Planks need to be laid width side because of hallway and a kitchen. It is also a good idea to have a partner to help with the installation, as the planks can be heavy and awkward to handle on your own. 10. For the seventh row, use the offcut from the fourth row. Its common for mistakes to be made when the flooring is laid and it can cause the planks to shift and/or not remain stable. Lay down each of the parts before snapping them together. As you install the vinyl planks, be sure to leave a -inch space between the walls. Electro Metallic Vinyl. Rob joined the Home Flooring Pros team in 2014 and is a freelance writer, specializing in flooring, remodeling and HVAC systems (read more). However, inspect the first item in every new row. If you are using tiles that have decorative designs and motifs, consider a straight tile pattern. All laminate planks have the same length, which may make an irregular pattern sound impossible to achieve. In terms of aesthetics, staggering the end joints avoids creating lines that run perpendicular to the direction of the floor. When the end joints are properly staggered, each end joint gets reinforcement from the planks on either side. This results in a neat, staggering pattern that also offers added structural stability. Before you install the new vinyl planks, put them in the targeted room 2-3 days in advance. Also, remember that even as you space out your planks for proper . Open the windows to allow sufficient ventilation. When you reach the edges of the room, you may need to cut the planks to fit around obstacles such as doorways or cabinets. Just an observation. Additionally, you should plan on trimming the door jambs to make it easier to install the flooring in all areas of the room. Staggering your floor simply involves putting your planks in irregular lengths for each row and cutting some of the planks you will install on the other rows. Lay additional full-width planks to your first and second rows. These two patterns are the most common rookie mistakes when it comes to installing vinyl flooring. Self Adhesive Wallpaper. Eco Solvent Printing Vinyl. 6. That makes 6 inches the most common minimum spacing for 2- and 3-inch hardwood boards, but laminate planks are typically wider than this. Start by laying the first row of planks along the longest straight wall in the room. If they are, hammer or screw them into place so that they will not interfere with the new planks. The planks will require some time to acclimate to the humidity and temperature of the environment. If you have to cut the planks, utilize a straight edge and a utility knife to score them before snapping them if you require to cut planks. Staggering the planks will help stabilize the flooring and ensure the wood does not crack due to natural expansion from moisture. The boards in staggered flooring appear to flow from one row to the next. (Step-by-Step Tutorial), How to Install Vinyl Plank Flooring On Concrete? Lay at least one more full-width plank in this second row. I started hanging wallpaper and painting at 14 and learned enough on the job to be the general contractor on two homes we built for our family and did much of the finish plumbing, electrical, painting, and trim work myself., Is nobody accounting for the full half inch of space needed for the planks to breathe when measuring the width of the room? This creates a regular pattern instead of the random, staggered pattern that you are after. Macaron Vinyl. C. Keep in mind that if you are installing a floating floor, this may hide a slightly uneven subfloor. Trace around the boards with a marker. Our website is supported by advertising. Advertisement. This ensures an even floor color shade instead of having planks of the same color shade installed on one end and the other shade installed on the other end. Thats great. Above all, a kitchen will have cabinets and appliance . Im studying how to get the first n last row correct n the pattern correct. Then slowly fold down the cut-out plank until it locks into place with the adjoining plank. Before getting specific, the general solution is to cut the first plank of the next row at a length 2-3 inches different than any first plank in a row yet as long as it is at least 6 inches. There should be a gap of roughly 1/8 inch around the edge of the room to accommodate this. Roll back the vinyl sheet from the edge and line the perimeter using double sided vinyl tape. This process is relatively challenging, so you will need to be patient until you get the gist. Do you have to stagger vinyl plank flooring? Although this may seem to offer less stability, it actually doesn't given the flooring is properly installed. (Step-by-Step Tutorial). Then, lay the second row and cut the final plank to fit. It will remind you to do things like use 1/4-inch spacers between planks and walls. Make sure to follow the manufacturers instructions carefully to avoid any accidents. Before going too precise, the general concept is to cut the initial plank in the next row 2-3 inches longer than the preceding rows first plank as long as it is at least 6 inches long. Rigid Core Luxury Vinyl Plank Click Lock Flooring (30.45 sq.ft./ Case) Price $ Bathroom; Bedroom; Kitchen; Living Room; Advice. Magic Vinyl. How do you start first row on a 11.4 ft wide x 16 ft. Planks are 7in x 5 ft room. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. You're bound to have some waste at the end of the installation, which is why it's always a good idea to buy 10 percent more flooring than you think you need. Thats good. Depending on how wide the planks are, you can increase the minimum to 8 or 10 inches.. ft. I set my normal stagger at 16" and maintain that throughout the floor. Hunker may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. You can alternate pattern how you like. Our goal is to deliver high-quality information to help homeowners decide which type of flooring to install in their homes. The number of planks required to cover the entire floor can be calculated by multiplying the width of the room by the width of the planks. When starting the next row, avoid having the short ends of the planks line up with the seams on the planks in the adjacent row. This indicates the number of rows of planks youll require for room completion. We'll also offer some tips for a professional vinyl plank flooring installation you'll be proud of for many years to come! Begin by trimming off the short tongue edge of the first plank with a knife. Don't forget to mark the expansion gap for the sides & every row. The capacity to resist moisture and the versatility of its appearance has made it a more and more popular flooring material over the last few years. To do this, start the first row with a full plank, install the row, cut the last plank to length and save the off-cut. Wear protective gear, such as goggles and gloves, to prevent injury. This is why you are going to enjoy having the staggered planks set up from one end to the other. Depending on the width of the room and the width of planks being . It is much easier to install than hardwood flooring and requires no special tools. It is not necessary to use the offcut to begin staggering the third row because doing so will result in a pattern that is identical to the step pattern that you were attempting to avoid in the first place. Place First Board. The only thing left after removing the carpet and pad are tack strips and probably some staples that were used to keep down the carpet pad in place. Measure the width of the room, and divide it by the width of the exposed portion of the plank before you start installing vinyl plank flooring. What do you suggest? Step 3: Determine the number of planks you need. Vinyl plank flooring: $1.30-$4.19 per sq. Use the cutoff plank from the end of row two to begin row four. This randomizes the layout without creating a step pattern. During installation roll planks and tiles with 100 lb. Maintenance; DIY; Furniture; About. x48 in. For a staggered pattern on your new vinyl floor, follow the procedures outlined in this guide. Measure two-thirds of this plank and mark a small vertical line with your pencil. After cutting the first board, put the piece you have cut just now on the right side of the board. Rebecca Mecomber, a former radio broadcaster, has been a professional blogger and writer since 2006. The rule of thumb that professional flooring installers follow is to stagger the end joint of adjacent rows by a distance equal to 2 or 3 times the width of the plank. ], How to Install Glue Down Vinyl Plank Flooring [Step-by-Step Guide], How to Clean Vinyl Plank Flooring [Answered!! The idea behind staggering is to avoid flooring patterns such as the "H" pattern, where the seams of the planks are arranged to form the letter H. Flooring patterns look unnatural and may draw attention. If its not straight, draw a chalk line as a guide rather than relying on the wall. Take your planks out of their packages in the room youll be doing the flooring. Youre probably wondering how to stagger vinyl plank flooring for outstanding results if you install it. When it comes to installing vinyl flooring, the most typical rookie blunders are the ones that look like this and this. Place a T-square or speed square so that its edge rests on the pencil line and the top sits on the plank. If the subfloor is not level, use a self-leveling compound to smooth out any uneven areas. Without these crucial steps, a bit of the shine will be taken off your vinyl plank flooring patterns. A rule of thumb: For 5-inch wide planks, have a minimum of 6 inches between adjacent row seams. Repeat this for every row as needed. Keep the piece of the board on the right side of the board. If you . When you cut the end off a plank to fit it into the end of a row, you can't use the cutoff in the middle of the row. 2.3 3. Any severely uneven areas may need to be shimmed, or require further repair before installing your flooring. The offcut from the second row should be used to begin the fourth row. Cut planks with a straight edge and a utility knife to score the planks and then snap them together if you have to do so. What staggering method would you use. If you want vinyl flooring to seem properly spaced, you must make sure that the first plank in every third row is at least two to three inches longer or shorter than the first planks in the previous two rows. Save the cutoff as you might be able to use it at the end of a row somewhere. The practice is typically carried out during the installation of Luxury Vinyl Flooring (LVF) to achieve a more natural appearance with increased visual appeal. The vinyl planks have jagged edges because the blade is dull. When it comes to the pros of staggering vinyl plank flooring, the main benefit has to do with the increased stability under your feet. This indicates that the short joint among planks should be at least 6 inches apart from the nearest joint in any adjacent row.