So the first part of the next step is probably the hardest part: waiting. Sketching your layout or laying a “dry run” can help save a lot of time and headaches later by making sure the layout will turn out just how you want. Some people prefer to sketch out how the layout would look before they get started. You don’t want the first plank you see when you enter the room to be too short and you don’t want the last row of planks to be too narrow. Check to make sure that your first and last planks will be appropriate sizes. Take heed to the guide provided in our “ DIY Guide: How to Properly Prep Your Floor for Tile Installation” as these steps are the same for most hard surface flooring options. Once you know which direction you want your planks to run, it’s time to begin squaring your room. Typically if flooring a whole house, you would want the planks to run the length of the house, from the front door toward the back wall. If the room is off of a hallway, you may want to keep the boards uniform and running in the same direction as the hallway. Running your vinyl planks along the most prominent wall in the room or in the same direction as the main light source (such as a window) makes the room feel more open and is aesthetically pleasing to the eye. Some things to take into account are any natural/electrical light sources, the shape of the room, special features in the room, and of course your personal preference. This forethought is important in determining the extra materials necessary to account for cutting waste for straight-lay, you will need roughly 10% extra flooring, and for herringbone or other fancy lay patterns, we recommend having roughly 15% extra on hand. The first step in installing vinyl plank flooring is figuring out which way the planks should run. Here are some of the most common tools you’ll need to install floating vinyl planks yourself and be sure not to skimp on the knee pads: Compared to materials like tile and hardwood, vinyl plank installation can be much easier. Just like any other home project, having the right tools is absolutely essential. While simple to explain, glue-down vinyl planks require a steady hand and plenty of patience in order to get a clean looking installation, making this option better left to the pros. One plus side of gluing down vinyl planks is that it is easier to make a repair later on, as you can pop off a scratched or damaged plank, apply the new adhesive, and pop a new plank in its place. As the name suggests, this type of vinyl plank gets glued down directly onto the subfloor. Glue-down vinyl planks have their benefits as well. After all of your hard work planning, prepping, and laying your vinyl planks, the last thing you want is warped boards! Don’t worry, you’ll never see this spacing gap surrounding your finished floor, as decorative trim and shoe mold can be used to cover this space when you’re finished. This way if the flooring expands it will have the space to do so and it won’t warp or buckle in the middle. Because of vinyl flooring’s climate sensitivity, be sure to leave about a ¼-inch expansion gap around the perimeter of your floor. In this method, floating floor style vinyl planks are locked together, using a built-in tongue and groove system, and laid onto the subfloor - or can even be installed directly over an existing floor! This installation method is called “floating” because the flooring sits above the subfloor without adhesive, to allow for natural expansion and contraction due to humidity or temperature changes. For a Do-It-Yourselfer, floating or click-lock vinyl flooring is often an easier method, as there is no adhesive or mess to deal with. Vinyl plank flooring is engineered to be installed in one of two methods: glue-down or floating. Although DIY installation of vinyl plank flooring can be much easier than installing other floor coverings such as tile or carpet, Do-It-Yourselfers often don't know the common pitfalls that the pros know to avoid. Vinyl is now the ideal choice for many applications including hallways, living rooms, kitchens, and even bathrooms due to its water-resistant characteristics. With advances in vinyl flooring manufacturing and technology, modern vinyl plank flooring is available in extremely realistic wood or stone patterns and textures. Luxury vinyl plank's durability and water-resistant characteristics coupled with its ease of installation have made it a top choice for professionals and many DIY installers as well. In recent years, vinyl plank flooring has become extremely popular, for good reason.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |