Renovation-Headquarters Banner

How To Install Vinyl Plank Flooring - Part 3

  1. Continue adding vinyl planks until you reach the end of the room, cut the last plank to fit, allowing a 1/8 inch space between the vertical surfaces on both ends of the room, as shown in Figure 5.
  1. Note: The minimum length of any vinyl plank should be 8 inches. If the length of the last vinyl plank is less than 8 inches remove an appropriate amount from the first vinyl plank.
  1. Move back to the left hand side of the room and start the installation of the second row of vinyl planks. To start, you can use the piece that you cut from the last vinyl plank of the first row as the first piece of the vinyl planking for the second row, providing it is at least 8 inches long, as shown in Figure 6.
  2. first row of vinyl planks in position
    Figure 5 - First row of vinyl planks in position
    start second row of vinyl planks
    Figure 6 - Start second row of vinyl planks
  3. Continue adding vinyl planks until the room is complete.
  4. Note: Joints should be staggered a minimum of 6 inches from a joint in a previous row and should not repeat their position for at least 3 rows minimum.
  5. Note: After the installation of every two rows of vinyl plank flooring check that the rows are still straight using a string as a guide.
  1. Note: Walls are never truly 100% straight or parallel, because of this it may be necessary to scribe the end vinyl planks in order to have them fit properly to vertical surfaces.
  2. Once the floor is completely laid use a 100 lb. vinyl floor roller over the entire vinyl plank flooring in both directions. A hand roller can be used under baseboards or in other areas where the 100 lb. roller will not fit.
  1. Install the baseboard, moldings and other trim around the parameter of the room.
  2. Note: If the vinyl plank flooring is being installed in a bathroom it is wise to use a bead of silicon or acrylic caulk around the parameter of the room.

  3. Note: When nailing or screwing any molding or trims it is important that the fasteners do not penetrate the vinyl plank flooring. Always nail into the wall or in the gap between finished flooring and never clamp the vinyl plank flooring between the floor and the trim or molding, as shown in Figures 7 & 8.

    incorrect method of nailing floor trim above vinyl plank flooring
    Figure 7 - Incorrect method of nailing floor trim above vinyl plank flooring
    Correct method of nailing floor trim above vinyl plank flooring
    Figure 8 - Correct method of nailing floor trim above vinyl plank flooring

Note: When moving heavy furniture or appliances across a vinyl plank floor always lay some plywood over the floor to protect the floor from shifting and gouging.

Part 1

Part 2