Vinyl plank flooring has quickly become one of the most popular types of flooring on the market today. With the realistic looks and level of durability that it can provide, it is really an appealing option for many people. Some types of vinyl plank flooring come with a peel and stick feature that makes installation extremely simple.
What You'll Need
What You'll Need
- Utility knife
- Tape measure
- Straightedge
- Roller
- Peel and stick vinyl plank flooring
Step 1- Calculate Flooring Needs
In order to properly install vinyl plank flooring in your home, you will first have to determine how much you need. With vinyl planks, this is very simple as you only need to know your square footage. Use your tape measure to get the dimensions of the rooms that you are covering. Take the length times the width for each room and multiply for the square footage. Add together the square footage from each individual room and then add 10 percent for overage.
Step 2- Select the Planks
Once you know exactly how much you need, you can decide on what type of flooring you want. You could get a wood-look floor or vinyl planks that look like tile or natural stone. Spend some time and select the pattern that you want.
Step 3- Acclimate the Planks
Once you have received the vinyl planks, allow them to sit in the environment in which they will be installed for 24 hours. This will allow the vinyl to expand and contract to the level that it will be after it is installed and prevent any gaps after installation.
Step 4- Prepare the Sub Floor
Make sure that the sub floor that you are planning on installing on is clean and free of debris. You should sweep and vacuum away any dirt and make sure that you have a smooth surface for the adhesive to stick to.
Step 5- Leave an Expansion
Start in one corner of the room and leave about 1/4 inch expansion gap around the outside edge. Vinyl planks will expand and contract, and this gap will allow it to move freely. You can cover up the gap with baseboards or quarter round after installation.
Step 6- Lay the Planks
Start by peeling off the protective layer of one of the planks and exposing the adhesive. Once you take off the protective layer, you should stick the vinyl plank to the floor immediately. Take the protective layer off of another plank and place it next to the first. It works best if you work in rows until you get all the way across a room.
Step 7- Finishing a Row
When you get to a wall, you will need to cut the planks to fit. Measure the distance between the last plank and the wall. Subtract 1/4 inch and mark that distance on a plank. Lay your straightedge down on the top of the plank. Run your utility knife across the plank, next to the straightedge so that you make a straight cut. You should now have a piece that fits perfectly between the wall and the last plank in the row with the small expansion gap.
Step 8- Finishing Up
Continue laying row after row until the floor is complete. You can then install baseboards or quarter round around the outside to cover up the gap between the vinyl and the wall. Your floor should now be ready to walk on.
Source: www.DoItYourself.com
