Installation of Resilient Vinyl Plank Floor

Preparation

• Place the vinyl plank flooring in or near the room where it will be installed. This needs to be done about 48 hours before you begin installing. Remove any furniture and baseboards. Vacuum the subfloor. Use soap and water and a stiff brush to scrub the floor. Allow it to dry completely. You should make any repairs at this time. Nails that have popped loose will need to be hammered back into place and any holes or cuts will need to be filled. Remove any bits of concrete or bumps from glue as well. The subfloor must be clean, smooth and level since the vinyl plank flooring is resilient and will conform to the surface it is installed over.

Adhesives

• Vinyl plank flooring comes with different types of adhesive applications. Some planks arrive with a factory-applied adhesive. This is a very easy install since you simply peel off the backing paper and install the planks. Other planks need to have adhesive applied to the flooring before installation. The vinyl floor manufacturers will recommend the correct adhesive to use on their products.

Tools

• There are not many tools needed to install resilient vinyl plank flooring. You will need floor leveling compound if the subfloor is not level. A mop, broom and vacuum are necessary for getting a clean, dust-free surface for the adhesive to adhere to. You should have a utility knife, a ruler and a carpenter's square for cutting and measuring the planks. You may need tile spacers to keep the planks an equal distance from walls. The last tool you will need is a 100-pound floor roller. These can be rented at many home improvement stores.

Installation

• Installation begins by laying a line of planks against the longest and straightest wall in the room. Do a dry fit first, without adhesive or removing the paper backing. If you need to cut any planks for fit, use carpenter's square and knife, scoring a line on the backside of the plank, then snapping in two. If you are happy with the fit, begin by laying the corner plank in place, applying adhesive according to the manufacturer's directions. Continue along the line using spacers if necessary along the wall. Press down firmly where two planks join. continue with the next row, being sure to stagger joints from the preceding row. Once all rows are complete, roll the floor with a 100-pound roller to help the adhesive bond firmly.