Luxury Vinyl Plank Installation: Professional Solutions
Luxury vinyl plank (LVP) is a highly popular flooring choice for homeowners due to its durability, affordability, and aesthetic appeal. However, the magic truly lies in its correct installation.
Here are some professional tips and tricks for effectively installing luxury vinyl plank flooring.
Prepping, Acclimating, and Rolling
Your vinyl plank flooring's longevity and finish heavily depend on your subfloor's condition and a flush fit.
- Prepping: Ensure it's clean, dry, level, and free from imperfections. If you're installing over a concrete subfloor, it might be necessary to use a moisture barrier to prevent potential water damage.
- Acclimating: Before starting the installation, it's crucial to let the vinyl planks acclimate to the room's temperature and humidity levels.
- Rolling: After installing the LVP, use a floor roller to press the flooring into the adhesive properly (in case of a glued installation) and to ensure a firm bond between the tongue and grooves of the planks (in the case of a floating floor).
Planning, Undercutting, Staggering, and Expansion
Successful Luxury vinyl plank installation can come down to planning and problem-solving.
- Plan: to avoid narrow planks at the wall edges and around doorways, measure your room beforehand and plan your layout. Try to ensure the first and last rows of planks are approximately the same width.
- Undercutting: This is a professional trick that makes the vinyl plank installation process much more manageable. Using an oscillating saw, undercut the door jambs and moldings so that the vinyl planks can slide under them for a seamless look.
- Staggering: To achieve a natural wood-look finish, make sure to stagger the vinyl planks. Avoid aligning the end joints from row to row. It's usually recommended to stagger the joints a few inches apart.
- Expansion: Like any flooring material, vinyl planks will expand and contract with changes in temperature and humidity. Ensure you leave an expansion gap around the room's perimeter.
Bathrooms and Patterns
It's important to take steps to manage moisture issues and mix up your planks to achieve a more natural pattern.
- Bathrooms: In moisture-prone areas such as bathrooms, consider using a vinyl adhesive to prevent water from seeping under the flooring. Apply the adhesive to the subfloor, and then lay the vinyl plank on top of it.
- Patterns: Make sure to mix planks from different boxes to blend the dye lots and textures for a more natural look. This strategy helps achieve a more diverse and attractive pattern across your floor.
Installing luxury vinyl plank flooring requires precision and a little patience, but the results can be impressive. Keep these pro tips in mind during your next LVP installation to create a durable and beautiful floor. Remember, if the installation process seems too daunting, it's always best to hire a professional.
For more info about luxury vinyl plank installation, contact a local company.
