Don’t Install Vinyl Planks Without This Advice
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ม.ค. 2025
- 15 must have tools for a great vinyl plank flooring installation
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🎥 What to Watch Next:
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10 Beginner Mistakes Installing Vinyl Flooring - • 10 Beginner Mistakes I...
6 Ways to Cut Vinyl Plank Flooring - • How to Cut Vinyl Plank...
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Installing Luxury Vinyl Tile with REAL Grout - • This Isn't Ceramic Tile
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Half the width at least would be nice
Since I’ve got my own printer, and I’m ok with Fusion 360, I decided to try my hand at creating my own.
Mine were…not great. They kept popping loose until I got the first 4 rows done. My mistake was not making the part that drops behind the flooring solid.
Trading a little filament and print time saved for a bunch of frustration.
Honestly, next time I may try the trick of ripping a small strip off one plank and cutting it into chunks to screw down as a starter in place of the first row of planks.
I don't have a 3D printer and was interested. I followed link, entered email, returned an error. Now when I click the link it just goes to your store. Any advice?
Brad nailed it when shooting this video 😂
I like your spacers. I recommend cutting out the bottom, making them a bit more trapezoidal - so they can nest together for even more compact storeage.
❤😂 Love using the 7” body parts as a measuring tool! 😂 👍 you make me smile and laugh… glad I re-found your channel.
I expect the 7" hand is a whole lot easier to use than some other body part...
I meant a foot... What else did you think I meant?
I watched a number of installation videos by others until I stumbled across this channel. This channel is by far superior and wish I would’ve found it first. Great communication skills and clear tips and tricks makes this project a much better experience.
Well-timed pause after “…7 inches.” 😂
Thankfully, I have a handy 9". Take that Brad!
😂😂
Magical 2x4! From the makers of strong wood fence and reliable garden department.
I would also suggest some (foam) knee protectors. Especially when you are wearing shorts.
This is a must.
100% yes to the spacers, sir. I’d buy them in a heartbeat… the first few rows are the most important, and that would make life SO much easier! Make it happen!
I was looking for a video like this, just found this one 20 minutes after it was posted! Thank sir for your video, the way you explain it, and also the little jokes!!!! Perfect combination of handy man and content creator!!!!!! You just earn a new subscriber! 💪🏼
I found the miter saw and table saw were of great use when I did my house earlier this summer. Granted they are not budget tools but much faster/easier than the jigsaw.
What's also good for removing pre-existing flooring is a roofers tool which looks like a cross between a 6-8 inch flat shovel and a pry bar. Great for getting under flooring and prying it up even though originally designed for removing roofing shingles.
Yep. I got one of those. Fantastic.
Well done Brad! Installing vinyl flooring can be a real PITA if one does not have the right tools for the job. Don't ask me how I know that! 🤣🤣
Fantastic tools indeed, Brad! 😃
Thanks a bunch for all the tips!
Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊
My son and I just finished a vinyl plank flooring in his house. We were able to rent the guillotine cutter at a local rental place so you don't have to buy it. We had the other tools. Would have loved to have had those spacers though. Great advice and great video.
19:30 You could probably grab the non mythical wonky 2x4 off cuts, attach it to the flooring offcut with the stapler. Boom, larger surface and a way to hold it
There's only one utility knife you will ever need. The Milwaukee fastback. This is coming from a kitchen fitter of 35 years. BEST KNIFE EVER.
I love the irony of the “only utility knife you will ever need” when Milwaukee makes no less than 18 different versions of the Fastback. 😂 Not disagreeing with you on them being good. It’s just funny when they put out so many.
Yup. Bought well over 50 of them over the last 2 years for all the guys I work with. It’s so nice to have the screw driver bits built in without a ridiculous multitool contraption.
I'm just a homeowner, but I like my Fiskars utility and snap knives. The Work Pro mini folding utility knives are great for EDC and only cost $10 for a 3 pack.
I got a cheap corded oscillating tool from Walmart several years ago. It was only like $30! I wasn’t sure I would use it much, so I didn’t want to spend a ton of money. Well …. I use it all the time! I even use it to cut the lvp to length. So much easier than scoring with the utility knife and much cheaper than the guillotine cutter. It’s so handy that I’m looking at upgrading to a cordless 🎉
The dewalt 12v oscillating tool is the best one I’ve ever used. And it’s light and pretty compact for a powerful tool that does everything I need as a handyman
I like the kind of floor cutter that cuts lengthwise as well!
I have the Harbor Freight two-in-one stapler you nailer. It works just fine. I've used it making furniture.
I keep a 3-foot tape measure in my pocket, a 6-foot on my workbench, and a 25-foot in my toolbox. I have a ruler and a yardstick hanging on my wall. I find myself using an old-fashioned collapsible ruler in yardstick size more than any other.
I signed up for the spacers. I've done over 1000sqft of flooring with the triangles that came with my pull bar and those little red guys would be a MAJOR improvement.
Actually I have no plans to install vinyl flooring, I just like watching build videos in case I'm kidnapped and they say the only way I can go free is if I install new flooring.
makes sense
I'm not alone 😂
I don’t even own a house yet here I am watching every video on this channel 😅
As one should say… Walk the Plank
Always be prepared!
Thank you for buying Estwing! From my current town, Rockford, IL
Great video. Thanks for the tips. I'm definitely interested in the spacers. let me know when they are available
Love your content and your personality! I like your videos for that reason alone, not to mention the helpful tips.
thanks!
For mallets, if I need something that won't mar the surface, I use rawhide. I make furniture, so it comes in handy
Great video. Question, the flooring cutter looks awesome, but what's the best / easy way to cut rip cuts?
Chomps Italian are nightshade free for those with an intolerance
Been meaning to do this in my office, the carpet needs out! Great video
it's an easy proejct and you'll love the results!
I used an off cut with the tapping block, I cut the end of the off cut that the tapping block leaned on so it can be a flat surface, then the end that touched the plank can lock in and you can tap away without damaging the locking mechanism.
Best tool I've found for removing the carpet tack-strips is a long handled shovel, with a pointed tip. Super easy to shove it in under the tack-strip at a nailed down point and pry it up and off, without having to get down on your hands & knees! Also, I thought it was much easier using my dead-blow hammer to hit the tap blocks and pull-bar, than to use that 2-sided soft hammer. Great video though, thanks!
Great tips Brad Thanks for sharing
Skip the spacers-just tack some luan where the baseboard was. Also, make sure to grab a speed square for marking cuts and some knee pads for comfort. Happy installing, folks!
That baseboard puller. You mentioned it won't damage the wall. How about preventing damage to the baseboard, if you're reusing it?
6:10 skip the sander, $50 power hand planer for the win!!
I actually have the when brand planer.
Don’t pull tack nails straight up! A good way to create blow out from pulling out the nails. Best to use the pry bar and hit sideways. If your subfloor is concrete
What size nailgun qiuld you usa to attach Hardie plank siding on a home? Thanks !
what blade are you using with the jigsaw for vinyl plank flooring?
what about corck underlayment ?
Yes to spacers
Could you not use a self levelling compound?
Yeah I want to install luxury vinyl flooring, the expensive laminate I had 8 years ago is completely torn apart by my dogs even though it was sold as “life proof”. I have two dogs that are rough, one needs texture so she doesn’t slide or fall when chasing her ball but knowing I don’t have to worry as much about accidents, water drips, etc. would be so nice! What about the subfloor?! What if flooring isn’t level, etc.?
thanks brad!
Chomps are so good
Are you willing to share the print file for the spacers?
You can use a hand planer in place of the belt sander but beware of nails and screws. You can wreck your blades real quick.
what about renting a floor sander if you're not going to really use a belt sander much in the future?
When will you put out an update video for the new shop?
working on a lot of stuff behind the scenes...but it's coming
good information
All drywall on the walls should be off the floor. For one reason, when houses settle, the drywall can develop a compression bulge/crack/ridge as the drywall gets pushed down into the subfloor. In my house, if I remove the baseboard and I see the drywall hitting the floor, I will cut it back. Drywall is normally 1/2 inch thick. If you add 1/4 inch to that with a spacer then your flooring will be 3/4 inch from the bottom plate (2x4) of the wall. You don't need that much gap. Just line up the vinyl flooring with the drywall, no spacer needed.
For fifteen bucks , I would get the pull bar too because that roll of tape is not cheap
lol, good point
What do you think of renting some of this equipment instead of buying? Once my flooring job is done, I'll have no use again for nearly all of this stuff.
Anything under $20 I think would be hard to rent, probably better to just buy then resell or keep. But power tools, absolutely
@@Fixthisbuildthat Agreed. You can rent a nice guillotine cutter at Home Depot for $30/day. Was definitely worth it when I did this type of flooring.
Make sure you do a quick search around your area. I used to live in Columbus Ohio and I was surprised that they have a tool library where you can borrow a ton of different hand tools for free.
Don’t use 2x4 for checking for flat floor. Buy 2x2 square hollow aluminum frame piece. You can get in any size and even 12 or 16 feet. If you live in an area that has pool cages then they’re at box stores by you-if you live in North then probably can order off Homedepot or Lowe’s but I’m guessing it’s in stock in north somewhere because you build screen porches. It’s nice to have for floor work and it’s good for cement work or laying pavers.
For my floor that was large (long) enough to utilize longer than my 5ft level, I did use a 9ft 2x4 that I cut the bent 1 foot off of :), Checked it with level on known level ground and marked which side was best too! Still a decent tip to use something better if you don't have a long level though.
8 foot metal stud for your straight edge
5:40 use a channel strut and a short magnetic level.
Is there a reason you shouldn’t just use a miter saw for cutting the flooring? I used it when we did our whole house and didn’t have any issues other than obviously some dust.
Much faster to score and snap
I like the spacer. If you start to sell them let me know. Or if you like to donate a hand few that would be great. Thanks Robert Rodriguez
Instead of a wooden 2x4 I bought a steel 2x4. Always straight.
Stick a torpedo level on it, 8 ft level.
great tip!
Put the putty knife between the hammer and wall.
That oscillating tool will cut carpet like butter too.
Home run. Too many good jokes to mention. 🤣🤣🤣
The ultimate dad joke, "me nails." I love it.
oldie but a goodie
just make sure you don't nail yourself 😅
Had us in the first half 13:24
Love your work, and usually am 100% with you, but seriously disagree on the prybar choice. I have both big crowbar and medium prybar, and when I ripped the carpet out of my bedroom area I found the prybar MUCH more useful due to its lightweight and maneuverability.
I have several planks to replace some are not going to be easy as they're half under the kitchen cabinets. Any advice would be appreciated.
If it's under the cabinet I'd cut it flush against cabinet then put down new flooring and cover transition with trim
Can we reuse the fake plank flooring? Mine keeps levitating and bubbling up with no adhesive on the cement slab of main floor. Its a previous squatters drug house.( including grow room) Most livable rooms have had carpet removed. New sheet rock. And two full baths gutted and refurbished. New porcelain and wall to ceiling porcelain tiles.. hand rails for your support. But living room and dining room is not half bad flooring fake plank. No visible squatters signs of having squatted in these two rooms. Upstairs was more nasty carpet and padding. Long since removed.. and drywall is still intact. With no blue light splatter patterns.. still needs several coats of Kilz before quality painting. 😅 If I can reuse the quickly and ineptly floating fake plank flooring, it will be frugal and horribly cheap, but so helpful when having to refurbish the 2nd floor full bathroom....which currently leaks into downstairs master bedroom when water is not shut off.😅 The bank was thrilled to find a suckere to take this 50 year old mess off their hands. Even though we had to make three flood damage repairs before house passed Inspection. (For financial transaction to be processed.) Yes, this third of way rehabbed home is now paid in full. But still in less than spectacular condition. 😂 Interior Doors still need purchasing and installed before anyone will use the loo.
yes, you can reuse any type of floating flooring as long as it's in good shape
Im shocked your not using a Diablo Laminate jigsaw blade Home depot DJT128BHM. Blades won't wear out fast.
14:19 I think you don't know how to use them. They are tapered for a reason. You can use 2 on their side to have more space if needed. If you just need the width of the thickest part it's possible to place two against each other on the correct thickness.
"I've got a little trick"
The trick: Basic math
Looks like a Home Depot commercial...LOL
Cyborg: There is nothing that tofu can not mess up.
Red Green: The is nothing that duck tape can not fix.
also Red Green: If the women do not find you handsome, make sure they find you handy.
what do you mean its like a crowbar IT IS A CROWBAR just a huge one!!! I get that a hammer is a hammer until she tells you about her ex the Maul but doest change its a hammer! :D And I get there is cultural/language differences but in Danlish (Danish translated poorly and mostly as we said in danish) we would call that a MAN!-bar or a mother-ducking crowbar
For some reason I thought those flooring spacers went horizontally and in pairs.
LOL The look on your face in the thumbnail is unhinged.
"I know you're watching this video because you want to install your own vinyl flooring"
Brad believes people only find his channel when they google "how to do this specific thing."
Doesn't realize we're just his subscribers and we have no floors to install.
for that one guy who finds this video years later, that will feel like a personal introduction to him. Brad is playing the long game.
14:16 using them wrong., but you know that.
Ha a me nailer... 😂😋
Brad…my man…I watch your videos. I buy your plans. But Madone! Eat a sandwich, I’m channeling my grandma here but you’re gettin’ too skinny. Best to you and your family. Wolf down some cold cuts my guy!
That was Door Trim, not the Door "Jam"
If you want to be that petty, it's actually called casing not trim. And although he cut the casing in the video, you also cut the jamb as well.
Rather than a belt sander, you could just rent a floor sander.
PATEN THOSE SPACERS!!!!!
If using your tape measure is a pain in the butt, you may be using it wrong.
Can you do my laundry floor
🤣😆🤣🤣
LUXURY [vinyl plank].
GOVERNMENT accountability.
7 inches