Choosing the right basement flooring design will enhance the appearance of your home. Thankfully, the vinyl plank is one such material that is a perfect fit for your home’s décor while also protecting it from water ingress. However, the question remains, can you install the vinyl plank in the basement?
You can put vinyl plank in the basement. However, take note of factors such as the elasticity of the plank, moisture level of the basement floor, or the underlayment used before attempting to install vinyl planks in your basement.
Vinyl planks are one of the best materials for decorating your floors, particularly the basement. Once you know the correct steps to take, they are simple to lay out. This article will cover how to get the most out of vinyl planks for basement flooring.
Can You Put Vinyl Plank in the Basement?
Vinyl planks can be installed in the basement. Many homeowners install vinyl planks in their basements to create a warm, dry space for storing their materials. Its installation is simple if you know how to lay it properly.
Should You Put Vinyl Plank in the Basement?
Since basements are prone to being damp, installing vinyl planks is advisable. Its long lasting nature and moisture resistant features make it an excellent choice for basements.
When laying out vinyl planks on your basement floor, ensure they fit snugly together and that there are no gaps that could cause problems. There are a few issues to be aware of from time to time, some of which include:
The Elasticity of Vinyl Planks: Allow adequate expansion gaps between the walls and plank tips to allow for even contraction and expansion to avoid buckling.
The Moisture Level of Your Basement Floor: Although vinyl plank flooring is waterproof, it is still susceptible to the dampness found in basements. To avoid this, a protective underlayment must be installed beneath the vinyl to resolve moisture issues and ensure a solid floor system.
The Underlayment for Vinyl Plank Flooring: Several materials can be used as underlayment for vinyl plank flooring, such as foam, felt, cork, plywood, rubber, or particleboard. Always choose the appropriate underlayment for your basement subfloor type.
Concrete subfloors require soft underlayment such as foam or felt for cushioning, whereas wood subfloors require a nonporous protective underlayment such as hardwood plywood.
Other potential factors to consider include the thickness of the vinyl planks and taking proper measurements of your basement plan to ensure a custom fit.
What Tools Do You Need to Put Vinyl Plank in the Basement?
Vinyl plank installation is a DIY process that requires only basic tools to ensure proper handling and placement of the planks. The following are the tools you will need:
- A measuring tape
- Utility knife
- Pencil marker
- Floor spacers
- Mallet
- Tapping block
What Preparations Do You Need to Install Vinyl Plank in the Basement?
Installing vinyl plank flooring in your basement is a relatively simple task once you have all the necessary materials. All you need to do is: clear the slab, prepare the planks, and take the extra steps listed below to ensure the successful installation of your vinyl plank in the basement.
Step 1: Remove any obstructions from your walls (i.e., baseboards).
Step 2: Take note of any irregular floor edges or doorways in your basement’s corners so that your vinyl plank will fit neatly.
Step 3: Check that your basement is clean and free of debris.
Copyright protected content owner: ReadyToDIY.com and was initially posted on November 27, 2022.
Step 4: Mark the center of the wall and draw chalk lines between them to allow for even space expansion gaps. This will enable the vinyl materials to contract or expand.
Step 5: Allow the vinyl planks to acclimatize to the room temperature of the basement for about 2 days before installing them.
Step 6: Make sure you arrange the vinyl planks in the correct order so you can achieve the uniform, color-matching, patterned floor plan you desire.
How To Install Vinyl Plank in the Basement?
Now that you have a sound knowledge of vinyl plank installation, you’re ready to begin. Follow these five simple steps to find out how to put that vinyl plank in a basement:
Step 1: Remove Any Debris from Your Basement Slab
To begin the layout, you must first clear the concrete floor of any stone or wood fragments to prepare the work area for laying the vinyl planks. This step is critical because you want to ensure that your vinyl planks will fit perfectly on the floor surface and prevent any gaps.
Step 2: Take Accurate Basement Floor Measurements
The next step is to determine the dimensions of your basement as well as the size of the vinyl planks you intend to use.
Measure the width of the vinyl planks with a tape measure and, if necessary, mark the measurements on the plank. With that measurement, calculate how many rows of planks you’ll need to cover the basement floor. The basement floor is unlikely to be perfectly square, therefore you’ll need to add extra planks to compensate for the irregular dimensions.
Step 3: Prepare the Vinyl Planks for Installation
Now as you prepare to lay the planks, cut out any sags and loose areas of the vinyl sheet so that they are all the same thickness throughout. Then choose the right floor underlayment for the planks you intend to lay on top of it.
Step 4: Lay the Vinyl Planks in a Straight and Uniform Manner
With a simple click method, lay down the vinyl planks on your already cleared basement floor. Assemble the first row of planks then arrange the subsequent planks uniformly and consistently.
Step 5: Blend the Basement Flooring and Inspect for Cracks
Finally, blend your newly installed floor by gently pulling the planks together to close any gaps between your vinyl planks. You can also walk around the floor to ensure everything is in order.
Copyright article owner is ReadyToDiy.com for this article. This post was first published on November 27, 2022.
Look for uneven spaces, loose joints, or cracks in each plank layout. If any planks do not fit well with the rest, replace them with a new one to ensure a consistent fit.
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ReadyToDIY is the owner of this article. This post was published on November 27, 2022.