How to Install Vinyl Plank Flooring

In this video I show you how to install vinyl plank flooring by focusing on the different types of cuts you will need to make. This installation advice is for floating vinyl plank flooring that simply sits on top of a flat surface such as plywood or concrete. Most of the job is as easy as clicking together legos so I’ll skip ahead and show you the tools I use to make all cuts you will need to make. Then I walk you through an in-progress installation to show you the different challenges you may encounter and how to overcome them.

The installation steps are laid out in the figure below:

What I would emphasize about installing a floating floor is the importance of a clean work area to start. Any debris larger than granular dust beneath the vinyl planks will appear as bumps in the floor. There is a small tolerance before these imperfections appear noticeably, so be mindful when you place the planks.

Start by laying a full vinyl plank and work with the adhesive joints in the self-evident easiest way possible. This most commonly involves starting in a corner of the room with a full plank and working lengthwise with the planks locking them from left to right, top to bottom in a room.

Avoid a common rookie mistake by staggering the seams of the vinyl planks. Typically this can be accomplished by using the scrap end of a plank that is cut at the end of a row to start a new row.

The most common, and easiest cut made in a vinyl plank flooring installation is a cross-cut. This is required at the end of almost every row of planks. As demonstrated in the linked video, the simplest way to make a cross-cut is to used a vinyl tile cutter like the one depicted below:

Vinyl tile cutters range in price from $30 to $200+, with the primary feature being the width of the possible cut and the length of the support. The cutter I purchased for around $50 does a great job at making quick cross-cuts, helping me move along the installation much faster than scoring every cross-cut with a utility knife.

I’ve found though, a utility knife is the fastest way to make a rip cut. A rip cut is made to make a plank narrower, usually on the last row in a room or around an obstacle. Marking the plank to be scored is half the battle, and really difficult to mess around with on the floor with a straight edge. I’ve found the fastest way is to use a clean elevated work surface and a framing square to mark the rip line. Buying a quality, solid, utility knife is worth the small additional investment because it will be used frequently throughout the entire installation. Use carbide utility blades to make scoring the planks easier (they really do make a difference).

Every installation is going to require complex cuts. These can be challenging and incredibly frustrating to attempt with just a utility knife. I’ve found it’s best to use a scroll saw like the Bladerunner X2 to make these complex cuts around a toilet, staircase, floor vent, or other obstacle. For $100, this is the type of tool that you might not buy if you’re just installing vinyl plank flooring in one room, but would absolutely get it’s fair share of use in an entire house.

Tools I use for luxury vinyl plank flooring installations are linked below:

Vinyl Tile Cutter: https://amzn.to/2MQvEzw
DEWALT Utility Knife: https://amzn.to/2PnRbRT
Framing Square: https://amzn.to/2pZ2NQA
Bladerunner X2 Scroll Saw: https://amzn.to/2WgsQyY
WORX Pegasus Work Table: https://amzn.to/32SeaIR
Knee Pads: https://amzn.to/2WkmbDV

If you have any questions about installing your vinyl plank floor or if you have other flooring or home improvement questions reach out to me at manny@notwaitingtolive.com and I’ll get back to you within a day or two.