Luxury vinyl plank flooring

Why vinyl plank

Luxury vinyl plank, often called LVP, is a floating floor of planks that click together. Most products are waterproof on the surface, stand up to pets and kids, and feel warmer and quieter than tile. That makes it popular for rentals, laundry rooms, and bedrooms with worn carpet. It goes over many existing hard floors, which saves tear-out time.

The subfloor decides the result

Vinyl plank shows what is underneath. Dips and humps in a slab or plywood floor make planks flex and joints separate. We check flatness with a long straightedge and fill low spots with patching compound or grind high spots. On concrete slabs, which most valley homes have, a moisture check matters; many products call for a vapor barrier underlayment on slab.

Rooms we do

Single bedrooms, offices, halls, laundry rooms, and rental units are a good fit. Large open floors across a whole house are outside what we do. Bathrooms work too, with care around the toilet and tub; the toilet comes off and goes back on a new wax ring, see toilet repair.

How we install

1. Remove carpet or old flooring and trim as needed.
2. Prep and level the subfloor, add underlayment if required.
3. Acclimate planks per the maker’s instructions.
4. Lay planks with staggered joints, keeping an expansion gap at walls.
5. Undercut door jambs so planks slide under.
6. Install transitions at doorways and other flooring.
7. Reinstall or replace baseboards over the gap.

Choosing a product

Thicker wear layers last longer in busy homes. Rigid core planks hide minor subfloor flaws better than flexible ones. Ask for a sample and look at it in your room light. Keep a box of spare planks after the job; replacing a damaged plank later is much easier with an exact match.

Fixing damaged planks

Deep scratches or a swollen edge from a long leak can be repaired by swapping planks. Near a wall, we unclick the row back to the damaged plank. In the middle of a room, the plank can be cut out and a new one glued in with its locking tab trimmed.

Stairs

Stairs take special stair nosing and more cutting. Single short flights can be done, but most stair work is outside what we do.

Transitions

Where vinyl plank meets carpet, tile or another floor, a transition strip covers the edge and lets the floating floor move. Picking the right height transition avoids a trip hazard in doorways.

Rentals

Vinyl plank is a common pick for rental turnovers. It replaces stained carpet quickly, handles pets and spills, and damaged planks can be swapped later. We keep a box of spares on site for the owner.

Care

Use felt pads on furniture legs, wipe spills, and avoid rubber-backed mats that can discolor some vinyl. A damp mop with a cleaner made for vinyl is enough.

Timeline for one room

The job has two parts: removal and prep, then laying planks and trim. How long it takes depends on the room; we’ll tell you after seeing photos. Leveling compound needs drying time, so a floor with dips takes longer. We tell you before starting if the subfloor needs more prep than expected.

Doors that drag

New flooring is often thicker than carpet pad or old vinyl. Doors may need to be trimmed at the bottom so they swing over the new floor. We take the door off, cut it straight, seal the cut edge and rehang it.

Underfloor heating and radiant slabs

If your floor has heating built in, check the plank maker’s limits before buying. Some products are not rated for it.

Matching rooms

If you plan to do more rooms later, buy extra boxes from the same lot now. Colors vary between production runs.

Pets

Scratch-resistant wear layers help with dogs. Keep nails trimmed and put a washable mat by the back door for sandy paws.

Old flooring underneath

Some older homes have sheet vinyl or tile glued to the slab with black adhesive. We do not grind or scrape those. If old flooring has to come out and its age is unknown, testing comes first, just like with popcorn ceilings, and the plank can often float right over the old floor instead. That keeps the old layer undisturbed and saves work.

Kitchens

Vinyl plank in a kitchen goes around the cabinets, not under them. The fridge and range come out during the work and go back once the floor is down. We check the dishwasher height so it can still slide out for service later. Gaps at the cabinet base are covered with shoe molding or a small trim.

What to send

Room measurements, photos of the current floor, and the product you are considering, if you have one. We confirm the amount to order with a little extra for cuts and spares.