As luxury vinyl flooring grows in popularity out of the high demand for waterproof flooring and its infamous easy-installation process, we thought it would be a smart idea to give a little insight into the installation process.
As always, before you dive into a home improvement project, you’ll want to create a budget for yourself that you can stick to. There will be obvious costs like tools and materials, but some other costs may not occur to you right away, like removal and disposal of your old floor. Problems may arise that you cannot see until the project is started, like a subfloor needing repairs before a new floor can be installed. Things like moving furniture can cost you unless you are able to take care of that yourself. When calculating how much flooring you’ll need, factor in more than the square footage you’ve measured. This will cover you in the case of a flooring defect, mistakes in installation, or replacements you may need to do in the future.
Installation can vary by type of luxury vinyl flooring. Be sure to check the product page of the style you’re interested in to see what is listed in the details. We highly recommend hiring our skilled installation team at Paracca to perform your luxury vinyl installation as they are familiar with our brands and products. DIY installation can be tricky and can put your floors out of warranty.
Some luxury vinyl flooring comes with a self-adhesive that you peel off and then stick the flooring where you want it. This sounds easy, but be careful of bubbles that may occur if the vinyl is not laid out smoothly during installation. Other styles can come with a locking system, where each tile or plank will snap into one another, and the vinyl will sit above your subfloor. In other cases, the vinyl flooring will simply be glued directly to the subfloor, which can potentially get a little messy.
When installing new luxury vinyl flooring, you should always explore an underlayment. An underlayment can help smooth out any minor defects in your subfloor, add cushioning to your new floor, dampen sound, and act as a moisture barrier. There are a lot of different types of underlayment, so make sure you find one that is compatible with the luxury vinyl you are installing.
If you’re set on DIY’ing this floor, consult your floor’s warranty guide to make sure that you are following the set guidelines and don’t damage your floors in the process. There are some tools and materials you’re going to need to complete most flooring installations—first and foremost, a good pair of kneepads. You’re going to be down there for a while, and it could get uncomfortable. Kneepads will save you some pain. You’ll also most likely need a tape measure, a miter saw, jigsaw, utility knife, mallet, puller tool, straight edge, tapper, and spacers.
The type of installation is a major factor when determining whether this is a project you can take on yourself or if you should hire a professional to install your luxury vinyl floors. You should also think about the size of the room you’re redoing. The margin for error is much greater in a dining room or kitchen than in a closet or laundry room. If you do decide to hire a pro, your Local Paracca can connect you with a contractor in your area who has expert experience installing the style of floor you’ve chosen.
