DIY Click And Lock Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring: A Comprehensive Guide

Transforming your living space with new flooring can significantly enhance both its appearance and functionality. If you’re considering a flooring update and love the idea of a DIY project, click and lock luxury vinyl plank flooring is an excellent choice. Known for its ease of installation and maintenance, this type of flooring is particularly suitable for homes with pets. In this guide, Lindsay Zuelich from Wood Brain shares her experience installing TrafficMaster Rigid Core Click Lock Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring around her vintage fireplace, providing a step-by-step tutorial to help you rejuvenate any room effortlessly.

Preparation: Setting the Stage

The success of your flooring installation starts with proper preparation. First, ensure your subfloor is clean, level, and free from cracks. Remove any existing carpeting or old vinyl flooring and take out the baseboards temporarily. If there are large fixtures or furniture, like a vintage fireplace, decide whether to remove them temporarily or install the flooring around them. Using a high-quality shop vacuum, thoroughly clean the floor to remove all debris and dust, creating a perfect base for the new flooring.

Measuring and Acclimatizing the Flooring

Accurate measurements are crucial for a successful installation. Use a tape measure to determine the room’s length and width, accounting for a 1/4-inch expansion gap at the room’s perimeter and adding an extra 10% of flooring to cover potential waste and matching patterns. Before installation, allow the flooring planks to acclimate to the room’s temperature and humidity for at least 48 hours. This step ensures that the vinyl planks won’t contract or expand post-installation, which could disrupt the floor’s integrity.

Installation Process: Laying the Foundation

Begin by adding an underlayment, such as the Roberts AirGuard with Microban, to enhance cushioning and reduce noise. Start the installation at the room’s longest wall, which helps minimize cuts and waste. Lay the first plank, properly spaced from the wall, using spacers from the Roberts Laminate and Wood Flooring Installation Kit. This kit helps maintain the necessary expansion gap and prevents the planks from shifting during installation.

Plank Installation: Click, Lock, and Secure

Install the TrafficMaster Rigid Core Click Lock Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring by starting from the corner of the room. Lay each plank at an angle, slotting the tongue edge into the groove edge of the adjoining plank, then click it into place. Use a rubber mallet and an installation tool to securely join the planks, ensuring there are no gaps. As you proceed, continue to use spacers to maintain the expansion gap. For aesthetic variation and to avoid repetitive patterns, pull planks randomly from at least three different boxes.