Common Mistakes When Installing Vinyl Plank Flooring

The first and foremost step is ensuring you are working on a leveled surface. Make sure you have a subfloor with no bumpy or uneven areas. That’s because they can result in planks wrapping and buckling over time. To check the floor levelness, you can use a leveler. If you notice any unevenness, address it using a leveling compound or plywood.

Aside from floor unevenness, one of the most widely found mistakes is ignoring moisture, temperature, and humidity issues. Excess moisture can cut the life of your planks and cause them to wrap. Make sure the floor is dry and free of moisture before plank fitting. The humidity levels can be examined using a moisture meter, and this issue must be addressed.

Another overlooked mistake is improper cutting and measurements, which could lead to inadequate alignment during plank fitting. Use a tape measure to get the area dimensions right. Also, use a sharp tool to cut them precisely while avoiding flaws. It is crucial to get the dimensions right for flawless plank integration.

Before you install these planks, remove the existing baseboard and trims. Unfasten the baseboards and set them aside to get the proper finish edge. By laying the plank against the wall, the baseboard will move to the edge, and the trim can either be cut or removed to ensure the perfect fit for the next plank.

Un-cut trim or door jamb is another fault most people make when laying down these luxury planks. For this purpose, you can use a transition strip, which is crucial during installation. To avoid scribing the flooring and filling it with caulk later, you must cut the trim and fit the strip under the door jamb.

Another faulty assumption is that you need specialized tools for cutting purposes. A sharp knife can be used, or you can invest in any low-cost cutting instrument to make precise, straight, and full-width cuts. Also, you can rent a miter saw from nearby carpenters for a specific duration.

Every floor demands different requirements when it comes to adhesive application. A little less or excess can result in peeling or ridge formation. Better adhesion is necessary to achieve the perfect outcomes. Spreading the glue evenly in an adequate amount is crucial for long-lasting installation.

Neglecting corners, vents, and any kind of fixtures is another fault that can generate problems during installation. To fit planks in odd corners, you need to add extra material. In addition, navigating fixtures and spanning vents is critical to ensure your vinyl plank installation goes perfectly. You can cut these planks around fixtures to meet the specific architectural features.

Plank alignment is a step that cannot be skipped to ensure a straightforward process. Figure out the pattern or dimensions for planks in advance so you have less waste and better results afterward. For a cohesive look in your installation, decide on the alignment per full or partial width to end the last row with planks of the desired size.

Error number 10 is not staggering the seams that won’t allow for natural expansion and contraction. It is crucial to deal with the gaps and holes between planks as they can cause damage to the foundation. These prominent holes can be fixed by adding wood putty or caulk so as not to allow any weak points.

Another blunder that can increase the chances of potential risk after plank fitting is rushing installation. When you lay down the planks after adhesive application, allocate the proper time to secure them and acclimate them to the floor. Each installed plank must stick to the floor firmly for long-term results.

If you think you’ve ordered the exact number of planks per room parameters and it’s enough, think again. Never make this mistake of not ordering extra planks, as you need to deal with any inevitable shortcomings at any point. That’s because the trimming of planks for perfect alignment requires extra material. Shop for at least 5-10% additional material to cover shortfalls.

Last but not least, many buyers or installers often need to pay more attention to this. Buyers must check each plank before purchasing to ensure its structural integrity. Cracked or scratched planks can cause trouble and become damaged even more after some time of installation. For long-term results, buyers must check planks’ weight and AC rating before purchasing.

Most individuals also skip the installation guidelines and neglect the manufacturer’s instructions. Following the manufacturer’s guidelines is the knowledge base at plank fitting time. Read the label to avoid errors and get assistance from any flooring company for better outcomes.