Welcome to our simple guide to installing your new vinyl floors. You're going to love just how quick and easy it is to lay your new vinyl plank floors.

• Pre-select boards that blend best with matching scotia, skirts and trims.

• Randomly staggering boards helps ensure a more authentic overall appearance. Ensure that the minimum offset between adjacent rows is 150mm, or where the board width is greater than 150mm, by the width of the board. 

• Installing boards from multiple packs during installation will help balance out normal colour and pattern variations.

• Check door and door frame clearances to ensure that doors will move freely without contacting the floor surface.

• Perimeter expansion gaps are not required when installing vinyl planks/tiles. They may be butted up against perimeter walls on all sides.

• Where an opening, threshold or doorway meets another surface, a decorative trim is recommended to ensure a smooth transition and to protect the exposed edge from damage.

Step 1. Assess the layout of the first room where laying will commence. To determine a starting point, find the center of the room, then use a chalk line or straightedge to strike/ mark a line.

Step 2. Measure out the total width across the room wall to wall. Divide the measurement by the width of the plank or tile. If the last plank is shorter than 1/3rd its width, move the center point as needed so the plank/tile can be trimmed to be cut more than 1/3rd width, where the material meets the wall.

Step 3. Once the layout has been determined, start by cutting the first row as required. Typically, the first board will not be cut in length unless the layout means that the last board shall be less than 150mm. Dry fit (no adhesive)  several rows initially to check the position of the layout, and  recheck where the floor will finish at each wall.

Step 4. Once your starting point has been checked, apply adhesive to the subfloor along the line (use the appropriate notched trowel  according to adhesive manufacturers specifications), where the first few rows are to be installed. Trowel only enough adhesive for the flooring to be laid within the working time of the adhesive. This is typically three to four rows at a time. If in doubt, start with fewer rows. If any adhesive gets on the surface of the vinyl, immediately wipe it off with an adhesive removal wipe or wet rag.

Step 5. Depending on the adhesive  used and environmental conditions, some “tack-up” time may be required prior to the material being laid into the adhesive, follow the adhesive manufacturers advice.

Step 6. Once the adhesive is ready, commence laying the already pre-cut first rows, ensuring that the material remains straight and square as you progress.

Step 7. Repeat this process of cutting several rows at a time, then applying adhesive, until you reach the last row where the floor meets any vertical surfaces, walls, cabinets etc.

Step 8. To cut the last row to width,  place one uncut board on top of the already laid second last row, to mirror the plank or tile underneath. On top of this board, place a second board on top, but hard up against the finishing wall, this will now allow you to mark the board that has been dry laid in the second last row, to be cut to the correct width.

Step 9. Repeat this process at any vertical surface. If the material cannot be fit where unusual shapes or obstacles are encountered, use a measuring tape to transfer dimensions onto the board to be cut or make a template out of rigid cardboard and transfer the shape required to the surface.

Step 10. Once each individual area has been laid, and prior to the adhesive setting, use a 45kg roller, to roll over the floor in both directions. This will ensure that the material has bedded into the adhesive fully, and that no air pockets are present.

TIP! The perimeter of the floor may be finished either by caulking, by installing matching quad or scotia, or by re-fitting fitting existing trims or skirting boards that may have been removed prior to installation.

Congrats, you did it! Before you kick back and admire a job well done, don’t forget to snap some photos and share your new floors. Tag us on Instagram @flooringonlineau to really make our day.