Can You/Should You Fix Vinyl Plank Flooring Gaps?

Whenever something is wrong with your flooring, money bells instantly ring in your ears. When you find gaps in your plank flooring, you might be wondering if there is anything you can do to avoid outrageous fees.

You can fix vinyl plank flooring gaps by using a floor gap fixer, epoxy resin, grout, or leftover vinyl pieces or wood. If you want the most straightforward solution with the least mess, use floor gap fixer, although this may be more time-consuming. For smaller holes/gaps, use epoxy resin or grout.

Doing anything yourself when it comes to flooring can be scary since there are so many materials you can use for different things. Figuring out how to fix your vinyl plank flooring gaps can be perplexing, but the process can actually be very simple. This article will explain in detail why you should fix your gaps yourself, how to fix the gaps, and finally, will tell you how to fill that annoying gap between your flooring and baseboard.

You Can Fix Your Vinyl Plank Flooring a Number of Ways

The first thing you think of when you see a gap in your plank flooring is how much it will cost to replace the whole floor, or how much it will cost to hire a contractor. Fortunately, there are three things you can do to fix the gaps, and they are all relatively cheap and easy. There are also specific solutions for different sizes of holes, so don’t worry if you have either large or small gaps; there will be solutions for each.

Why You Should Fix Vinyl Plank Flooring Gaps

There are a few reasons you should fix your vinyl plank flooring gaps. Before you decide to spend money on replacing your floors or hiring a contractor, keep these points in mind:

It is expensive to replace the whole floor. If you don’t fix the gaps, one of the only other options is to replace the entire floor. This can both be expensive and troublesome. You can expect to pay around $1,660 to $4,620 to replace the flooring.
Hiring a contractor can be expensive. Labour can cost from $0.60 to $4.00 per square inch, depending on the contractor. This cost can add up quickly for larger projects.
It is easy to fix the gaps. For something that could cost over $4000, it is worth putting in the effort to fix it yourself if you can. The most expensive solution to fix your flooring will only be $60.
You could run into this problem again. If you are having this problem now, that probably means it is something in the air quality or your environment that is affecting your floors. This means that it will most likely happen again, and you will need to know how to fix it without replacing the floors or hiring a contractor every time.

How to Fix Vinyl Plank Flooring Gaps

There are three ways you can fix your vinyl floor gaps. Let’s take a look.

Use a Floor Gap Fixer

This strategy can be a bit time consuming, but it is very easy to get the hang of. You can purchase this Floor Gap Fixer., which is all you will need. With this, you will get the floating flooring tool and a 16 oz mallet.

To use the tool, place the block on the plank that has the gap. You will then hit the end of the aluminum block with the mallet until the gap closes. This will create another gap on the other side of the plank. You will continue to fill in the gaps in the row until your baseboard hides the gap at the very end of the row.

This solution is one of the best because it only requires two tools. The block sticks to the floor effortlessly, so you won’t have to worry about taping it down. If you want the block to stick more, then make sure to clean your floors before using the tools.

For a more extensive video example, check out the instructional video below with a few more tips to get you going:

Use Epoxy Resin

If you have smaller gaps in your flooring, another easy way to fix it is to use epoxy resin. Make sure to purchase a water-proof epoxy resin, and simply pour it into the small hole. You can also use grout to fill in small gaps. When using grout, fill the gap and then leave to dry. Then you can paint over the grout in a color similar to the flooring.

Use Leftover Vinyl or Wood to Fill In the Gaps

If you have large gaps, another way to fix the flooring is to use leftover vinyl pieces or wood to fill in the gaps. To do this, take whatever material you’re using and cut it to the proper size and shape of the gap. You can then use glue to install it. This is probably the most tricky solution, so make sure to try the floor gap fixer before you try this for larger gaps.

What Do I Do With the Gap Between the Vinyl and Baseboard?

If you used the floor gap fixer method, or if you only have a gap that is between your vinyl flooring and baseboard, you can use a latex caulk to fix this. Refer below for the proper steps when using caulk to fill in the gap.

Buy a caulk that matches the color of your floorboards. For indoor projects, the best caulk to get will either be latex or acrylic latex caulk (acrylic latex is the stronger among the two).
Remove any debris or obstacles from the floor surrounding the gap.
Vacuum inside of the gap to remove all debris. The caulk will stick to any debris or dust that is in the gaps, and it will affect its adhesion and appearance of the caulking. You should also make sure to wipe the area with a damp cloth and let it air dry before starting.
Tape the plank edges that surround the area you will be caulking. This will prevent the floor planks from being stained.
Press until the caulk flows out. Once the gap is filled, use a wet rag to wipe up the excess caulk. You can now remove the tape. Lastly, make sure to let it dry before painting or using the floor.

Why Do Gaps Appear Between Vinyl Flooring in the First Place?

Vinyl flooring doesn’t actually stick to the floor beneath it, but simply lies on top. This can make it easier for the flooring to move around and therefore cause gaps to appear between the planks. Another common reason is temperature fluctuation. The vinyl floorboards are made of synthetic materials that make the boards more susceptible to shrinking and expanding.

Final Thoughts

You should fix your vinyl flooring gaps because it will be expensive to replace the floor, it is cheap and easy to fix it yourself, and it will probably happen again. To fix the gaps, you can either use a floor gap fixer, epoxy resin, or leftover vinyl and wood pieces.

If you have grout laying around from your last project, you can also use that to fill in gaps. Just fill the gap, let it dry, then paint it with a color that matches the floor. Finally, when you use the floor gap fixer or if your gaps happen to be between your vinyl and baseboard, you can use a latex caulk to fix it.