In today’s market it is hard to tell real wood plank flooring from vinyl plank flooring but there are two advantages of using vinyl instead of the real thing. With the vinyl plank flooring it is waterproof, inexpensive, and easier to install. There are even incidents in which you can just put the plank flooring over an existing surface but you need to make sure that whichever surface you put it on that it is solid and smooth. You can get this type of plank flooring in regular form or self-adhesive but this type is not as durable and is a lighter gauge.
When getting ready to install the new plank flooring you first need to measure the area where you are going to put the new flooring. In order to get a more accurate measurement you will need to remove the baseboards and thresholds first. The square footage of the room will be the width of the room times the length of the room including any closets and nooks. Now you have to total the number of square feet you need and add ten percent more to allow for any errors and trim work.
Depending on the condition of the old floor you may need to strip the existing floor first but remember that the area where you are putting the new vinyl plank flooring needs to have a smooth solid foundation. If you have to remove any old vinyl or carpet you need to make sure that you have removed all of the flooring adhesive deposits are also removed. To get any floor adhesives off you may have to use a sander or a solvent that is citrus-based and a power scraper.
If the sub-floor that you are putting your vinyl plank floor on has any holes or cracks you will have to use a patching compound along with a coat of primer in order to seal it against any moisture. Now that you are ready to lay out the floor choose a wall that is in the main line of sight. It is usually the wall that is opposite the main entrance. Take the planks and lay a line out along the wall, using a T-Square to make sure that they are even and parallel to the wall. What you are doing is squaring off the room so your new floor will look attractive and be put in properly. Put a line on the floor to use as your line guide.
Make sure that you start in one corner of the room and follow you’re the line guide you have there. It has to line up exactly so it looks right. Once you finish one line you start another line with half of a plank to give it an alternate look. If there are any gaps in the flooring after laying it down you can use wood putty to fill them in. Make sure that all the vinyl planks are bonded to the floor firmly and then you can replace the baseboards and thresholds that you moved before you did your measurements.