How Long Does It Take To Install Vinyl Plank

Installing vinyl plank flooring is an piece of cake beginner-friendly project. Get all the details of how to prep the floor and install step-by-step!

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We needed to install new flooring in our kitchen/entryway/staircase area. It needed to be durable, waterproof, and easy to maintain.

We did accept vinyl plank flooring in these areas previously just it was very poor quality – you could encounter information technology ripple and was starting to pop up in various areas – condign a trip risk very fast.  During the demo, we institute that the underlayment in the area with issues was very flimsy and there was a threshold screwed into it and both of these could be the reason for the problems.

***This project is sponsored past The Home Depot. Thank you for supporting the brands that make information technology possible to bring you new projects***

For the new floor, nosotros did a lot of enquiry and ultimately decided to go with LifeProof Vinyl Plank Flooring that is exclusively available at The Home Depot.

Why we chose LifeProof Vinyl Plank Flooring

To be honest, when nosotros showtime started researching replacement flooring options, we were trying to find an culling to vinyl floor because of our experience with the previous floor. Subsequently chatting with multiple flooring experts, we decided on LifeProof Vinyl Plank Flooring!

Hither's why:

• Information technology has an inner rigid core
• Information technology has a pre-attached underlayment making information technology non only easy-to-install but also quiet
• The depression-gloss sheen gave it a very realistic woods texture and feel.
• And of course, information technology is waterproof and durable making information technology an excellent pick for the areas we were considering – kitchen and entryway.

This was the start time we were tackling a flooring project and once we got a hang of information technology, it was so much easier to install than I had expected and I'thou going to bear witness y'all exactly how to prep for it and lay it down.

Beginner's Guide - How To Install Vinyl Plank Flooring - Anika'south DIY Life

How to ready the floor for vinyl plank floor

The great thing about vinyl plank flooring is that it can be installed over vinyl, tile or hardwood. The manufacturer instructions that come with the flooring in every box are very detailed and an excellent reference point. Here are the major things we did:

• Remove any uneven old vinyl
• Make sure the floor is level within a quarter inch. If it is non, you lot need to level it with a floor patch or similar floor leveling compound.
• Fill any large dents or grooves deeper than a quarter inch with a floor patch
• Check for and push in any nails sticking out of the subfloor.
• Remove baseboards and label them for re-use. Alternatively, y'all tin can exit the baseboards in identify and subsequently add shoe-molding to cover the gap between the new floor and wall.
• Of import – Vinyl plank flooring is a floating floor and needs to exist able to move around with contraction and expansion and cannot accept any immovable permanent fixtures on information technology. If yous intend to add together any new cabinets or built-ins in the room you need to practice that before you install the flooring. (We added new cabinets for our kitchen)

• LifeProof Vinyl Plank Flooring in the colour of your choice. Nosotros picked Dusk Cherry because nosotros loved the low-cal beige with gray undertones and the variations in the blueprint.
• Matching Reducer or T-mold (as needed).
• Matching Stair nose (if installing on the staircase)
• Quarter Round – for around cabinets (match to flooring or become pre-primed)
• Flooring installation kit (includes spacers, tapping block, S-bar, and a mallet)
• Shop Vacuum
• A manner to cut the planks
  • Utility pocketknife/ miter saw
  • Table saw
  • Jigsaw/ hand saw
• Oscillating multitool (or a flush-cut handsaw)
• Construction adhesive (for staircase install)
• Pin nailer (for staircase install)

How much flooring to social club

When ordering flooring be sure to lodge 10 to fifteen% actress over what your square footage is to business relationship for the waste material. In that location will be cut-offs at the ends, but you might damage boards or you might make a wrong cut – you don't desire to run out of flooring in the eye of your project.

Planning the floor layout

Earlier kickoff the install, there are a few things yous need to practise to make sure the install goes smoothly:

Which direction to install vinyl plank flooring

Typically, it is suggested to go parallel to the longest wall simply it is not necessary. In our example, since it was in the kitchen, we decided to run it parallel to the cabinets for symmetry. Once you decide the direction of the planks, stand looking at the largest wall from which the planks will come up towards you. You want to starting time at the left corner of that wall. To arrive even clearer – when you install a plank – the tongue of the long side and the groove of the curt side should go towards the wall.

Measure and map out the area

This would exist actually unproblematic for a rectangular room but our area included an entryway dining space kitchen surface area and a little pantry and so it was a bit complicated. Brand certain to measure every unmarried border-to-edge dimension.

Width of first and last row

Divide the width of the room by the width of the plank to make certain you lot don't end up with skinny planks in the last row. If you finish upwardly with a plank that is less than one-half-width, you can dissever the difference and suit for information technology in the get-go row.

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Showtime and last plank in each row

It needs to be at least 8″ long AND the seams demand to exist staggered by at least viii″ in adjoining rows. So exist certain to summate for that and accommodate before y'all begin each row.

How to install vinyl plank flooring

LifeProof Vinyl Plank Floor has a click-lock system which makes information technology super like shooting fish in a barrel to install.

Transitions

If yous will have transitions between the new vinyl flooring and any existing floor or carpet, you will need appropriate reducers. Cutting and install the metallic strips that come with the reducer before beginning. At the end of the project, you tin simply click the reducers into these metal strips.

If you lot have up to a quarter-inch step betwixt areas you lot can use a T-molding. We had sometime tile in 1 expanse and erstwhile vinyl in the other and the height divergence was as well much for the vinyl plank flooring to install across just not plenty for a reducer. This was a good candidate for the T-molding.

Clean up

Before installing, thoroughly vacuum the area where you will be installing the floor with a store vacuum to get rid of any debris. Any droppings getting stuck under the plank or in the locking system volition only cause problems during the install.

Cut vinyl plank floor

There are many ways to cutting vinyl plank flooring.

• Using a utility knife – you can simply score the front of the plank with a utility knife a couple of times and snap the board. Be conscientious to continue the knife at the same location as you score.
• Using power saws – you can apply a miter saw to crosscut and a table saw to rip the boards. The dust from cutting the vinyl boards is pretty nasty, so make sure to practice it outdoors or with a skillful quality dust extraction organization.
• Using a Jigsaw or hand saw – if you need to cut shapes to go effectually cabinets or walls, use a jigsaw or a handsaw to cut it out. Exist sure to utilize a general-purpose blade in the jigsaw. Learn how to use a jigsaw here.

Installing the first row

• Cut out and remove the tongue part of the planks using a utility knife. This is the side that will be facing the wall.
• Snap the short edges of the planks together with a few taps of a mallet.
• Once the row is set, push button it to the wall using quarter inch spacers betwixt the wall and the planks.

Installing the second row

• The first plank of the 2d row is a pretty straightforward – only hook information technology onto the  previous row and snap into identify using the tapping block from the installation kit.
• For the adjacent plank –  hook it onto the long edge at 45 degrees. Gently push it over towards the previous plank and driblet it down.  You should be able to push it together with your fingers and follow with a few taps of a mallet on the short side to make them snug.

• Hook the plastic tapping block from the installation kit on the side and tap it to push button the edges together until they are all snug.

And then just repeat the procedure once more and again and again.

You tin utilise the cutoffs from the terminate of 1 row to start the next row to minimize wastage.

Installing near door jambs

The flooring should be laid under the door jamb for a make clean look since it cannot cover information technology with trim. Affluent-cut the jamb using a scrap piece of the vinyl plank as a guide and using an aquiver multi-tool or handheld flush cut saw.

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How to install final row

For planks at the very end where yous may not have enough infinite to use the tapping block, the installation kit comes with an S-shaped bar that can be used to pull the planks together.

How to install vinyl plank flooring on stairs

Installing vinyl plank flooring on stairs is pretty straightforward.

• Cutting a plank to fit on the stair riser (if using). I did not practise this.
• Cutting the plank and stair nose to fit the step. The plank would need to be ripped down to be accommodated behind the stair nose. This tin can exist done on a table saw or with a mitt saw. Make sure it is a snug fit.
• Apply a construction adhesive to adhere the stair riser (if applicable), the plank, and the stair olfactory organ and push information technology in identify.

• Add a few pivot nails to hold information technology in place and apply weight.

Installing stair noses on open up corners

On stairs with open up corners, cut the stair noses at 45-degrees and wrap them around for a clean finished expect.

Important tips for installing

1. Be sure to vacuum betwixt each and every plank – especially when you have cutting the plank to get rid of whatever droppings.
2. Information technology is but a few taps for each plank.  In fact, if you have to utilize whatever corporeality of excessive forcefulness, you are probably doing it wrong and no matter how much you lot pound it, information technology volition never piece of work.
3. If the planks are not sitting snug, audit the plank and the locking mechanism for droppings and clean it out.
4. Be careful holding the plastic block while tapping, if the block or mallet slips you tin can damage the locking mechanism of the lath.
5. Equally you are laying downwards the flooring, be certain to mix upward boxes so that the colors and patterns and shades are well mixed up throughout the room.
6. Remember to get out the quarter-inch spacing around all edges – like cabinets. These volition get covered past the quarter round.

How long does it take to install

The answer to that will plain depend on the surface area you accept to cover and how many complicated cuts are involved. Nosotros had about 500 sq ft including stair noses with lots of corners and cutouts for the cabinets and it took my married man and me ii full 8-hr days plus another 3-hour twenty-four hours to lay downward all the flooring including the staircase (non including the demo).

Finishing touches

• Once the flooring is installed, re-install the baseboards, caulk, and paint them. Be conscientious to not drive nails into the flooring. If you lot had decided not to remove the baseboards, you can cover upwards the gap using base shoe molding.
• Add a quarter round trim around the cabinets to comprehend up the gaps. You lot can either install quarter-round to match the flooring, or you can install pre-primed quarter round and pigment to lucifer the cabinets.
• Install the reducers and transitions equally needed. These simply click into the metal strip that was previously installed and can be gently tapped in with a mallet.

The floor went downward smoothly and I am so glad nosotros did it ourselves. The new floors are squeamish and vivid, feel awesome under the anxiety and are durable. Plus the install was super easy with the click to lock solution.

I think Life Proof Vinyl Plank Flooring from The Home Depot is a bully option for a beginner DIY flooring install to get your hands muddied and save a couple grand dollars in the process.

Be certain to check out more virtually LifeProof Vinyl Plank Flooring at The Abode Depot. They have a huge range of DIY-friendly floor options.

Check out all the projects in my kitchen remodel here.

Tools

• Shop Vacuum
• Utility knife
• Table saw or jigsaw
• Oscillating multitool
• Pin nailer

Instructions

1. Order flooring. Be sure to add an extra ten%-15% to allow for mistakes and cut-offs
2. Determine which way direction you will lay the floor.
3. Mensurate and map the expanse.
4. Figure out the width of the commencement and last row.
5. Cut and install metal strips that come with the reducer for transitions before laying any flooring.
6. Before installing, thoroughly vacuum the area where y'all volition exist installing the flooring with a shop vacuum to get rid of any debris.
7. Install the starting time row by cutting out and removing the tongue role of the planks with a utility knife.  Once the row is fix, button it to the wall using quarter inch spacers between the wall and the planks.
8. Install the second row past hooking the kickoff plank onto the the previous row and snap into place using the borer cake from the installation kit. For the next plank, hook it onto the long edge at 45 degrees. Gently push it over towards the previous plank and drop it down. And so repeat until all the flooring is laid.
9. Pull the concluding row in line using the S-bar in the installation kit.
10. Re-install baseboards, caulk and paint them.
11. Install reducers and transitions as needed into the metal strip that was previously installed.

Installing vinyl plank flooring on stairs

1. Cutting a plank to fit on the stair riser (if using). I did non do this.
2. Cut the plank and stair olfactory organ to fit the step. The plank would need to be ripped down to be accommodated behind the stair olfactory organ. This can be done on a table saw or with a hand saw. Make sure it is a snug fit.
3. Apply a construction adhesive to adhere the stair riser (if applicable), the plank, and the stair nose and push it in place. Add a few pin nails to hold in identify and use weight.
4. On stairs with open corners, cutting the stair noses at 45-degrees and wrap them effectually for a clean finished wait.
   

Source: https://www.anikasdiylife.com/installing-vinyl-plank-flooring/

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