Luxury Vinyl Plank may be one of the toughest floors on the market, but installing Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) is fairly easy—especially if you use these tricks and installation tips.
Luxury vinyl plank floors should be brought into the room to acclimate 48 hours before installation.
This is one of the most import steps every do-it-yourselfer needs for installing Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring. Before installing LVP, bring the flooring into the room where it is going to be installed. The room should be at an optimal temperature between 65-85 degrees Fahrenheit and optimal humidity between 35%-65%. This simple Luxury Vinyl Plank installation step is vital to ensure that the floor does not buckle after installation because it expands and contracts as it acclimates to temperature and humidity.
Read all manufacturer instructions.
Every box of Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring comes with manufacturer instructions that should be read before installing Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring. The instructions include necessary information specifications for LVP installation. If not followed, the flooring warranty could be voided. A flooring professional can also offer tips during shopping and pick up.
Level and clean the subfloor.
Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring needs an even base, so it’s important to ensure that the subfloor is level before installing Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring. This can be particularly challenging in an older home, but the effort is well worth it so there are no issues later. In addition to leveling, the subfloor should be swept, vacuumed and wiped to ensure there is no debris during LVP installation.
Don’t install LVP over tile floors.
In some cases, Luxury Vinyl Plank can be laid over existing flooring. The most obvious exception to this rule is tile flooring because it has uneven grout lines. For that reason, DIYers should never install Luxury Vinyl Plank floors over tile floors. Don’t be afraid to ask a flooring pro for other tips for installing Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring.
Use shims and a small flooring piece to ensure a quality install.
Like many floors, Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring should be installed with an expansion gap. This gap should be left between the floor and the wall because the flooring can buckle if it expands and has nowhere to go. The exact expansion gap measurement should be in the manufacturer guide.
In the same way, door trim should be removed to allow room for the LVP. A small scrap of flooring can be used to ensure that there is adequate room so your install goes smooth—and you can enjoy a quality Luxury Vinyl Plank flooring installation for years to come.
