This has been the best vinyl plank installation video I’ve seen thus far....and I’ve watched dozens of them preparing for my first project with this type of flooring.
This guy is the best tutorial for home improvements on youtube BY FAR!! Has helped me with many tasks and provided multiple tricks ... a great teacher/tutorial video poster! Hopefully somebody hires him for a TV show one day. I think his views are proof of his helpfulness
I am putting in floating floor but it is 24 X 12 vinyl stone planks. Out of all the videos on youtube, yours was the best on how to do this. Thank you for taking the time to do this video.
Thanks for the great video. No need to apologize for going long. Personally, I appreciate it. As others have said, I think it's great that you don't edit out any of the obstacles that come up during the video. Seeing that someone as talented as you still runs into issues sometimes really helps my confidence for doing it myself. Thank you again!
You are one awesome person--very talented, knowledgeable, and kind and helpful in your presentation. Our home had five feet of water standing for five days because of Hurricane Harvey. We lost everything and had no flood insurance. The house is gutted to the studs, and I am rebuilding as I can afford and learn through these awesome videos. It will be a long process, but, when I am finished, it will be done right. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. God bless you.
Good video with lots of details and tips. Even a few mistakes, which is good to leave in. Gives everyone an idea of what may happen when they install their own floor, so they know what to expect. Thanks Shannon, love your videos.
I've been buying a renovating duplexes for fifty years. For forty years l have installed carpet and sheet vinyl. About ten or fifteen years ago styles changed. Now it's a lot of wood and vinyl plank flooring. Your videos have been essential. There are a lot of videos but you take the time to explain the details. Also watched your videos on roofing, siding, basement remodel ECT.
This video is one of the most detailed videos on an install I've ever seen, Thank you very much for taking the time to do this. I've opened two well 3 now boxes of Shaw's Florte and so far the patterns are not identical but like they've shifted around in where they put things so each piece looks a lil different so far, still I've made a few stacks of almost alike patterns. I'm waiting on the floor leveler I put down to finish drying and then I can finally start!
I've started a vinyl flooring business and I always watch others work for good tips. You sir have helpped me get good enough to feel comfortable charging more because I do damn near perfect every time. Thank you.
Excellent demonstration! Didn't realize when I started that it's easier to work left to right, and couldn't figure out how to do the ends without losing the lock along the long edge. Your tips were incredibly helpful - thank you!
Best DIY videos are those that show their mistakes and show how to deal with them. That's what newbies like me need to learn, and why I love this channel. Great work! :)
Another great video that will come in handy fairly soon. I like the fact that you let your "mistakes" in, like when you cut the plank a little bit short. It's more realistic than a pitch perfect install where nothing goes wrong. Great job.
With this video you have increased my confidence 75%.You did a great job explaining and showing all necessary steps to do the job like an expert.Thank you.
Hi I have been watching your videos for some time now and especially like them for your clear instructions and excellent advice. I also like the lack of any ghastly "musak" and gimmicky intros. I am about to start doing this particular job. The manufacturer of the tapping block recommends sawing a short length off one of the planks and using that as a tapping block as it is already perfectly shaped to the edge of the plank plus using a normal square edged block. Thank you, Shannon.
Thank you for this video! My husband and I just bought some vinyl flooring and are putting it in ourselves.....wish I had saw your video before we started but we haven't gone too far to start over. My husband is a "just get it done" and I am a "let's really think about it", so like I said, we haven't gone too far to start over. Your video was easy to understand and made sense to me, so I can tackle this floor all by myself! I even found the tools you used which will make it a whole lot easier to lock them in without destroying the rubber lips on each plank. Used a crow bar which sometimes did more damage than good, but when I saw that "S" bar that you used (that's the name I gave it), that will be soooo much better and easier! So again, a BIG, BIG THANK YOU for this video!!!
This is one of my fave DIY videos, especially bc I have 21 boxes of LVT planks ready to put down myself! I super appreciate that you showed all the parts, so it doesn't seem like there's smoke and mirrors in this instruction video to make me feel falsely confident about using this stuff. I appreciated where you had to correct measurements, change methods, use dift adhesives, etc. This work is tricky and hard, but very possible - and having a fresh air dose of reality about how it really gets done is much appreciated! Thanks!
spent a lot years on my knee's doing all kinds of flooring, but this stuff is new to me. WHAT A GREAT job of explaining it., You are a Great tech. BRAVO
Ya me too - this is the sixth vid on this product i've watched and by far the best. Guess which was the worst: (the one from Home Despot..the licensed dealer of a similar product...ugh lol)
I'm about to finish a floating vinyl kitchen floor. I looked through several less-helpful videos before I found yours, which really helped--particularly (1) where you were starting & mentioned walking back & forth to watch for movement in some of the earlier planks you had installed, and (2) what you showed about being particular about making the joints tight.
I'm glad you show the problems that can happen in the real world. No problem on length. Thank you. Just going to attempt the upstairs on a house built around 1862. So nothing square.
Excellent presentation with just enough detail. I did see another floor installer put together several pieces before he positioned it at the wall. That makes a lot of sense as it will tend to hold its place better. Another started at a door, put several pieces together and pushed it under the door trim and nearby closet whose trim he had cut earlier to the height of the new floor. That was a great tip. I get good ideas from a variety of sources and Shannon is one of the best.
Thanks you for uploading this. Its very unpretentious and real life like vs the perfect installation videos from the manufacturers. I am going to watch this and make my "helpers" watch this as well before I start my DIY next week :)
Good idea with the different width scrap blocks for your starting planks going against the walls. Much more stable and less likely to shift than those little 1/4 inch plastic tile spacers. Nice straight to the point no nonsense tutorial. Thank for the great tutorial.
Great channel, great video as always Shannon. You've got one of the best DIY channels on RUclips. I hope you get 5 million subs. Keep doing what you are doing. Good stuff... you've saved me thousands in the last couple of years.
Found this video yesterday and it was a LIFESAVER. Thank you so much!! We are laying vinyl click lock flooring and were having a really tough time when we got to the pieces where we had to connect a short and long side--nearly every single piece. Your tip on connecting the long side and then tapping into the short side was a lifesaver. We are laying 850 sq feet of continuous floor in our oversized tiny house and this has made it go much faster and less stressful. I hope to finish up in the next couple of days and your video has certainly helped me out!
Congratulations Shannon! Yours is the only video I've seen so far that explains the possible need to cut the starting row so that you don't end up with a 1" gap at the end. Outstanding work and another great video.
Thanks, Shannon for all the details as always. Great video. I appreciate you taking your valuable time to help us out with a lot of different projects.
It's well worth a quick measure up to make sure you don't finish with skinny little strips at the other end. Even if it means cutting your first row in half, you don't want to be struggling like this guy did.
I always love you videos! You go into the detail that I like to see. There's "flooring videos" out there that are 7 minutes long lol. I appreciate the extra time you put into it.
Every time I'm watching tutorials and one of yours happen to pop out in the feed, i immediately start watching yours. You my friend have very reliable skills and i feel confident with your advise. Greetings from Seattle, WA.
Shannon loved this video. You share so much important detail that is helpful to the beginner. I installed the Stainmasters floor tile adhesive and your info guided me because I didn't know what I was doing. I even added the grout. It looks beautiful. This was done after repairing the water damaged subflooring. Thanks again Shannon!!!
Great job. Most informative yet. You gave me a better understanding of the process. And I'm glad that you ran into a few snags and showed how you resolved them, as I'm sure I'll have more than a few.
Your videos are so detailed. I dont like long videos but taking the time to watch yours are well worth it. There's no wasted time, every moment is used. Good job as always.
Some manufacturers of the vinyl plank flooring with built in underlayment will void the warranty if underlayment is used, because if it's too flexible it can cause stress on the planks and joints when they flex unsupported. Depends on the specific model being installed.
Installing vinyl plank right now. I’ve watched lots of videos. You are the first person I’ve watched to mention the shifting that occurs in previous rows. It can be a real pain. Mine sometimes even creeps back apart and it’s challenging to get everything back together. Thank you for the tips.
Like many, I watch several videos in addition to reading and considering any advice I get before tackling any project I'm not very familiar with. That being said, I find myself watching your videos multiple times and referring back to them if I get stuck. I have you to thank for my shed, successfully replacing several of my windows and in another week or so, the installation of my new vinyl pack flooring. Great job
you start off with a full strip of planks against one wall (8:38) , but by the time you get to the other end of the room (39:49) you have a strip only a few cm wide. it's better to measure the room and adjust the width of the planks at both sides of the room. so instead of 100% of a board width at the start and 5% of a board width next to the door, you have 50% of a board width at the start and 55% of a board width at the other end of the room.
I think he actually said that at the beginning (4:12) when first planning the room. You can measure your pieces according to how the room will finish. Then you make your choice before you start.
Richard Bevan I'm using silicone them small pieces at Door way are to small for traffic like you say CUT first row 3''. If its a wall you have moldings to help secure it.
Daiman Katu Why would you have any gaps? You pull the toilet and lay your planks on solid sub-floor. ...whether it be the existing wood, linoleum, concrete. Replace the wax ring and re-set the toilet to the new floor level.
Logan Folley That works great...if you’re trying desperately to make it look DIY, hacked, after thought design work! Or you could just do it correctly the first time.
Putting those heavy boxes on the first three rows, will help keep your floor from sliding as you’re locking the floor in. 🤗 Great video 😊. Definitely took notes for my future home.
this is an angle click so you install the side groove first then the long side. please search angle click and you'll see what I'm talking about. it's not that the way he's installing doesn't work it's just that it takes much longer and u wouldn't need to hammer every piece.
I've watched so many of this channel's videos while renovating my unused basement space into an office. I wouldn't have felt nearly as willing to do any of it myself if I hadn't come across your advice. Thanks Shannon.
Thanks for this video, definitly helped me get over the frustration I was having, as like you mention, everything kind of stiffens up after a few rows. Much easier to just get some planks laid out then adjust rather than fidgeting with every single one constantly tapping back and forth. Speaking of advice - I started my job over the weekend and was feeling pretty good Sunday night that I had solved most of my "kinks" and the rest of the job would go pretty smoothly. Then I got home from work last night and noticed about 7 or 8 rows in from where I stopped, there is about half a plank that I didn't get the long edge all the way locked in. Visually I am not too worried about it as the locking strip isn't noticeable unless you get down on the floor and look close. It actually, IMO looks more natural as it reminds me of some of the tiny gaps that develop on old wood floors that have cured for several years. HOWEVER, since this is a floating application meant to expand and contract, will having that half a plank unlocked increase my chances of the floor separating at that spot over time creating a bigger gap that is unsightly? The other worry is that if I do decide to pull it up and fix that row, since the next 7 or 8 rows are locked tight I will ruin the locking strips when I pull them apart ruining all those boards. So, in your experience working with this stuff, does it really expand and contract that much where one or two "half-clicked" boards are going to cause an issue, or am I OK to continue on with the job?
The reason it's so hard to lock your end joints is because u lock your long joints all the way in first this creates alot of locked surface area that makes it harder to slide when u hit if at all possible u should lock in the short piece first then hammer the long joints in much easier to slide the small joint just FYI not trying to be a smart ass at all I realize it sounds that way but good video
no if you dont secure the long side first you will knock the board in crooked then as you work across the room your floor will be slowly turning crooked
Thanks for taking the time to put this video together. I've done a few floors before and ran into some problems which have been explained in your video. Like not going back and checking the floor for any gaps and correcting them before getting to far ahead of ourselves. My thoughts then was if I ingore them maybe they will go away. Not a good idea. Getting ready to start laying another floor and feeling a lot more confident. Thank You.
wish I'd had this video 11 years ago, doing a nightmare upstairs hall with really cheap laminate... LOL 11 years later and its upgrade time. Thank you for the video. Ive done 3 baths in my home with vinyl (cant believe how easy it is now). BUT that hall upstairs is crazy tricky with many many cuts....' Its 1 project away on my list and I keep bumping it further back HAHA. your tips have always helped me, so thanks.
AWESOME detailed video; big bonus for adding all the issues you'll come across with any installation you'll attempt to do on your own; any DIY person knows those minor issues that become MAJOR headaches....will most definitely be using your video to do my floors...thank you
Great video as usual. This will be my next project. Installing a vinyl plank flooring in my basement. Thank you for all the tips. You are very descriptive. There is no need to apoligize. Like Bob Ross used to say "we don't make mistakes we have happy accidents!"
Great video! Very good explaination and demonstration! I was having a really tough time getting my flooring started until I came across this superb instruction! Following your steps, I was back on track! Thank you !
I ended up falling asleep to some DIY plumbing stuff and some how ended up here. Terrific work and if ever I need to do my floors like this you'll be the first video I watch!
Fantastic video Shannon, thanks, very helpful for my vinyl flooring project. Especially found your technique of fastening the long side and then using the block to hammer the short side flush helpful
EXCELLENT DIY...YOU MADE THIS AN EASY TO FOLLOW VIDEO. I CAN'T WAIT TO DO THE BEDROOMS UPSTAIRS. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO DO THIS AND SHOWING SUCH A SOLID PIECE OF WORK AND TEACHING.
Thank you very much! Don't worry about the length of the video, I learned a lot watching how you worked through the challenges and occasional mistake. Getting ready to lay a floor down in a kitchen area with all sorts of obstacles and this video has put my mind a bit at ease that I can actually get this done. Thanks much!
I like your comment about the random thing. A guy who taught me how to lay tile many years ago was trying to make travertine tiles, of various shades, look random. By doing so, it looked too much like a pattern. I learned from that. Now I just throw and go. Whatever I grab goes next. Sometimes you get a few that look the same bunched together but that is as random as you can get.
GREAT JOB! This is my first time to install this type of flooring. I especially liked the way you described how to make the first row by using the chalk line. Also explaining about using the spacers the way you did was very helpful. Thanks for taking the time to help a non professional lie me. Bob
i'm trying to find where he explained about spacers, can you tell me where he explained that? i'm thinking of using a spacer which i think is more efficient instead of marking it, but i'm also wondering why he didn't use it. thank you.
Thank you for this video. I very much appreciate how you had the camera zoom in to show the gaps closing, otherwise I wouldn't have known they could go closer. Having to re-adjust if things move was also a good thing to keep in mind. I don't mind the video being longer because I was enjoying it. It had a lot of good details. I was a little sad it had to end. I wanted to see the baseboard & trim going in, but I know it must be a pain to upload long videos. The room I'm doing uses about those same size planks & the room will fit a bit more than 2-1/2 planks lengthwise and a little bit less than 13-1/2" planks wide. I know they say to trim the first row so the last row won't be smaller, but that last row is going to be under exterior door threshold, hidden by a washer & dryer, and behind a lint bin so it won't be as visible. I'm going to have a bump-out like the one in the room you were doing (around 32 minutes in) but it's on an exterior wall so it will be on the last row. I hadn't thought about having problems tapping/locking with a U-shape. I'll have to try to figure out the best way to do that one once I get close to it. I still have to do some demo & replace the subfloor though. One of the challenges will be that every potential starting corner has a doorway or two. The one I want to start at has a doorway to the side, so I'm thinking of temporarily screwing down a 2x4 even with the wall to have something for shims to go against. The transition there will be from plank to vinyl sheet so I'll eventually put in a track & reducing molding. Any tips on how to get the subfloor level while setting it down on the joists if the joists aren't level? Any tips for what to do if I have to start at a doorway? Can a rubber mallet be used instead of a metal hammer? What about using a flooring saw instead? (I actually have a Skil flooring saw that was on sale) I know I'll have to consider the kerf with that sort of saw, but it might be faster for some cuts & no worries of not scoring properly or knife going dull. Where did you find the rubber molding for the floor transition? For the small strip that went under the casing, could you have locked it in to the larger piece first, used painter's tape on the top to hold them tight together, and then slid them under the casing as one piece?
Thank you Shannon. You are the man. Your detailed videos are really helpful for learning about home improvements and they have given me the confidence to tackle some of these projects myself. Thanks again. John
I see a lot of how to's on You Tube. I am not a craftsman but I am pretty handy. I truly enjoyed this video. I had installed the older PITA flooring 8 years ago. It seems much better and now with a few insights I will probably redo the Open front area of the house. Thank You. I will look up Patreon.
Thanks for the video! I am buying this style of flooring and wanted to see how it goes down before installation day. Key points for me are how tight it actually is supposed to fit. Thanks again!
Thanks for another good one. I learned a few new tricks. When I put my laminate floors in, they came with small plastic wedges. Two wedges are supposed to be used together to make a square shim block. By shifting the wedges relative to one another the width of the shim is adjusted with ease.
Talk to us while you work. Makes it easier to remain interested. I missed a lot of info having to skip past all the chatter in the beginning. I know it’s useful info, I’m not negating the importance of the information at all.. just suggesting that when u started talking while u were working it made it easier to follow along & remain interested. Thanks for sharing!
FYI, I installed LVP (glue down) in my Kitchen, living room and dining room and love it!!! The reason I went with the glue down is I had read of issues of the snap together warping even though they swore they left the correct gaps on the outer edges. I also wanted to install my base kitchen cabinets on top of the flooring to keep the floor the same height (for the fridge and dishwasher) since snap together needs to be able to move (float) and shouldn't be installed under cabinets or heavy objects. Food for thought. :-). Nice installation video Shannon, as always!!
I am planning on doing this by myself and I wonder if I could put the floor under my fridge and stove at least. I dont care a lot about the dishwasher. Di you put flooring under those machines?
Thank you Shannon. As always It was very helpful video. I am going to instal luxury vinyl plunk tomorrow following your tips and advise. You are a great teacher with lots of manner.
I'll be installing the same type of floor in my wifes new sewing room. Your video helped a lot and gave me a little more confidence to tackle the project. Thanks. Great job. Great videos
This has been the best vinyl plank installation video I’ve seen thus far....and I’ve watched dozens of them preparing for my first project with this type of flooring.
This guy is the best tutorial for home improvements on youtube BY FAR!! Has helped me with many tasks and provided multiple tricks ... a great teacher/tutorial video poster!
Hopefully somebody hires him for a TV show one day. I think his views are proof of his helpfulness
I am putting in floating floor but it is 24 X 12 vinyl stone planks. Out of all the videos on youtube, yours was the best on how to do this. Thank you for taking the time to do this video.
Lot you tubers trying to explain the right way. But you are the best of all
Thanks for the great video. No need to apologize for going long. Personally, I appreciate it. As others have said, I think it's great that you don't edit out any of the obstacles that come up during the video. Seeing that someone as talented as you still runs into issues sometimes really helps my confidence for doing it myself. Thank you again!
You are one awesome person--very talented, knowledgeable, and kind and helpful in your presentation. Our home had five feet of water standing for five days because of Hurricane Harvey. We lost everything and had no flood insurance. The house is gutted to the studs, and I am rebuilding as I can afford and learn through these awesome videos. It will be a long process, but, when I am finished, it will be done right. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. God bless you.
Good video with lots of details and tips. Even a few mistakes, which is good to leave in. Gives everyone an idea of what may happen when they install their own floor, so they know what to expect. Thanks Shannon, love your videos.
I've been buying a renovating duplexes for fifty years. For forty years l have installed carpet and sheet vinyl. About ten or fifteen years ago styles changed. Now it's a lot of wood and vinyl plank flooring. Your videos have been essential. There are a lot of videos but you take the time to explain the details. Also watched your videos on roofing, siding, basement remodel ECT.
That is awesome!
@@HouseImprovements Hi Shannon , where can I get that transition molding ?
This video is one of the most detailed videos on an install I've ever seen, Thank you very much for taking the time to do this.
I've opened two well 3 now boxes of Shaw's Florte and so far the patterns are not identical but like they've shifted around in where they put things so each piece looks a lil different so far, still I've made a few stacks of almost alike patterns. I'm waiting on the floor leveler I put down to finish drying and then I can finally start!
I've started a vinyl flooring business and I always watch others work for good tips. You sir have helpped me get good enough to feel comfortable charging more because I do damn near perfect every time. Thank you.
Excellent demonstration! Didn't realize when I started that it's easier to work left to right, and couldn't figure out how to do the ends without losing the lock along the long edge. Your tips were incredibly helpful - thank you!
Best DIY videos are those that show their mistakes and show how to deal with them. That's what newbies like me need to learn, and why I love this channel. Great work! :)
Another great video that will come in handy fairly soon. I like the fact that you let your "mistakes" in, like when you cut the plank a little bit short. It's more realistic than a pitch perfect install where nothing goes wrong. Great job.
100% agree
Luc Desormeaux b
AGREE trouble shooting the problems/ mistakes is where DIY gets hung up and runs into trouble. Seeing how to work that out is very helpful.
A 100% agreement with all responders. Thank you sir for GREAT videos.
With this video you have increased my confidence 75%.You did a great job explaining and showing all necessary steps to do the job like an expert.Thank you.
Hi
I have been watching your videos for some time now and especially like them for your clear instructions and excellent advice. I also like the lack of any ghastly "musak" and gimmicky intros.
I am about to start doing this particular job. The manufacturer of the tapping block recommends sawing a short length off one of the planks and using that as a tapping block as it is already perfectly shaped to the edge of the plank plus using a normal square edged block.
Thank you, Shannon.
Peter Lawrence no
Thank you for this video! My husband and I just bought some vinyl flooring and are putting it in ourselves.....wish I had saw your video before we started but we haven't gone too far to start over. My husband is a "just get it done" and I am a "let's really think about it", so like I said, we haven't gone too far to start over. Your video was easy to understand and made sense to me, so I can tackle this floor all by myself! I even found the tools you used which will make it a whole lot easier to lock them in without destroying the rubber lips on each plank. Used a crow bar which sometimes did more damage than good, but when I saw that "S" bar that you used (that's the name I gave it), that will be soooo much better and easier! So again, a BIG, BIG THANK YOU for this video!!!
thanks Carmella, please check our channel ,website and forum if you need more help again. www.house-improvements.com
This is one of my fave DIY videos, especially bc I have 21 boxes of LVT planks ready to put down myself! I super appreciate that you showed all the parts, so it doesn't seem like there's smoke and mirrors in this instruction video to make me feel falsely confident about using this stuff. I appreciated where you had to correct measurements, change methods, use dift adhesives, etc. This work is tricky and hard, but very possible - and having a fresh air dose of reality about how it really gets done is much appreciated! Thanks!
I really appreciate that he explains so much of his process.
I always trust Shannon. He could bake a cake and I would still watch him.
spent a lot years on my knee's doing all kinds of flooring, but this stuff is new to me. WHAT A GREAT job of explaining it., You are a Great tech. BRAVO
Ya me too - this is the sixth vid on this product i've watched and by far the best. Guess which was the worst: (the one from Home Despot..the licensed dealer of a similar product...ugh lol)
Giggity
I forgot how informative your video is. I re-watched it because today is the day I'm installing my own floor. You're such a great teacher, Shannon.
I'm about to finish a floating vinyl kitchen floor. I looked through several less-helpful videos before I found yours, which really helped--particularly (1) where you were starting & mentioned walking back & forth to watch for movement in some of the earlier planks you had installed, and (2) what you showed about being particular about making the joints tight.
Milligan Mark o
As always, you are the 'go to' person for those of us who haven't done a certain project before. Excellent and thank you.
Dude, I love you how you show us your errors. That was so helpful. Ill save $700 doing it myself. Thanks again.
I love that you left your little mistakes. It gave reality of what to expect. Thank you.
Thanks so much for the informational video! Don't apologize for going too long :D You're my go to Guy for all things construction/contractor related.
I'm glad you show the problems that can happen in the real world. No problem on length. Thank you. Just going to attempt the upstairs on a house built around 1862. So nothing square.
Thanks for the video Shannon, my wife and I are looking at installing this style flooring and you give us confidence to tackle it.
good to hear
Can you put this type of flooring directly on concrete?
yes you can, maybe use an underlayment
thickheart28 i
What brand is this? I like the color and want this
Excellent presentation with just enough detail. I did see another floor installer put together several pieces before he positioned it at the wall. That makes a lot of sense as it will tend to hold its place better. Another started at a door, put several pieces together and pushed it under the door trim and nearby closet whose trim he had cut earlier to the height of the new floor. That was a great tip. I get good ideas from a variety of sources and Shannon is one of the best.
Thanks you for uploading this. Its very unpretentious and real life like vs the perfect installation videos from the manufacturers. I am going to watch this and make my "helpers" watch this as well before I start my DIY next week :)
Good idea with the different width scrap blocks for your starting planks going against the walls. Much more stable and less likely to shift than those little 1/4 inch plastic tile spacers.
Nice straight to the point no nonsense tutorial. Thank for the great tutorial.
Great channel, great video as always Shannon. You've got one of the best DIY channels on RUclips. I hope you get 5 million subs. Keep doing what you are doing. Good stuff... you've saved me thousands in the last couple of years.
Glad we could help!
Found this video yesterday and it was a LIFESAVER. Thank you so much!! We are laying vinyl click lock flooring and were having a really tough time when we got to the pieces where we had to connect a short and long side--nearly every single piece. Your tip on connecting the long side and then tapping into the short side was a lifesaver. We are laying 850 sq feet of continuous floor in our oversized tiny house and this has made it go much faster and less stressful. I hope to finish up in the next couple of days and your video has certainly helped me out!
Thank you for sharing your knowledge. I’m about to do this in an apartment I’m rehabbing . Your a great teacher!
Congratulations Shannon! Yours is the only video I've seen so far that explains the possible need to cut the starting row so that you don't end up with a 1" gap at the end. Outstanding work and another great video.
Thanks, Shannon for all the details as always. Great video. I appreciate you taking your valuable time to help us out with a lot of different projects.
Shannon, no need to apologize for the video being to long, always fun to watch you work and learn from you.
I will be watching this video many times as I attempt to install new flooring. Thanks for another great tutorial:)
your welcome Gene
most important part is being square. and that jig he has is a great tool to keep everything u cut straight..
good luck
It's well worth a quick measure up to make sure you don't finish with skinny little strips at the other end. Even if it means cutting your first row in half, you don't want to be struggling like this guy did.
Great point, I did my 1st 'test run' in a small bathroom, and my final 'door side' strip is only 1.5 inches.
Excellent. Well, explained. Most of the other guys don't explain those little details. Thanks.
I always love you videos! You go into the detail that I like to see. There's "flooring videos" out there that are 7 minutes long lol. I appreciate the extra time you put into it.
Every time I'm watching tutorials and one of yours happen to pop out in the feed, i immediately start watching yours. You my friend have very reliable skills and i feel confident with your advise. Greetings from Seattle, WA.
Shannon loved this video. You share so much important detail that is helpful to the beginner. I installed the Stainmasters floor tile adhesive and your info guided me because I didn't know what I was doing. I even added the grout. It looks beautiful. This was done after repairing the water damaged subflooring. Thanks again Shannon!!!
Great video
Thankyou for this Shannon! You're the best and most humble teacher of construction I've found on the internet.
Great job. Most informative yet. You gave me a better understanding of the process. And I'm glad that you ran into a few snags and showed how you resolved them, as I'm sure I'll have more than a few.
You're the best teacher and clear explanation worth every second of this video to watch
I'm installing this type of flooring on our rental. I'm a novice and this video is very helpful. Thank you!
good luck ,you will do just fine
I'm sure I will be watching this video repeatedly before I start.
By far one of the best videos for 1st time floor installation....thank you
Really really helpful stuff bud. Thank God I watched this video! I'm feeling more confident about my project and now.....another trip to Lowes haha
Your videos are so detailed. I dont like long videos but taking the time to watch yours are well worth it. There's no wasted time, every moment is used. Good job as always.
Thanks, much appreciated!
Can you use a underlayment / moisture barrier for vinyl plank flooring??? i'm doing my whole house and bathrooms.
Some manufacturers of the vinyl plank flooring with built in underlayment will void the warranty if underlayment is used, because if it's too flexible it can cause stress on the planks and joints when they flex unsupported. Depends on the specific model being installed.
Installing vinyl plank right now. I’ve watched lots of videos. You are the first person I’ve watched to mention the shifting that occurs in previous rows. It can be a real pain. Mine sometimes even creeps back apart and it’s challenging to get everything back together. Thank you for the tips.
Very professional! Great instructors! Thanks, thanks, thanks!
Like many, I watch several videos in addition to reading and considering any advice I get before tackling any project I'm not very familiar with. That being said, I find myself watching your videos multiple times and referring back to them if I get stuck. I have you to thank for my shed, successfully replacing several of my windows and in another week or so, the installation of my new vinyl pack flooring. Great job
you start off with a full strip of planks against one wall (8:38) , but by the time you get to the other end of the room (39:49) you have a strip only a few cm wide. it's better to measure the room and adjust the width of the planks at both sides of the room. so instead of 100% of a board width at the start and 5% of a board width next to the door, you have 50% of a board width at the start and 55% of a board width at the other end of the room.
Yes that is true you can do that.
I think he actually said that at the beginning (4:12) when first planning the room. You can measure your pieces according to how the room will finish. Then you make your choice before you start.
Richard Bevan really good advice!! Thank you!!
Richard Bevan I'm using silicone them small pieces at Door way are to small for traffic like you say CUT first row 3''. If its a wall you have moldings to help secure it.
Great job installing the plank flooring, my wife and I, learned a lot from watching you thanks for sharing.Blessings! !!!!
How do you fill in gaps if you are layin around toilets and showers etc
Daiman Katu
Why would you have any gaps?
You pull the toilet and lay your planks on solid sub-floor.
...whether it be the existing wood, linoleum, concrete.
Replace the wax ring and re-set the toilet to the new floor level.
On a shower you can quarterround/shoemold but a clear or matching caulk is usually a better look
Logan Folley
That works great...if you’re trying desperately to make it look DIY, hacked, after thought design work!
Or you could just do it correctly the first time.
Putting those heavy boxes on the first three rows, will help keep your floor from sliding as you’re locking the floor in. 🤗
Great video 😊. Definitely took notes for my future home.
WOW... That is a GREAT Idea Katt
this is an angle click so you install the side groove first then the long side. please search angle click and you'll see what I'm talking about. it's not that the way he's installing doesn't work it's just that it takes much longer and u wouldn't need to hammer every piece.
When working by yourself it is pretty much impossible to end click an entire row and get that row then attached to the floor you have down.
HouseImprovements just search it and you'll know how to do it because that's way every installer does.
Thanks for putting in the little mess ups and showing us how to overcome them. I can guarantee you that I am going to mess my stuff up when I do it.
41.50 A little soap helps
interesting idea
Lol
I've watched so many of this channel's videos while renovating my unused basement space into an office. I wouldn't have felt nearly as willing to do any of it myself if I hadn't come across your advice. Thanks Shannon.
You are welcome
Thanks for this video, definitly helped me get over the frustration I was having, as like you mention, everything kind of stiffens up after a few rows. Much easier to just get some planks laid out then adjust rather than fidgeting with every single one constantly tapping back and forth.
Speaking of advice - I started my job over the weekend and was feeling pretty good Sunday night that I had solved most of my "kinks" and the rest of the job would go pretty smoothly. Then I got home from work last night and noticed about 7 or 8 rows in from where I stopped, there is about half a plank that I didn't get the long edge all the way locked in. Visually I am not too worried about it as the locking strip isn't noticeable unless you get down on the floor and look close. It actually, IMO looks more natural as it reminds me of some of the tiny gaps that develop on old wood floors that have cured for several years.
HOWEVER, since this is a floating application meant to expand and contract, will having that half a plank unlocked increase my chances of the floor separating at that spot over time creating a bigger gap that is unsightly? The other worry is that if I do decide to pull it up and fix that row, since the next 7 or 8 rows are locked tight I will ruin the locking strips when I pull them apart ruining all those boards.
So, in your experience working with this stuff, does it really expand and contract that much where one or two "half-clicked" boards are going to cause an issue, or am I OK to continue on with the job?
The reason it's so hard to lock your end joints is because u lock your long joints all the way in first this creates alot of locked surface area that makes it harder to slide when u hit if at all possible u should lock in the short piece first then hammer the long joints in much easier to slide the small joint just FYI not trying to be a smart ass at all I realize it sounds that way but good video
no if you dont secure the long side first you will knock the board in crooked then as you work across the room your floor will be slowly turning crooked
Not too long, never boring, thanks for the help as always.
Anybody else notice that Shannon looks like General Zod from the original Superman Movies?
Or Edward Norton with shorter hair.
WO! I see the Zod now but def didn't think it at first -- it's gotta be the eyes haha ZOD lol
Thanks for taking the time to put this video together. I've done a few floors before and ran into some problems which have been explained in your video. Like not going back and checking the floor for any gaps and correcting them before getting to far ahead of ourselves. My thoughts then was if I ingore them maybe they will go away. Not a good idea. Getting ready to start laying another floor and feeling a lot more confident. Thank You.
"Thumbs UP"
This is one of the best laminate floor videos I’ve seen thanks for this upload!
This kind of job is where a fat, slightly deaf dog is good to have around to lay on the ends that pop up.
LOL
What? You can use a dog for that? Jeez, if I'd known that I'd never have got married!
Ba-da-bum-tsss!
Can you rent one? I just have a cat.
wish I'd had this video 11 years ago, doing a nightmare upstairs hall with really cheap laminate... LOL
11 years later and its upgrade time. Thank you for the video.
Ive done 3 baths in my home with vinyl (cant believe how easy it is now). BUT that hall upstairs is crazy tricky with many many cuts....'
Its 1 project away on my list and I keep bumping it further back HAHA.
your tips have always helped me, so thanks.
AWESOME detailed video; big bonus for adding all the issues you'll come across with any installation you'll attempt to do on your own; any DIY person knows those minor issues that become MAJOR headaches....will most definitely be using your video to do my floors...thank you
The Les Stroud of House Improvements. Super helpful and informative video again.
Glad it was helpful!
Great video as usual. This will be my next project. Installing a vinyl plank flooring in my basement.
Thank you for all the tips. You are very descriptive. There is no need to apoligize.
Like Bob Ross used to say "we don't make mistakes we have happy accidents!"
I came hunting for your video. Didn't realize I hadn't subscribed yet. I've been coming back and looking for your videos for just about every project!
Great video! You showed all the little details that matter to make it easier for us noobs when we attempt it.
This has been one of the most comprehensive vids on the subject I've seen.
Great video! Very good explaination and demonstration! I was having a really tough time getting my flooring started until I came across this superb instruction! Following your steps, I was back on track! Thank you !
I ended up falling asleep to some DIY plumbing stuff and some how ended up here. Terrific work and if ever I need to do my floors like this you'll be the first video I watch!
Fantastic video Shannon, thanks, very helpful for my vinyl flooring project. Especially found your technique of fastening the long side and then using the block to hammer the short side flush helpful
That jig you made to cut the pieces is fantastic! Thumbs up!
EXCELLENT DIY...YOU MADE THIS AN EASY TO FOLLOW VIDEO. I CAN'T WAIT TO DO THE BEDROOMS UPSTAIRS. THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO DO THIS AND SHOWING SUCH A SOLID PIECE OF WORK AND TEACHING.
Watched your video twice and found it very, very helpful. I really appreciated it as I watched others not nearly as helpful. Thank you.
The best diy teacher on RUclips!
That pattern is almost like the pattern for roofing a home with shingles.
Awesome video. Thanks a lot.
Thank you very much! Don't worry about the length of the video, I learned a lot watching how you worked through the challenges and occasional mistake. Getting ready to lay a floor down in a kitchen area with all sorts of obstacles and this video has put my mind a bit at ease that I can actually get this done. Thanks much!
I like your comment about the random thing. A guy who taught me how to lay tile many years ago was trying to make travertine tiles, of various shades, look random. By doing so, it looked too much like a pattern. I learned from that. Now I just throw and go. Whatever I grab goes next. Sometimes you get a few that look the same bunched together but that is as random as you can get.
GREAT JOB! This is my first time to install this type of flooring. I especially liked the way you described how to make the first row by using the chalk line. Also explaining about using the spacers the way you did was very helpful. Thanks for taking the time to help a non professional lie me. Bob
i'm trying to find where he explained about spacers, can you tell me where he explained that? i'm thinking of using a spacer which i think is more efficient instead of marking it, but i'm also wondering why he didn't use it. thank you.
Thank you for this video. I very much appreciate how you had the camera zoom in to show the gaps closing, otherwise I wouldn't have known they could go closer. Having to re-adjust if things move was also a good thing to keep in mind. I don't mind the video being longer because I was enjoying it. It had a lot of good details. I was a little sad it had to end. I wanted to see the baseboard & trim going in, but I know it must be a pain to upload long videos.
The room I'm doing uses about those same size planks & the room will fit a bit more than 2-1/2 planks lengthwise and a little bit less than 13-1/2" planks wide. I know they say to trim the first row so the last row won't be smaller, but that last row is going to be under exterior door threshold, hidden by a washer & dryer, and behind a lint bin so it won't be as visible. I'm going to have a bump-out like the one in the room you were doing (around 32 minutes in) but it's on an exterior wall so it will be on the last row. I hadn't thought about having problems tapping/locking with a U-shape. I'll have to try to figure out the best way to do that one once I get close to it. I still have to do some demo & replace the subfloor though. One of the challenges will be that every potential starting corner has a doorway or two. The one I want to start at has a doorway to the side, so I'm thinking of temporarily screwing down a 2x4 even with the wall to have something for shims to go against. The transition there will be from plank to vinyl sheet so I'll eventually put in a track & reducing molding.
Any tips on how to get the subfloor level while setting it down on the joists if the joists aren't level?
Any tips for what to do if I have to start at a doorway?
Can a rubber mallet be used instead of a metal hammer?
What about using a flooring saw instead? (I actually have a Skil flooring saw that was on sale) I know I'll have to consider the kerf with that sort of saw, but it might be faster for some cuts & no worries of not scoring properly or knife going dull.
Where did you find the rubber molding for the floor transition?
For the small strip that went under the casing, could you have locked it in to the larger piece first, used painter's tape on the top to hold them tight together, and then slid them under the casing as one piece?
I loved that you really talked us through it all...mistakes included! It makes it seem so real, and possible! Thanks so very much!
even with your help this's been by far the most annoying project i have done but great video indeed the most helpful!
Thank you Shannon. You are the man. Your detailed videos are really helpful for learning about home improvements and they have given me the confidence to tackle some of these projects myself. Thanks again. John
I see a lot of how to's on You Tube. I am not a craftsman but I am pretty handy. I truly enjoyed this video. I had installed the older PITA flooring 8 years ago. It seems much better and now with a few insights I will probably redo the Open front area of the house. Thank You. I will look up Patreon.
Thanks for the video! I am buying this style of flooring and wanted to see how it goes down before installation day. Key points for me are how tight it actually is supposed to fit. Thanks again!
Thanks for another good one. I learned a few new tricks.
When I put my laminate floors in, they came with small plastic wedges. Two wedges are supposed to be used together to make a square shim block. By shifting the wedges relative to one another the width of the shim is adjusted with ease.
works pretty good.
Talk to us while you work. Makes it easier to remain interested. I missed a lot of info having to skip past all the chatter in the beginning. I know it’s useful info, I’m not negating the importance of the information at all.. just suggesting that when u started talking while u were working it made it easier to follow along & remain interested. Thanks for sharing!
FYI, I installed LVP (glue down) in my Kitchen, living room and dining room and love it!!! The reason I went with the glue down is I had read of issues of the snap together warping even though they swore they left the correct gaps on the outer edges. I also wanted to install my base kitchen cabinets on top of the flooring to keep the floor the same height (for the fridge and dishwasher) since snap together needs to be able to move (float) and shouldn't be installed under cabinets or heavy objects.
Food for thought. :-). Nice installation video Shannon, as always!!
Thanks.
MrDae006 I
I am planning on doing this by myself and I wonder if I could put the floor under my fridge and stove at least. I dont care a lot about the dishwasher. Di you put flooring under those machines?
Looking to do the same thing. Did you ever get an answer to this or have you done it?
as a new home owner, your channel has been a great tool. thank you!
Thanks for the input I installed my floor the wrong way now I'm going to do it right! Lol after a month that I installed it!
Thank you Shannon. As always It was very helpful video. I am going to instal luxury vinyl plunk tomorrow following your tips and advise. You are a great teacher with lots of manner.
I'll be installing the same type of floor in my wifes new sewing room. Your video helped a lot and gave me a little more confidence to tackle the project. Thanks. Great job. Great videos
You're welcome.
Thank you for talking it through as you do it. You highlight important details that would not be apparent to someone doing this for the first time.
No, not too long, full of important details! Feeling more confident to do it myself :)
Thank you very much for sharing!:)
One of the best videos , explaining " How To " on RUclips . Great Job.