How to Install LVP Flooring Over Concrete - Easy Basement Floors | Builds by Maz, by Builds by Maz on YouTube. 19 min 6 s.
- Video length
- 19 min 6 s
- Time to do it
- 1 day
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Clear the room and sweep the concrete clean. Check for high spots and dips with a long straightedge, then fill low areas with concrete patcher or self leveling compound and let it cure.
Test the slab for moisture. Tape a square of plastic sheet to the concrete for 24 hours, and if condensation forms underneath, fix the moisture problem before laying any planks.
Roll out the Air Guard underlayment across the floor. Butt the edges together, seal the seams with seam tape, and run it up the wall a little at the edges.
Inspect the planks and sort them. Mix planks from several boxes as you work so the color and pattern variation looks natural across the room.
Start along the longest straight wall. Place the first plank with its tongue facing the wall and slip 1/4 inch spacers between the plank and the wall.
Click the next plank into the short end of the first at an angle, then press it down until it locks. Continue the row to the far wall and cut the last plank to length with the floor cutter.
Begin the second row with a cut piece at least 6 inches long so the end joints are staggered. Angle the long edge into the first row and drop it into place.
Tap stubborn joints together with the tapping block and a mallet, never directly on the plank edge. Keep checking the rows stay straight as you move across the room.
Cut planks around doorways and pipes with the utility knife or floor cutter. Leave a 1/4 inch expansion gap at every wall and fixed object.
Pull out all the spacers, then fit transition pieces at doorways and thresholds. Nail the baseboards to the wall, not through the floor, and vacuum the room.
Tips and common mistakes
Never skip the moisture test on a basement slab, because trapped moisture can make planks cup or lift.
Keep the 1/4 inch gap at walls and cabinets, since the floor needs room to expand with temperature changes.
Stagger end joints by at least 6 inches between rows for a stronger, better looking floor.
Acclimate the boxes in the room for 48 hours before installing so the planks settle at room temperature.
Questions
Can I install LVP directly on concrete without underlayment?
Some planks have a built-in pad, but a vapor barrier underlayment like Air Guard is safer on a basement slab. It blocks moisture and gives a little cushion underfoot.
How long does it take to lay LVP in a basement room?
A typical room takes most of a day for one person once the floor is prepped and flat. Prep work like patching and curing can add another day.
Do I need to glue the planks down?
No, click-lock LVP floats over the underlayment and holds together by its joints. Glue is only used for transition pieces or if the manufacturer specifies it.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
