DIY Click And Lock Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring

Your subfloor should be clean, level and free of cracks. Remove any carpeting or old vinyl flooring and temporarily remove the baseboards. Sometimes you may need to temporarily remove an obstacle like our vintage Malm fireplace or you can decide to install around it.
By using my shop vacuum, I ensured the floors were extremely clean and ready for the next steps.

Measure the room with a tape measure and write down the room’s length and width. Be certain to take into account a 1/4-inch gap at either end and add 10 percent additional flooring for matching and waste.

Prior to installing the TrafficMaster Rigid Core Click Lock Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring, let the product adjust to the room’s temperature and humidity by placing them in the room for at least 48 hours.

We decided to add Roberts AirGuard underlayment with Microban to add more cushioning and decrease noise. Then we picked the best corner wall to begin the installation. A great tip is to start the first flooring plank against the longest wall to keep cuts minimal.

Start at the corner of the room and lay the first plank, appropriately spaced from the wall.

The Roberts Laminate and Wood Flooring Installation Kit was ideal for this DIY project. The spacers keep the Rigid Core vinyl plank flooring from shifting as it is being installed and helps to keep that 1/4-inch space between the wall and the row of planks.

The next step is to install the TrafficMaster Rigid Core Click Lock Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring.

Each package of vinyl plank flooring will have subtle differences in pattern and color, so be sure to pull from at least three different boxes as you go to prevent repeating patterns.

Install the second plank by holding it at an angle and inserting its tongue edge into the first plank’s groove edge. Lower the second plank to snap the planks together.

Tap the outer edges with an installation tool or rubber mallet to remove any gaps.

Continue to set 1/4-inch spacers between the wall and the row of planks as you go. Work left to right with the groove edge facing away from the starting wall.

Continue these steps for the rest of the row, trimming the last plank as needed.

You may need to trim planks to fit at the end of a row. This gives the room a balanced appearance at the end of the installation. Plus the end cuts can be used as the next row starter plank.

I like to cut 4 starter boards of different lengths to create a pattern that looks natural and roughly lay them out to make installation faster.

Cut the planks to accommodate the room size and shape.

For the second row, use the same angle-and-snap method, attaching them side-by-side to the planks in the
first row as well as to one another. Continue for the rest of the room.

Trim the border planks as needed and leave appropriate expansion space between the planks and the wall.

Use a soft-faced hammer or mallet and a tapping block to tap down on the planks to ensure that they lock into place for a smooth fit.

There are lots of options you could use to cut the flooring planks like a flooring cutter tool, jigsaw, circular saw, and miter saw or utility knife.

I prefer to use a vinyl flooring cutting tool from the ends, and a circular saw for the long cuts.

It’s now time to remove the spacers. Nail the baseboard trim into the wall. Make sure to fill spaces around areas vulnerable to moisture with silicone caulk.

Earlier I mentioned that we temporarily removed our vintage Malm fireplace. Reinstallation was quick and easy thanks to the Husky Mechanic tools set.

The new flooring really gives the space a new life. I love how the floors feel under our feet and that they are so much easier to maintain with having pets. I know our family will enjoy these floors for years to come. This project was super easy and could be accomplished in a few days.