Beginner's Guide – How To Install Vinyl Plank Flooring – Anika's DIY Life

Beginner's Guide – How To Install Vinyl Plank Flooring – Anika's DIY Life

How to install Vinyl Plank Flooring as a beginner.
This was our first time installing flooring and it turned out to be so much easier than I expected. The drop-lock mechanism of LifeProof Vinyl Plank Flooring from The Home Depot makes it super easy to install.
Watch the complete video for all the tips and details so you can install your own floors!

Be sure to read lots more details and tips at – https://www.anikasdiylife.com/installing-vinyl-plank-flooring/

***Sponsored by The Home Depot***

Materials used (affiliate links)
– LifeProof Vinyl Plank flooring in the color of your choice. We picked Dusk Cherry – https://homedepot.sjv.io/yG0bB
– Reducer or T-mold to match the flooring as needed – https://homedepot.sjv.io/620EE
– Stair nose if installing on a staircase (https://homedepot.sjv.io/BqNP0)
– Flooring installation kit (includes spacers, tapping block, S-bar, and a mallet) – https://homedepot.sjv.io/OGkbK
– Shop Vacuum
– A way to cut the planks –
– Utility knife/ miter saw
– Table saw
– Jigsaw/ hand saw
– Oscillating multitool (or a flush-cut handsaw)
– construction adhesive (for staircase install)
– Pin nailer (for staircase install) – https://homedepot.sjv.io/ve5VW

50 Comments

  1. Yasmin Farah on September 15, 2022 at 6:09 am

    that was not easy

  2. Megan Summer on September 15, 2022 at 6:11 am

    Great video… thank you!!!! Awesome tips, too.

  3. lisa rosado on September 15, 2022 at 6:12 am

    Why did you put a threshold between the doorway if you’re using the same color and same flooring?

  4. Jeff C on September 15, 2022 at 6:13 am

    Nice job!

  5. Baba buyie Kaban on September 15, 2022 at 6:13 am

    Great video, thank you!

  6. Clemencia Florez on September 15, 2022 at 6:14 am

    Great tips on every single detail didn’t miss anything… We needed the staircase as well!!!
    Good job… fun family project
    Thank you!!! 🥰

  7. Rachel Pack on September 15, 2022 at 6:17 am

    Phenomenal video Mama!! Well done.

  8. Cl3m productions on September 15, 2022 at 6:17 am

    Can you start laying the floor from a room then living room and meet? And also why is it not good to finish with a short plank?

  9. dishee2 on September 15, 2022 at 6:17 am

    Probably a dumb question, but…..how come the stair planks don’t need 1/4" room for expansion like the floor planks do?

  10. Enrico Collins on September 15, 2022 at 6:19 am

    Joints not random enough, but great job otherwise

  11. Tianshu Zhao on September 15, 2022 at 6:19 am

    Thank you very much for the detailed explanation. I was encouraged and wished to do it by myself following your instruction). After I remove the carpet of my living room, I found out there is gap between the skirting board and the floor (cement currently). the gap has both horizontal and vertical dimension. I am concerned that even I would use spacer to fix the floor when I do the installation, the floor will not be stable after I remove the spacer and use beaning (because of the depth (i.e. horizontal dimension into the wall)). I am wondering whether you even experienced such case and what solution I would use to deal with this?

  12. Aby P. on September 15, 2022 at 6:19 am

    Great video!
    Quick question: does this flooring require vapor barrier?

  13. Mimi on September 15, 2022 at 6:20 am

    What did you use on the stairs where it’s white? Is that wallpaper? Thanks!

  14. Dapper Dan on September 15, 2022 at 6:21 am

    Oh my hell get to the installation!

  15. Ranjeet Hogade on September 15, 2022 at 6:21 am

    Inspiring!

  16. Janet Hooper-Elzer on September 15, 2022 at 6:22 am

    Ok, I find it AWESOME that you are doing the demo and your husband comes in and vacuums! Kudos to you for picking the right man rather than macho dude! I am not trying to redo flooring, just trying to refurbish a tv bench into a sitting bench. I found some pieces of flooring at the Habitat for Humanity re-store that I thought I would use as the top and just glue them down. I just wanted to cut the laminate to size and cut off tongue and groove. I only have a 40 year old craftsman jig saw so just can’t cut it accurate enough. Going to try the utility knife. Thanks for your clear explanations.

  17. Matty Ice on September 15, 2022 at 6:23 am

    How does hammering the long end of the board down on to the previously laid board lock it in? I’m struggling

  18. Kimberley Bowman on September 15, 2022 at 6:23 am

    Thanks for the tutorial, I am getting ready to lay flooring.👋🏼 thank you your floors look wonderful.

  19. Terri Stroh on September 15, 2022 at 6:25 am

    You did a fantastic job and really looks wonderful. I knew vinyl flooring would look nice in my new house but I made 2 major mistakes: I cheaped out on the flooring and hired my idiot brother to install it. It looks horrible!

  20. Jonathan Garcia on September 15, 2022 at 6:26 am

    No wonder it wasn’t working for me thanks for the tips 🙂

  21. Olivia Figueroa on September 15, 2022 at 6:26 am

    Hello great job! Well explained video l. Can you please share the color you used on your walls the grey color thank you !😊

  22. Honeybee on September 15, 2022 at 6:28 am

    Sometimes u will have to use your rubber mallet , and hammering the edges like she is u have to be very careful cause the locks and edges will break . Good job tho mam !

  23. Jessica De Hoyos on September 15, 2022 at 6:28 am

    Can you do an update video of how the flooring has held up… I’m thinking of going with lifeproof flooring and would love to hear your review/feedback. Thanks!

  24. Chrissy F. on September 15, 2022 at 6:30 am

    Thanks for your video! I’m planning to do new flooring in my entire house with vinyl planks. I have to start with 2 bedrooms in particular, but my bedrooms and hallway all have weird angles at the threshold. I’m having such a hard time calculating how to start (if I need to cut down the starting row or not) because of this. It’s driving me bonkers, but I’ll get it figured out. 🙃😆

  25. Emmanuelle Ramondetti on September 15, 2022 at 6:30 am

    *I am a beginner to woodwork, the main test I have with this bundle **Allmy.Tips** is that I think that its hard to settle on a choice of the plan and outline to use as there are a large portion of them there. Nonetheless, I like the simple stride to step directions laid out there.*

  26. Mensch75 on September 15, 2022 at 6:31 am

    great tips. thanks.

  27. Jessica J on September 15, 2022 at 6:35 am

    Question…did you have to peel off the underpayment before adhering to stairs?

    This is one of the better videos that I’ve seen for LVP installation. I’m about to tackle the entire upstairs and 2 landings on already refinished stairs. The landings just need the LVP. I’m a little nervous. I have about 1150 SF to do which includes bedrooms, hallway and bathrooms and closets. Thanks for a great video that is inspiring for beginners

  28. Michael Bruno on September 15, 2022 at 6:35 am

    Thanks for the video, from where you bought the stairs wood matching your LVP?

  29. platoon 1975 on September 15, 2022 at 6:38 am

    🙌

  30. 6string on September 15, 2022 at 6:40 am

    I would not recommend this on stairs as it could be slippery. It’s a surprise how many people get injured on stairs, usually if your in a rush. Carpet 100%

  31. Iliana Molina on September 15, 2022 at 6:42 am

    I am so impressed thank you for posting this video

  32. Life in CA, USA / Cuộc sống ở Mỹ on September 15, 2022 at 6:42 am

    Thanks for the tips. They are very helpful. What color do you use for your wall?

  33. Stephanie Brooks on September 15, 2022 at 6:43 am

    Just bought LVT for my whole upstairs! Thanks for the tips!

  34. Hammad Shabbir on September 15, 2022 at 6:45 am

    check this video to get more information about How to Install Vinyl Plank Flooring as a Beginner? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7RHKQXFC9g&t=2s

  35. Even Mendoza on September 15, 2022 at 6:45 am

    I’m an overt thinker with instructions if they’re not explained right. And you nailed exactly what I needed to know. It was the little details that really came in clutch. Love this!

  36. Stevey Irwin on September 15, 2022 at 6:46 am

    one of the nicest colours for vinyl floors.

  37. Robert Farrell on September 15, 2022 at 6:47 am

    If the floor is not leveled out (low spots filled) the floor will move up and down when you walk on it and the joints will fail and make a cracking sound when walked on.

  38. Soneeeee on September 15, 2022 at 6:47 am

    good video. I’m having a problem with kitchen floor. the 3 or 4 short pieces of vinyl between sink cab and island (3 pieces about 3 feet long) are sliding toward the sink and big gap is showing at edge of island. I can push them back under the island with friction but the foot traffic goes toward and then stops at sink, pulling those short boards, so it will keep hapenning. Wondering what to do to stop them from moving? only permanent fix i can think of might be to install a strip across the base of the sink cab right behind the kick plate as a stop for the vinyl (if the boards even go that far) but I have custom laquered nailed in kick plate 5 feet long under sink cab base and worried about damaging it. I dont know if construction glue at the end of the gaps and/or in the side grooves under the isalnd would work. If it doesnt hold ill have a mess to deal with.. Any ideas? thanks. I guess i could ask my cabinet maker to come and take off the kick plate as a last resort but might take several months to get him.

  39. Jeremy Jones on September 15, 2022 at 6:51 am

    I really enjoyed this video. Question. How long did it take to lay the flooring in the kitchen? A day?

  40. Tas Singh on September 15, 2022 at 6:52 am

    No black plastic used as vapor barrier? I’m wondering if plastic even needed.

  41. shweta ahuja on September 15, 2022 at 6:53 am

    Very helpful video..I plan to install LVP in bathroom. As you mentioned nothing heavy should sit on top of the plank. How do I go about installing around the toilet?

  42. Beth Nicholson on September 15, 2022 at 6:54 am

    When you’re talking about things it would be helpful to show an example. This is supposed to be for beginners so you should show everything you talk about. Don’t assume people know what you mean.

  43. Tyler Isham on September 15, 2022 at 6:55 am

    This was the best video I could find. Very descriptive. Keep up the good work

  44. LesG 66 on September 15, 2022 at 6:57 am

    Good job. Thank you gal..

  45. Scott Hucks on September 15, 2022 at 6:57 am

    Thought the manufacturers instructions said to lay it from left to right and with the groove side against the wall. Am I missing something?

  46. Another Butt4Chair on September 15, 2022 at 6:58 am

    No! I’m
    Doing it right now

  47. The Budgetarian on September 15, 2022 at 7:00 am

    Was the pre-installed underpayment enough cushion? Or do you feel like an additional underpayment would have been better? Getting ready to install my own

  48. Steve Lucas on September 15, 2022 at 7:02 am

    You did a good job. However, one negative critique is you didn’t stagger the offsets more. Your offsets align every-other-row so it looks less natural and you see the offset lines more as a result.

  49. Sri B on September 15, 2022 at 7:03 am

    good work Ankita family 🙏

  50. crammia on September 15, 2022 at 7:04 am

    Thinking about doing my first floor in the basement…. I have a lot of our furniture/fridge (that can’t come out of the room) piled on one side of the room. Can I install half the room and then move the stuff onto the Vinyl Flooring, and then finish the flooring on the other side? Appreciate the help!!

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