itbrokeagain
SILVER Star
I am going to rip up the carpet in the family room and install vinyl planks that look like hard wood. Can anyone give me a few tips? Never layed flooring before.
laying vinyl floor
- Thread starter itbrokeagain
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I put the Trafficmaster Allure brand vinyl down in my living room, it is a piece of cake. Make sure the subfloor is free of any bumps or cracks over 3/16" or so, this type of flooring is not as forgiving as laminate or solid wood as far as showing imperfections in the subfloor. For tools you will need a speed square, tape measure, and a razor knife. A roller is nice to have, but if you walk each seam it really isn't necessary. I laid mine directly on the concrete slab, no underlayment. It sticks to itself, I haven't had any loose pieces in the 2 years since I put it down. It has held up pretty well, especially considering the price and how easy it is to put down.
Edit: Try to get boxes from the same run, there might be variation in the color if you mix production runs.
Edit: Try to get boxes from the same run, there might be variation in the color if you mix production runs.
Redgrrr
I have a problem with 40s
While installing have 3-5 boxes open and pull material at random to make the flooring blend better.
Stager your butt seams so they don't line up and grab your eyeballs attention
In areas where moisture is gonna be an issue, such as the kitchen and near exterior doors. Use seam glue to keep those seams from expanding.
Lastly if installing over concrete a moisture barrier is always required. The high end stuff usually has it on the underside already.
For tools it's nice to have
1. battery powered skill saw to make quick cuts
2. A side saw or under cut saw for door jams.
3. That weird little pry bar they sell right by the flooring. its kinda shaped like a 7 bar with 2 opposite 90 degree angles so when you get to the wall you can tighten your butt seams
4. Maybe a jigsaw and or a hand saw to finish cuts made with skill saw
I've done a bunch of these floors and still read the instructions all the way through before you lay your first plank.
When you think you know it all is when you screw something up. Which I've always learned the hard way
Have fun!
Stager your butt seams so they don't line up and grab your eyeballs attention
In areas where moisture is gonna be an issue, such as the kitchen and near exterior doors. Use seam glue to keep those seams from expanding.
Lastly if installing over concrete a moisture barrier is always required. The high end stuff usually has it on the underside already.
For tools it's nice to have
1. battery powered skill saw to make quick cuts
2. A side saw or under cut saw for door jams.
3. That weird little pry bar they sell right by the flooring. its kinda shaped like a 7 bar with 2 opposite 90 degree angles so when you get to the wall you can tighten your butt seams
4. Maybe a jigsaw and or a hand saw to finish cuts made with skill saw
I've done a bunch of these floors and still read the instructions all the way through before you lay your first plank.
When you think you know it all is when you screw something up. Which I've always learned the hard way
Have fun!
Redgrrr
I have a problem with 40s
Three more tips:
1. When starting out I like to either start out on the longest exterior wall or the main wall down the center of the house. If there is big whoop-T-dooS in that wall scribe them out of your starter strips!
These are usually the straightest walls and the walls that the framers squared off from to set the rest of the walls up.
2. Chalk out a couple reference lines that you can square up to.
After you get about three feet out from your starter wall and you can move the assembled section of floor still. Square your last edge up to the line and make sure you have the specified expansion gap on all cut edges... This is very important!
3. Sometimes the seams can be hard to set, there is no exception all seams must be fully locked in. Don't give up, using a rubber mallet tap the seams while putting pressure towards the seam....
Good job I love it when a home owner steps up and conquers easy projects like this!
1. When starting out I like to either start out on the longest exterior wall or the main wall down the center of the house. If there is big whoop-T-dooS in that wall scribe them out of your starter strips!
These are usually the straightest walls and the walls that the framers squared off from to set the rest of the walls up.
2. Chalk out a couple reference lines that you can square up to.
After you get about three feet out from your starter wall and you can move the assembled section of floor still. Square your last edge up to the line and make sure you have the specified expansion gap on all cut edges... This is very important!
3. Sometimes the seams can be hard to set, there is no exception all seams must be fully locked in. Don't give up, using a rubber mallet tap the seams while putting pressure towards the seam....
Good job I love it when a home owner steps up and conquers easy projects like this!
Last edited:
itbrokeagain
SILVER Star
- Thread starter
- #5
Sorry it took so long to get back. Been busy. Ended up with laminate. Very easy. Only way it would be easier is buy the stuff with the padding attached. Did about 415 sqft. I'm ready to do the rest of the house. My wife vetoed that idea. I do have a question. What would happened if I didn't us padding?
I agree with @jts560, try picking up vinyl floors of the same box to avoid having a mismatch colors. Putting a vinyl floor seems more better than linoleum or a tiles, which seems more expensive.
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