Installing LVT Glue Down Planks
Installing glue down Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT) can be intimidating at first. A lot of people choose the click-lock planks because they are intimidated by the process of a glue-down plank. Glue-down planks offer the same durability as a click-lock plank and can be less expensive, and it is far easier to replace a damaged plank when needed.
Make sure you have a smooth, clean surface
Surface preparation is important to ensure a good hold for the glue and surface appearance. A notched trowel will be needed to apply the glue and a utility knife can score and cut the LVT. Remove the baseboards and reinstall them upon job completion.
Measure your room and know the square footage you will need in LVT
Add 15% more plank than the measured square footage to ensure enough material for your waste factor and to have extra in case of future board replacement.
The flooring must be level
You can grind or sand down to level surfaces or use a self-leveling product to fill in gouges or low spots. Do not sand old flooring that might contain asbestos. Instead, remove the old vinyl entirely if it is not level.
Divide the room width by the plank width to determine how wide the planks bordering the walls should be
For the best appearance, make sure the border plank widths are no less than half their initial width. You may only need to trim the last row, but if the last row can only accommodate less than a plank’s half-width, trim the first row to make up the difference.
Plan to start perpendicular to the longest wall to keep cutting minimal
Each package of vinyl plank flooring will have subtle differences in the plank pattern and color, so remove all the planks and shuffle them together to create a natural-looking variation. Undercut door jambs to allow the planks to slide easily beneath them. Cut the planks to accommodate the room size and shape, then plan to stagger their ends by about 6 inches between each row for the best appearance.
Leave expansion space between the planks and walls
Measure and mark the distance with your chalk or crayon. Place all cut edges of the vinyl planks against the wall so the reinstalled baseboard can disguise the cuts. When figuring out how to install vinyl flooring planks around an unusual shape, trace the shape onto a piece of paper, then use the paper as a stencil when cutting the vinyl plank to fit.
Start installation at the center of the room
Measure the distance from the center point to the wall, parallel to the direction of the plank. Divide the measurement by the width of the plank. If the last plank needs to be shorter than half its width, move the center point as needed so the plank should be trimmed no more than half its original width. Apply the adhesive to the subfloor with a trowel, starting at the center point and working outward into the desired area.
Continue to lay the planks row by row ensuring the edges of each plank fit tightly against the neighboring plank. Trim the border planks as needed, leaving expansion space. Replace the baseboard.
