Do you want to give your home a makeover with luxury vinyl flooring? Luxury vinyl flooring is a popular choice for homeowners who want a durable, water-resistant, and easy-to-clean flooring option. It also comes in a wide range of styles and colors to suit any taste and décor. But what if you want to save money and install luxury vinyl flooring yourself? Don’t worry, it’s not as difficult as you might think. You can do it yourself in just 5 simple steps. Here’s how:
Step 1: Get the Subfloor Ready
The first thing you need to do before installing your luxury vinyl flooring is to prepare the subfloor. The subfloor is the surface that your flooring will be attached to. It can be made of wood, concrete, or plywood. The subfloor is uneven, you will need to level it with a self-leveling compound or sand it down as needed. You also need to remove any existing flooring, baseboards, and door jambs that might get in the wat of the installation. And don’t forget to clean the subfloor thoroughly to remove any dust or dirt.
Step 2: Plan the Layout
The next thing you need to do is to plan how you want to arrange your luxury vinyl planks. You can choose to install them parallel to the longest wall, perpendicular to the longest wall, or at an angle for a more dynamic look. You also need to measure the width and length of the room and divide them by the width and length of the planks to determine how many planks you will need and how much you will need to trim them. A good tip is to start and end with planks that are at least half the width of a full plank. You can use a chalk line or a straightedge to mark the starting line on the subfloor.
Step 3: Install the First Row
Now you are ready to install the first row of planks. Depending on the type of luxury vinyl flooring you have, you will either need to glue them down, snap them together, or use a special adhesive strip to join them. For this example, we will use a snap-together vinyl plank flooring that creates a floating floor. A floating floor is not attached to the subfloor, but rather floats on top of it.
To install the first row, you need to place spacers along the walls to leave a gap of about ¼ inches for expansion. Then, take the first plank and align it with the starting line and press it down firmly. Make sure that the groove side of the plank faces the wall. Then, take the second plank and align it with the end of the first plank and snap them together by angling them slightly and pushing them down until they lock into place. Repeat this process until you reach the end of the row. You may need to cut the last plank to fit using a utility knife, a vinyl cutter, or a saw.
Step 4: Install the Remaining Rows
To install the remaining rows, you need to stagger the joints between planks, so they don’t line up with each other. This will create a more natural and attractive look for your floor. To do this, you can use a different length of plank for each row. To install each row, you need to align the groove side of the plank with the tongue side of the previous roe and snap them together by angling them slightly and pushing them down until they lock into place. You may need to use a tapping block and a rubber mallet to tap them gently into place if they are tight. Repeat this process until you cover the entire floor.
Step 5: Finish Up
The final step is to finish up your installation by removing the spacers and installing baseboards or quarter round molding along the walls to cover up the gaps. You may also need to trim or undercut any door jambs or casings that are too low for your flooring to slide under. You can use an oscillating multi-tools or a hand saw for this task. Then, use a hand roller or a floor roller to press down on your flooring and ensure that it is fully adhered and locked into place. And that’s it! You have successfully installed your luxury vinyl flooring yourself in 5 simple steps.
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