How to install floating vinyl plank flooring in 5 easy steps

Installing vinyl plank can freshen up and transform any room. Thanks to incredible advancements in the flooring industry, vinyl plank is a great option for an easy install with a big impact. As a flooring store that offers vinyl plank in Cochrane, we provide our customers with expert tips on their DIY projects. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started.

Tools and materials needed

• Floating vinyl plank
  *vinyl flooring can come in tiles or sheets, but this article will focus on installing click plank*
• Tape measure
• Level or straight edge
• Floor and tile spacers
• Metal putty knife or pry bar
• Power saw
• Jamb saw
• Power sander
• Tapping block and soft-faced hammer
• Floor patch

Step 1: Plan and prepare

The quality of your installation will greatly depend on how well you’ve planned and prepared beforehand. Your subfloor must be clean, free of moisture, and level within a ¼ inch in a 4-foot span. While vinyl plank can be installed on most flat surfaces, it should not be installed on floating floors, laminate, or on top of carpet.

For a smooth installation:

• Measure the room, double-check and then triple check the measurements
• Purchase 10% more flooring to account for cutting floors, waste, and to anticipate any potential issues
• Check the level of the floor
• Sand down the high spots with the coarsest sanding belt you can find
• Fill low areas with floor patch
• Vacuum the area thoroughly
• Lay out your vinyl plank flooring to check the colour, shade mixture, and check for damages or visible discrepancies

Step 2: Remove baseboards and thresholds and undercut doorjambs

You can either use a metal putty knife or a pry bar to remove the baseboards and thresholds. Using a putty knife to gently wiggle behind the baseboard reduces the chances of damaging the paint on the walls. Start at one end of the baseboard and carefully move along the trim.

Using a small scrap of flooring as a guide, take your jamb saw or an oscillating tool to trim door jambs and casings. After removing the baseboards, thresholds, and undercutting the doorjambs, remember to run a vacuum once again through the room to make sure the space is thoroughly clean.

Step 3: Insert floor spacers

Floating vinyl plank flooring expands with temperature changes, so it’s important to leave an expansion gap along the walls. Create about a ¼-inch to ⅜-inch gap between the flooring and the walls with floor spacers placed throughout the length of the wall. Allow at least two spacers for each plank. Be sure to keep these spacers in place during installation.

Step 4: Measure the room

As mentioned above, measure the room once, twice, and triple-check for a smooth installation. Measure the length and width of the room in inches. Taking the length, divide this number by the length of the planks. You want to avoid having planks that are less than 8 inches on opposite ends of the room. You’ll need to cut your first plank accordingly if the number is less than 8 inches.

Next, measure the width of the room and divide by the width of the plank. You want to avoid having planks that are less than 2 inches wide and again, cutting the floor accordingly. This is an important step to ensure that the flooring is centred. Use a power saw to cut planks and through the underpad of the plank.

Step 5: Begin installation

Install one row at a time and snap the planks in the first row from end-to-end. Use a tapping block and soft-faced hammer to carefully square the joints and secure the planks into place. Work your way through the room, taking breaks and stretching in-between. You’ll be spending quite some time on your knees, so we recommend knee pads to relieve fatigue. If you have a plank that’s not clicking into place, check the grooves and tongue for debris.

What you need to know before buying vinyl flooring

Vinyl flooring has increased in popularity over the last few years because of its unique benefits. As a professional flooring store in Cochrane with a finger on the pulse of what customers are looking for, we’ve seen the demand for vinyl flooring grow. Before choosing vinyl flooring for your next project, here are some important things you need to know.

Vinyl flooring comes in two types

Vinyl flooring comes in sheet flooring and tile. Sheet flooring is typically 6 or 12 feet wide while tiles are 9 or 12 square inches. Luxury vinyl tile comes in plank shapes 7 inches by 48 inches long. Both sheet flooring and tile are available in a wide variety of colours, designs, and quality grades.

There are different types of vinyl flooring finishes

Flooring stores in Cochrane offer three types of vinyl flooring finishes that provide beautiful results. The right finish depends on the area and the use of the space. The three types include:

• No-wax finish – The lightest finish ideal for areas with light foot traffic and minimal exposure to moisture.
• Urethane finish – Resistant to scuffing and easy to clean, ideal for areas with moderate foot traffic.
• Enhanced urethane finish – Can stand up to heavy foot traffic and is easy to maintain. Ideal for households with pets.

Vinyl flooring has improved over the last few years

For some, vinyl flooring comes with visions of homes built in the 70’s with peeling, warped, or yellowing vinyl floors. Thankfully, this is not the case with modern vinyl flooring. Advancements in technology have greatly improved vinyl flooring in the last few decades and now rival hardwood, stone, and tile.

High-quality vinyl flooring is made with several thin layers that make them durable and resistant to scratches and stains. These layers include:

• PVC backing layer for strong support
• Fibreglass layer to ensure the flooring is even
• Foam or felt cushion layer for comfort
• Design layer with a high-resolution print
• Clear layer to protect the design layer
• Topcoat layer for durability and protection

Vinyl flooring is quieter to walk on

One of the main advantages of vinyl flooring over other flooring materials like hardwood, stone, tile, and laminate is that it is quieter to walk on. With the layer of cushion and flexible PVC plastic, vinyl provides a softer surface for better comfort. This is especially beneficial for homes with young children and older seniors.

Vinyl is ideal for bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, and entryways

Vinyl plank flooring is moisture-resistant and can stand up to spills, snow, mud, and dirt without staining. This makes vinyl flooring a great option for mudrooms, entryways, kitchens, bathrooms, basements, and any area where there can be moisture.

Although vinyl is resistant to water damage, keep in mind that any type of flooring installation should start with a dry subfloor to ensure long-lasting results. With a quality installation, vinyl flooring cannot warp or fold and will last for decades.

Tips and tricks for installing vinyl plank over concrete floors

Vinyl plank flooring is designed to be an inexpensive and easy-to-install alternative to traditional hardwood floors. Installation requires minimal tools to achieve new, beautiful flooring for virtually any space. While vinyl plank flooring is simple to install, there are a few tips and tricks that will help you achieve great results. Today, we’re focusing on installing vinyl plank over concrete subfloors.

Use an underlayment

Unlike other subfloors, you may want to use an underlayment over concrete floors as an extra vapour barrier and added cushion. Underlayments can also provide thermal properties for the colder months in Calgary. Vinyl plank and laminate flooring stores typically offer different types of underlayment, with foam or rubber as the recommended material over concrete.

Prep your subfloor

As flooring experts, we always recommend that the surface is flat before installing vinyl plank floors. If there are visible grooves and dips in your concrete subfloor, you’ll need to level the floor out for a successful installation process. The subfloor and/or underlayment needs to be dry, clean, and free of debris when you begin to place the vinyl planks.

Undercut doorjambs and door casings

Undercutting jambs and casings allow you to slide the vinyl planks underneath for a seamless floor installation. For small home projects, we recommend using a handheld jamb saw. For larger projects with many doorways, a power jamb saw will get the job done efficiently. You can also use jamb saws to undercut baseboards; however, we typically recommend removing the baseboards before installing the vinyl floor planks.

Plan the layout ahead of time

For a successful installation process, it’s important to plan the layout ahead of time. This helps ensure that installation is done with minimal issues. When it comes to floor installation, there’s no such thing as being too prepared!

Be sure to:

• Measure the room precisely
• Mark down any obstructions or angled walls that require measuring and cutting
• Leave a 1/4-inch gap at the wall and at the ends
• Test fit the row of planks
• Stagger the planks at least 6 inches from the end joints in the previous row
• Cut planks to size and cut for protrusions

The pros and cons of vinyl plank flooring

Vinyl plank flooring is a popular flooring choice for modern homes and businesses. It mimics the look of hardwood at a much lower price while providing a beautiful aesthetic for virtually any space.

If you’re in the market for choosing a reliable flooring option, it helps to know the advantages and disadvantages of each product. In this article, we take a closer look at the pros and cons of vinyl plank flooring. 

What is vinyl plank flooring?

This flooring option is essentially vinyl flooring that comes in strips (planks) rather than the traditional tile shapes. However, technology and innovation have greatly improved the construction of vinyl flooring. It is manufactured with:

• A backing layer made of semi-rigid vinyl
• A design layer that mimics the look of wood or stone
• A clear film layer that protects against damage
• A topmost layer to prevent scratching and scuffs

What are the pros of vinyl plank flooring?

Homeowners enjoy the following advantages of vinyl plank:

• 100% water-resistant, making it an ideal option for households with children and pets
• Durable and can withstand heavy traffic in kitchens, bathrooms, and living rooms
• Easy to maintain with regular sweeping and weekly mopping
• Stable and sturdy construction with a range of thickness options
• Versatile designs and colours to match any space
• Can be installed on nearly any level subfloor
• DIY installation with a click-lock or loose-lay method
• More affordable than real hardwood flooring

What are the cons of vinyl plank flooring? 

As with any product, vinyl flooring does have its disadvantages, including:

• Punctures easily with sharp objects 
• Can show signs of denting under heavy equipment
• Not UV-resistant and can fade or show signs of discolouration over time
• Not a biodegradable option 
• Unlike real hardwood, vinyl does not add value to your home

Key takeaways

Vinyl plank is an excellent flooring option that provides the contemporary look of real wood without the price tag. Homeowners love the waterproof construction and the durability, as well as the ability to install it over most subfloors. With easy installation, durability, and simplicity in maintenance and care, it’s easy to see why vinyl plank continues to be one of the most popular flooring options today.  

What Are The Pros Of A Marble Countertop?

The elegance of marble brings a timeless feel to any home that no man-made material can duplicate. Choosing classic marble for your kitchen countertops offers many benefits. At Riverbend Interiors Floors & Decor, our clients enjoy the following advantages of installing custom marble kitchen countertops in their home.

Affordability

Although marble gives your kitchen countertops a luxurious look, marble is often less costly to install than granite, quartz, or other natural stone countertop material. The cost of marble varies depending on what type of style and thickness you choose.

Durability

Though not as resistant to scratches and etches than granite, marble kitchen countertops can retain their beauty for years with the proper application and care. When choosing marble, our experts at Riverbend Interiors Floors & Decor can help guide you on how to best maintain your marble countertops.

Distinctiveness

Since marble is created through a natural process, each piece gives you a unique design. The veins that you see in marble is a result of impurities trapped in the limestone or sedimentary dolomite from extreme heat and pressure.

Marble kitchen countertops come in a wide range of hues and colours to choose from. Unlike some man-made countertop materials, you’ll truly get a distinct custom marble kitchen countertop in your home.

Resistance To Heat

Though marble is heat resistant and won’t catch fire or burn, we recommend avoiding placing hot pans and pots on the surface without protection to preserve its beautiful finish. If you love to bake, marble kitchen countertops are favoured among pastry chefs as the cool surface makes working with dough much easier.

Longevity

Marble is a durable building material that has stood the test of time on some of the most ancient sculptures in the world. If installed correctly, you can enjoy your marble kitchen countertops for years and years to come.

To learn more about adding marble kitchen countertops to your home, visit us at Riverbend Interiors Floors & Decors to speak to one of our knowledgeable team members. Consider us as your partner for your next custom kitchen countertop project!