Page 1
Page 1
Started By
Message

LVP Floor Install - DIY?

Posted on 7/6/24 at 12:14 pm
Posted by TheJunction
Mississippi
Member since Oct 2014
1591 posts
Posted on 7/6/24 at 12:14 pm
How DIY friendly is the LVP snap-on flooring? Have all the tools, I’ve just never laid flooring before. If it is something that’s worth doing DIY - any tips? We’ll be laying it directly on top of stained concrete (with moisture barrier in between)

Any success or horror DIY stories
This post was edited on 7/6/24 at 12:21 pm
Posted by TheOcean
#honeyfriedchicken
Member since Aug 2004
44316 posts
Posted on 7/6/24 at 12:15 pm to
It's very easy. Biggest thing would be making sure the subfloor is as level as possible. Always use a vapor barrier
Posted by LegendInMyMind
Member since Apr 2019
65904 posts
Posted on 7/6/24 at 12:16 pm to
It isn't a complicated job at all, especially if it is a fairly simple room(s), but my knees hurt just thinking about doing it.
Posted by tadman
Member since Jun 2020
4745 posts
Posted on 7/6/24 at 12:17 pm to
Stevie Wonder could do it. I've done a lot in my house. Make sure your floor is level and take your time. It's hard to pull up and redo, so get your gaps really tight.
Posted by redstick13
Lower Saxony
Member since Feb 2007
39762 posts
Posted on 7/6/24 at 12:18 pm to
It isn't hard at all so long as what you are laying it on is level.
Posted by TheOcean
#honeyfriedchicken
Member since Aug 2004
44316 posts
Posted on 7/6/24 at 12:22 pm to
Also buy the good shite. Just because it's more expensive doesn't make it good. There are plenty of YT videos that will educate you on what is good LVP
Posted by Rocklicker
Member since Aug 2016
176 posts
Posted on 7/6/24 at 12:50 pm to
It’s easy enough. Tough on knees though. I bought some knee pads at Home Depot and could not have done it without them.

Watch a few YouTube videos and go for it.
Get a rubber mallet and block to snug the tiles together. I also used a square with built in breaking ridge to beak the tiles evenly after scoring with a razor knife.
If you have a closet included, I’d suggest watching videos specifically on how to lay the tiles in reverse into the closet and going around door frames.
I didn’t pull baseboards and just added quarter round along the bottom to cover the small gap.
If you choose a variable pattern, pull each plank from a different box each time to randomize the pattern so you won’t end up with sections that are different.
Alternate the starting length for each row so you don’t get a staircase pattern.
If you have multi variable widths with skinny, medium, and wide planks, make sure you use a medium width every other row and alternate the skinny and wide widths.
Posted by East Coast Band
Member since Nov 2010
65771 posts
Posted on 7/6/24 at 2:12 pm to
I did this. Not hard to do. I cut the pieces with a miter saw. Use those little plastic knock pieces.
Don't be lazy like a friend of mine and not fully connect every piece.

I bought my vinyl planks at what is now LL Flooring
This post was edited on 7/6/24 at 2:14 pm
Posted by TheJunction
Mississippi
Member since Oct 2014
1591 posts
Posted on 7/6/24 at 3:10 pm to
Awesome! Thank you everyone. Sounds like I need to pray that our floor is level.

But it sounds worth it if I don’t mind taking the time to do it, which I don’t. We’ve got to also remodel the kitchen and master bathroom, so being able to save some on the flooring sounds like a dream ha.

I feel like worst case is we get started, realize we’re over our head and then have to call in the big guys to finish.

Posted by jpm0926
Baton Rouge
Member since Oct 2015
92 posts
Posted on 7/6/24 at 5:21 pm to
It should be easy but I hate ours. The floor wasn’t as level as we thought and we have several spots that the joints come apart because the floor flexes. We tried pulling it up to correct it after it was down about two years and the planks have warped to the floor and still won’t snap together tightly. We are just trying to put up with it until we can pull it all up and put down porcelain tile.
Posted by TheJunction
Mississippi
Member since Oct 2014
1591 posts
Posted on 7/6/24 at 8:52 pm to
We’re dealing with that at the home we’re at now and hate it as well. Is the fix to level the floor DIY?
Posted by Saintsisit
Member since Jan 2013
4557 posts
Posted on 7/6/24 at 9:50 pm to
quote:

Always use a vapor barrier


Not always, the one I installed in my house on cement called for no barrier. It was already attached to the LVP.
Posted by jpm0926
Baton Rouge
Member since Oct 2015
92 posts
Posted on 7/6/24 at 11:02 pm to
Yes it’s DIY. You will need to start in the corner of the room and carefully take up the snap in floor until you get to the low spot. You can then use self leveling cement to bring it all level. Let it cure about 24 hours and then reinstall the floor. I don’t know how long your floor has been down but our biggest issue was even though the floor was flat our planks had become warped and still didn’t want to snap in tight and flush.
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 1Next pagelast page
refresh

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on X, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookXInstagram