Use the leftover piece to begin the next row, in doing that the seams will naturally be staggered. Measure the distance across the room where you will be laying the plank flooring in. Be aware of any potential dangers when installing vinyl plank flooring. When racking or staggering planks, you want to lay down the pieces as randomly as possible to avoid the formation of step patterns and H-joints. This ensures that the shades and patterns of the planks are mixed together, and look consistent once theyre done. Easy Installation: How to stagger Vinyl Plank Flooring - Floor Hero An H-joint can also create a weak spot on the floor and increases the risk of the planks loosening and coming apart at some point in the future. Since the flooring is going to be handling regular weight, its important for the planks to not shift when someone is walking on top of them. Vinyl is susceptible to temperature change. Get the vinyl plank flooring layout right and your friends wont believe you did it yourself. This ensures that temperature change is gradual and your planks stay flat and straight. In order to begin the third row, begin by selecting a full plank and cutting it into pieces of varying lengths that provide a minimum spacing of 6 inches between adjacent joints. Remember to allow 1/8-inch gap by the wall. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. If the last plank in the row is less than 6 inches, cut off a bit of the first plank to allow the last piece in the row to be longer than 6 inches. Continue this pattern until your entire subfloor is staggered with your vinyl planks. In practice, a minimum spacing of 6 inches works well for 5-inch laminate planks. For an example, let's say your room is 15 long by 20 wide. If the room is large and you are using a lot of planks, you may need to increase the offset to 8 inches or more to create a more balanced look. A staggered flooring looks like the planks are just flowing from one row to the next. Once the realm of professional installers, resilient flooring installation is greatly simplified with vinyl planking. Don't pull fast; you might tear the backing, and a fresh edge is difficult to raise from the center . If its not straight, draw a chalk line as a guide rather than relying on the wall. Yes, you have to stagger vinyl plank flooring. That will give you a more natural look at the floor. You are going to enjoy how it opens up space and makes it seem more welcoming. Place your tape measure on the right side of a new plank. Failure to properly acclimatize the planks to the surrounding environment may result in warping or buckling of the planks after they have been installed. Best method for staggering vinyl planks? - DoItYourself.com Different Layouts for Vinyl Planks or Tiles; Why Would You Stagger Vinyl Planks? Vinyl flooring designs support this strategy. Installing Vinyl Floors - A Do It Yourself Guide Repeat steps #2-3 to complete row three. Our planks Dimensions: Each plank measures 6 inches x 36 inches and 1.2mm thick. Staggering the planks will help stabilize the flooring and ensure the wood does not crack due to natural expansion from moisture. The length of each run of plank is 12-3. Ask the Home Flooring Pros, What isLVP Flooring? Flooring roll comes in fixed widths, so if the roll you want is supplied in widths of 12, you'll need two widths of roll each 15 long to . 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. You will want to keep things simple and continue to follow the rule of thumb where there is an 8 stagger between the planks. Staggering is all about putting the boards in the right place at the right time. For a standard pattern repeat, first measure the length and width of your room. This is where staggering comes into action. Racking the floor to create a random stagger pattern serves two purposes: one that is aesthetic and the other, structural. But you can use it to start the next row and that's the key to staggering with a minimum of waste. Use a tapping block and a rubber mallet to help secure the planks in place. How to Remove Vinyl Flooring 2021 DIY Guide. As well as demonstrating how to properly stagger your vinyl flooring, we will also walk you through the process step by step. Snip off the top 1-inch over-edge adhesive strip from the first plank. You will find it easier to take out the planks when they are in a staggered setup. . Step 2: Cut the final plank in the first row. Cut a small piece of wood from the first plank to allow the last piece in the row to be longer than 6 inches if the last plank in the row is less than 6 inches. Calculate the width of the final row. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. Chameleon Vinyl. (Step By Step Guide), Should Kitchen Countertops Match The Floor? Do not compromise on this as that can lead to unwanted repairs in the future. Dont use the offcut to begin staggering the third row, as this will create a similar pattern, resulting in the step pattern that you are trying to avoid in the first place. Divide this number by the length of a full plank. Vinyl flooring designs support this method. Stagger planks by at least 6 inches, up to one-third of the plank's length. Kitchen Floor Tiles Staggered or Straight? Pros and Cons How To Install Vinyl Plank Flooring On Concrete (Step-By-Step Tutorial) Home; Products . Repeat steps #2-3 to complete row four. How to Install LifeProof Flooring - The Home Depot Multiply the exposed plank width of 6 inches by .833 to get 5 inches. (Easy Step-By-Step Guide), Types Of Basement Floor Drains (A Complete Guide For You). Spills should be cleaned up with simple water as soon as they occur, Read More How to Clean Vinyl Plank Flooring [Answered!! 6. When reaching the far end of the room, the plank will need to be cut to fit. Keep the tongue side intact because you will need it for installation. 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. Then, measure the width of the room divided by the width of the planks. Staggering also helps to add more structure and support to the floor. Below you'll find answers to questions I get asked the most about staggering wood flooring. Continue measuring and cutting planks in thirds and continue installing the planks in staggered rows. But a more severe uneven subfloor could make your floating vinyl planks buckle and be noisy. There is nothing worse than walking on flooring that begins to creak and/or crack as soon as a bit of weight is put on top of it. x48 in. Measure one-third of this plank and mark a small vertical line with your pencil. 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. If the fraction is smaller, cut about twice the spacing amount off the first plank. Use the offcut plank from the first row to start the second row. Check that the tongue side has been removed before proceeding, as the groove side will be required during the assembly process. ]Continue, Lets be clear: removing vinyl flooring is not a pleasant experience. Commercial laminate planks typically measure three or four feet long. You should stagger vinyl plank flooring. This pattern takes away from the floors aesthetics, and it will be evident that the floor was not professionally done. However, racking a vinyl floor is entirely possible with a bit of planning and forethought. This type of stagger will lock the flooring tightly together. Using a block or other flat object, press the vinyl tape against the subfloor to ensure a secure bond. It also strengthens your floor. The tapping block will help prevent damage to the planks, while the rubber mallet will provide enough force to securely attach the planks. Off-gassing is the term used to describe the chemical odor that vinyl planks emit for a few hours or days after installation. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Step 5. Advertisement. Wear a respirator to protect your lungs from dust and other particles. Im the son of an interior designer and picked up an eye for design as a result. Take a measurement across the room where you will be installing the plank flooring to determine the length of the flooring. Wide x 60 in. Store your planks in the room where they will be installed for at least 48 hours before installation. Well, you had just laid the first row of flooring in your basement remodel. Because they can range in width from 5 to 12 inches, it is impracticable to follow this rule while installing a floating floor in most situations. "Piece of cake," you thought to yourself as you admired your work. Even lay out all the pieces before snapping them in place. It is not just about the looks but also making sure it lasts longer as soon as it is in place. Spread adhesive on the back of the plank and firmly press it against the riser. Save the shorter cuts of planking between the sheets of packing paper in the vinyl planking boxes. But instead of using the offcut to start the third row and creating a step pattern, set it aside for later. Rack the floor correctly, which means to stagger the end joints randomly and with enough space between them to prevent the end joints from separating. 11. 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. After every row, continue this procedure, keeping in mind that the first boards are two to three inches longer or shorter than the other initial boards. Finally, you should use a roller to press the planks down so that they bond to the adhesive. Does your staggering example above work for 2412 inch planks? Now that you have your tools ready, flooring mapped out and a clean workspace it's time to lay your first row of planks. Be sure to leave a space along the wall for expansion. Some do-it-yourselfers may avoid vinyl sheet flooring because they believe it is too difficult to, Read More How to Install Sheet Vinyl Flooring? The boards in staggered flooring appear to flow from one row to the next. This arrangement enables you to stagger the first and second rows, as well as the subsequent rows, in the order in which they appear. Mix up the planks from the various packages. 12. For example, if your room measures 123 in., and your flooring is 5.75 in. Most planks are a set length, usually 48". Vinyl plank flooring: $1.30-$4.19 per sq. This assures an even floor color shade rather than installing boards of the same color shade on one end and the other shade on the other. To do that, first drop the 13 from 13.667 leaving you 0.667 inch, then add 1 to get 1.667. How To Stagger Vinyl Plank Flooring For Installation - Greatmats However, if your planks are broader, you can extend the spacing to a maximum of 10 inches, although 8 inches is the best distance between each plank. 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. This will create a staggered pattern that looks natural.