joining all the edge boards. The first board should be a 1/2 board then continue along the row. Use spacers to ensure you maintain a 10mm gap against the wall. If you don’t have spacers some cut-offs from your laminate floor will work.

Which side is tongue and which is Groove?

On one long side of the plank you’ll find the tongue and on the other long side you’ll find the groove. The same is true on the short sides. So on each of the four sides you’ll either find a tongue or a groove, thus the name tongue and groove.

What is loose lay vinyl plank?

Loose lay is a type of luxury vinyl flooring product comprised of not only vinyl, but also phthalate-free plasticizers for added weight and durability. Designed for easy installation, loose lay is generally 5mm in thickness and requires an adhesive only for planks or tiles surrounding the perimeter of the room.

Which side of vinyl plank is the tongue?

The tongue on laminate flooring is the small flat edge on one side of the board, this is the top edge that is going to angle and lock into the bottom side of another board.