How To Install Vinyl Plank Flooring On Concrete — SoundProofReviews
We have already discussed the durability and affordability of vinyl plank flooring in our comprehensive guide to best plank flooring. It is compatible with just about any surface, including concrete.
Planks come in many forms, but they can be easily installed with only a few tools and measurements. It can be challenging to clean and level the concrete base, which is often the most challenging. Once the concrete base is ready, install your new vinyl planks by locking them together.
Things to Know Before You Start
You should not take more than a day to install vinyl plank flooring on concrete if you are familiar with installing or have experience with DIY projects. Depending on the size of the area you need covering, this could be the most reliable and cost-effective method.
Benefits Of Having Vinyl Plank Flooring
People who already have hardwood floors know the difficulties they face. Vinyl plank flooring can reduce or eliminate these problems. It is pretty easy to install vinyl plank flooring on concrete.
Waterproof: You may drop something on the floor. It could be a glass of water, or your kid uses your floor as their drawing paper, and these things are pretty standard. However, this may ruin your floor if it is not waterproof. Hardwood floors, in particular, may become damaged if not protected. But as many companies claim, vinyl plank is the best solution for waterproofing your floor. Therefore, your vinyl plank flooring will not show this damage.
Scratch Resistant: Well! If you are a pet lover, you will undoubtedly seal these benefits by having a vinyl plank floor. Most vinyl plank comes with scratch resistance, particularly if you have cats with long nails and natural scratchers.
Durable: If you want better quality flooring, you have to spend more money. You must invest in it again as those floorings are not going to last any longer. There’s no need to invest in long-lasting vinyl plank flooring since vinyl planks can last for around 25 years. Vinyl plank flooring is, therefore, a good choice. We will now describe how to install vinyl plank flooring on concrete. Let’s get it installed now.
Step By Step Process To Install Vinyl Plank Flooring On Concrete
You don’t need to have experience installing vinyl plank flooring. Even without it, this step-by-step process will help you get your work done.
Those steps and your focus on installing vinyl plank flooring on concrete will take care of everything. Just follow them, and you’re good to go.
1. Remove the baseboards
Usually, baseboards, also referred to as skirting boards, cover the sloped part of the wall or floor.
The product’s intended purpose is to cover the joints between the walls and floors of a house so that they do not become dislodged.
You can remove baseboards by cutting through any paint holding them to the wall with a sharp utility knife. Next, pry the boards slightly with a putty knife to loosen them. Pull out the baseboards by finding the nails, holding them in place, and then using a pry bar.
Repeat this process until all the baseboards have been removed. You have to be very careful when doing this because it may damage your wall.
2. Use a chisel to clean cracks in the floor
Place the tip of the chisel in the crack at an angle. If there is debris inside the crack, pound the back end of the chisel with a hammer to loosen it. New filler material needs to be able to penetrate cracks in the hairline. Avoid making the crack worse by being gentle when using the chisel.
3. Clean The Floor Surface
If you plan on installing vinyl plank flooring on the floor surface, you should clean it as much as necessary. Failure to do so will prevent your installation from going smoothly.
Clean the floor first by picking up all debris. Dust and debris can then be swept up with a whisk broom. Use a vacuum to remove any leftover debris.
Additionally, a cleaning procedure using soap and water must be done. Then scrub the floor properly.
Don’t worry; using detergent or warm water will work just fine. You can also use soapy water to remove most stains on your floor.
Protect yourself with gloves, goggles, and other protective gear.
4. Fill The Cracks
Vinyl plank flooring will not be as effective if gaps and cracks aren’t filled. Dust collects in these cracks over time.
As a result, friction will reduce when they go up, and all planks will begin slipping. The locking mechanism will thus become loose.
Therefore, you must first fill in a gap or crack with concrete filler. It’s the most effective way to fill in a crack or gap in concrete.
Cutting off the tip of a bottle of concrete filler will work. You can fill cracks by holding the bottle close to them and squeezing the filler into them. Fill the cracks to the top with a nozzle. Finally, use a trowel to smooth out the filler material.
5. Find the spots where the floor is uneven with a carpenter’s level.
There are numerous spots on the floor that are visible due to significant damage. When in doubt, you can use a level of 6 inches (15 cm) to see where you should make changes. It will follow the tilted floor if the level has fluid in it-Mark upwards or downwards areas of the floor.
6. Mark The Centre Of Your Room
The steps to install vinyl plank flooring on concrete must require finding the center in your house. You cannot simply start installing the vinyl plank without understanding it.
When you place vinyl planks in an uneven area of your home, they will fit correctly. It might seem not very easy, but it is essential.
You shouldn’t do it if you’ve never installed flooring before. This is because the uneven area will already be corrected when you do it the second time.
You need to draw a line between the walls to find this thing. What’s the best way to go about it?
Chalking lines are the best method. Ensure that the line does not get loosened as you snap it to the floor surface.
If you do not, you will not achieve a straight line, and the process will have to be repeated repeatedly.
7. Cut The Tongue (The Vinyl Tile) Off The First Row
There are two kinds of vinyl plank flooring — one that locks and one that sticks.
Here are some details about locking planks. In addition, you’ll learn about adhesive planks below. There are two sides to the vinyl plank floor.
You can either choose the tongue or groove side. The two sides of the vinyl planks are combined with other vinyl planks to make the vinyl plank flooring structure.
However, it would be best to cut your vinyl planks on the tongue side in the first row. This will allow them to connect to the wall more easily.
A utility knife is all you need for this task. Cut down the tongue side carefully. Please make sure that you complete this work on every single start row in your house.
There is no need to worry about this. It involves a new locking system that we used to make vinyl plank flooring better.
8. Install the first row
One of the most critical factors in installing vinyl plank flooring on concrete is to lay down the first row you have cut. The effectiveness of the installation process depends on the first row that you lay down.
It’s the time! Follow the chalk line close to the wall to set the planks. Use your utility knife to score the ends, so they face the wall. It would be best if you held the second board at an angle against the first board. Bring it down until it clicks.
9. Add the second row
After installing the first row of your vinyl plank flooring, you can start to install the rest of it. Attach the second row after the first.
In other words, knowing how to install the planks will help you. The vinyl plank flooring has a double side, which we explained earlier.
A forward plank is connected to the rear plank via the first, and it is connected to the backward plank via the second. Additionally, your vinyl planks will have two more sides.
Connecting a row of planks is what the second row does.
To connect it to the previous vinyl plank, you should carefully lay it down on the floor at the appropriate angle.
As with a puzzle, all pieces must be put in the right place for the locking system to function.
10. Place under the door jamb
There is space within the door jambs, also called the door frames, where any flooring can be easily placed. This area is easily accessible beneath your door.
By doing this, you will have a better connection with the floor. While you are finding the lowest spot in your house, this will interfere with the guideline you have created.
Therefore, some space should be set aside for this work. This space can be fixed with vinyl planks very easily.
To slide it into the jamb, you only need to bend the panel. If pushed too hard, the vinyl plank could be damaged.
Therefore, a wooden hammer will be the best tool for this work.
11. Install the baseboards once again
Taking out the baseboard is a prerequisite for installing vinyl plank flooring.
This part is essential to completing your flooring. Suppose you install the vinyl plank flooring correctly. The baseboard then needs to be reinstalled.
Using that same baseboard that you removed earlier is all you need to do for your vinyl plank flooring’s first row.
Nailing it in place correctly is the next step. This will prevent damage to the wall. If it is not done correctly, it will need to be replaced. Your job is then complete.
Floor installation with peel and stick vinyl planks
With peel and stick plank flooring, most of the steps are the same. During the installation of the locking vinyl plank, there is a slight difference.
To attach it to the peel and stick vinyl flooring, you must attach it to other planks.
Behind the paper, you need to remove the adhesive part. Then, carefully release the paper from the flooring.
However, better cleaning is equally important. This ensures a more efficient adhesion.
Final Verdict
Vinyl plank flooring comes to mind when it comes to getting better waterproof and scratch-proof surfaces. Compared to other floor systems in the house, this one is much better.
This guide provides a step-by-step explanation of the installation process, which was somewhat challenging.
You can use that on any surface, like concrete or insulation. It isn’t easy to install the peel and stick vinyl plank flooring on insulation.
It’s for this reason that vinyl plank flooring works best on a concrete surface.
Originally published at https://soundproofreviews.com on October 16, 2021.
