Installing new floors can be a big job, and it’s important to properly prepare your home for the installation. This includes emptying out the room and covering any items that you want to remain undamaged or protected from dust and dirt.

Start your first row with the sunny side of the plank facing the wall and match tongues to grooves, tapping for a tight fit. Place 1/4-inch spacers between each plank to allow for natural expansion and contraction.

Lay Out the Planks

Once the underlayment is down, it’s time to start laying the planks. Be sure to give your flooring materials plenty of time to acclimate to the room before you begin. It’s also a good idea to do a “dry run” of the flooring by putting down a row and adjusting your guidelines as needed before beginning the actual work.

Begin with the first full row, putting the groove side of the plank against the wall and using spacers as recommended by the manufacturer to maintain a gap between the edge of the flooring and the walls. A hammer and nails or a pneumatic face nailer should be used to install the planks.

The next few rows should be laid by overlapping the previous row and pressing the tongues of each board against the grooves of those below them. A drawbar tool can help with this if the gaps are tight enough to require it.

Remember to always leave a gap around the edges of the room for expansion and contraction with temperature changes. This gap should be equal to or greater than the thickness of the planks themselves. Spacers can be used to ensure this even gap is maintained throughout the installation.

If the room is located off a hallway, consider running your planks parallel to the hall so the transition between the rooms looks uniform and seamless. You should also take into account the direction of any other flooring in the house when deciding on the final direction of your vinyl planks.

After the last few rows have been installed, you’ll need to cut the end of each plank to ensure it meets with the adjoining walls and flooring. Be sure to measure carefully and mark where you need to cut on the ends of the planks before making your cuts.

Now’s a great time to reattach any baseboards and trim that may have been removed for your flooring project. Using a pneumatic brad nailer is usually preferred to manual hammering, as it helps prevent damage to moldings and other trim.

Cut the Planks

To begin laying your new flooring, trim any baseboards and shoe molding that will touch the flooring. Then, clear a workspace that will be large enough for you to work with the planks. Ideally, you will remove any door thresholds that make contact with the floor as well. It’s a good idea to take this opportunity to caulk around any baseboards and shoe moldings you’ve removed as well.

To cut your flooring, you’ll need a utility knife and a sharp carpenter’s square to mark the cutting line. To make a straight cut, position the plank on a flat work surface that you don’t mind cutting into and then position your square on the cutting line. Mark the cutting line using the square and then run the knife blade along the marked edge to score the plank. The plank will then snap apart at the scored edge, allowing you to make the straight cut.

If the planks you’re installing aren’t a full length, begin your first row by securing it end-to-end with a tapping block and hammer. This will create a staggered seam that allows the flooring to expand and contract with temperature changes.

Some installation instructions call for the tongue portion of a plank to be cut away before it can be installed. If this is the case for your flooring, you can cut it using a circular saw, table saw, or jigsaw. Once the plank is ripped to the desired width, it can be installed by sliding its groove into the tongue of the previous row.

Be sure to leave a 1/2-inch gap between the planks and the walls. Also, it’s a good idea to stagger the end joints of each row so they don’t line up. It’s also a good idea to cover these gaps with the base trim that you’ll be installing after the floors are installed. This will ensure the integrity of the gap and will keep it clean from dirt and dust. Finally, be sure to use a level and a tapping block to make sure that the floor is perfectly flush with the wall as you finish your work.

Install the Underlayment

Installing the underlayment is a crucial step to flooring installation. It protects the laminate floors from moisture, helps with sound control and provides an extra layer of cushioning for the floor. Underlayment is available at most home improvement stores and comes in rolls. Some underlayment even has a plastic vapor barrier that can help prevent moisture buildup on the concrete subfloor.

Roll out the underlayment and trim it to size with a utility knife. Install the first row and use spacers to maintain a gap of about 1/4 inch between the edge of the underlayment and the wall (Image 1).

A good rule of thumb is to lay the first row perpendicular to the floor joists, says Patriot Timber. This will help reduce the amount of stress placed on the floor’s edges and help with a better-looking finish. After the first row, it’s important to make sure all the pieces of underlayment are properly trimmed and taped to one another. It is recommended that all seams be taped with underlayment tape, which is available at most home improvement stores. Duct tape is a good alternative, though it may not be as strong and durable as underlayment tape.

The underlayment should be laid out along the direction you plan to lay your laminate. If you’re installing a laminate floor in a room that is prone to moisture, your flooring manufacturer may recommend that you also install a vapor barrier on the concrete subfloor in addition to the underlayment.

If you’re installing the underlayment yourself, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for installation. Depending on the underlayment, you may need to use a special tool to remove old adhesive residue from the concrete subfloor before installing the new underlayment.

Once the underlayment is installed, start clicking the laminate floors together. Match tongues with grooves and tap the boards with a tapping block to help secure them in place. It’s best to work on small sections of flooring at a time, so as not to stress the joints. After each section is finished, apply a waterproof sealant to the entire perimeter of the room.

Install the Floors

Before the actual flooring is installed, it’s a good idea to lay down a layer of plastic sheeting on the floor to create a moisture barrier. This is particularly important if you’re working with an older home as it may contain asbestos. The sheeting can also prevent dust from blowing onto furniture, artwork or other items that you don’t want to get dirty during the installation process.

It’s also a good idea to clear the room of any breakable objects and furniture well before the day of installation. This includes things like china, books and small decor items that might get in the way of the installers. It’s a smart idea to remove any glass frames and paintings from the walls as well, since these can easily get knocked down during the installation process.

Once the flooring is ready to be laid, it’s a good idea to use a straightedge and/or T-square to mark long cutting lines for rip cuts running the length of flooring planks. This will help ensure that the floors are installed evenly across the entire room. It’s a good idea to place spacers between the edge of the laminate and the wall to maintain an expansion gap for natural expansion and contraction in the floor due to temperature changes.

It’s a good idea to stagger the seams between each row of laminate wood flooring so that it doesn’t look “chunky.” For example, you should try to leave a space of 12 inches between the end of one row and the beginning of the next row of flooring. This will help prevent the edges of the floors from separating and keep them looking attractive for a longer period of time.

It’s also a good idea to verify that the new flooring will be appropriate for your home and meets all performance and traffic requirements. This will save you time and money down the road. You should also take this opportunity to make sure that your doors are able to open and close with ease after the new floors are installed. This is because many types of flooring result in a rise in floor height that will require door adjustment.