How to Install LVP Flooring: Kitchen DIY Guide

Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) flooring has become a popular choice for homeowners due to its durability, aesthetic appeal, and affordability. However, installing LVP flooring in an older home presents unique challenges, particularly when dealing with uneven subfloors and historical quirks. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the process of installing LVP flooring, share valuable insights from a real renovation project, and highlight lessons learned along the way.

Whether you’re a DIY enthusiast or simply curious about upgrading your kitchen floor, this article will help you understand what to expect and how to achieve the best results.

Understanding the Scope: Preparing for LVP Installation in an Older Home

The video project centers on a kitchen remodel in an older home with a subfloor that required significant preparation. The homeowner faced a common issue: a sloping subfloor caused by years of settling. While the subfloor had been reinforced to improve stability, it wasn’t perfectly level, which posed challenges for the floating LVP system.

What Makes LVP Installation Tricky in Older Homes?

• Subfloor Issues: Decades of settling can cause dips, slopes, and uneven surfaces in older homes. These imperfections can affect the stability of floating floors like LVP.
• Structural Considerations: Adding too much weight (e.g., heavy leveling compounds) could exacerbate sagging in structurally weaker areas.
• Precision Needed for Floating Systems: Minor gaps or misalignments in subfloor preparation can lead to squeaking, separation at joints, or premature wear of the planks.

Despite these challenges, the project succeeded through careful planning, innovative problem-solving, and patience.

Step 1: Assess and Prepare the Subfloor

Before any flooring installation, evaluating and preparing the subfloor is essential. In this project, the homeowner encountered dips in the floor caused by a sagging joist that had been reinforced but not entirely corrected. Here’s how they tackled the issue.

Key Preparations:

1. Inspect the Subfloor for Stability: After repairs were made to the joist, the subfloor was solid overall, apart from minor sagging. One section was replaced to ensure structural integrity.
2. Identify Problem Areas: The homeowner used a level to locate low spots, marking those areas for additional attention.
3. Choose Leveling Solutions Carefully: Instead of applying self-leveling compound to the entire floor (which could add unnecessary weight), they focused only on the most heavily trafficked areas. In hindsight, this decision was revisited as some dips caused issues during the installation.

Step 2: Select the Right LVP Flooring

Not all LVP flooring is created equal, and the homeowner made strategic choices based on durability and aesthetics. The selected flooring had several notable features:

• Large Plank Size: These extra-large planks reduced the number of seams, offering a cleaner, more polished look. However, their weight and rigidity made them less forgiving on uneven surfaces.
• Integrated Underlayment: The underlayment was pre-attached, eliminating the need for additional layers and simplifying the process.
• Waterproof and Durable: Ideal for kitchen areas, the material provided protection against spills and heat, though it was not explicitly scratch-proof.

Pro Tip:

When purchasing LVP flooring, order extra boxes to account for waste, damaged planks, or future repairs. This project included extra planks to ensure a seamless installation despite occasional manufacturing defects.

Step 3: Plan the Layout and Prepare the Space

Proper planning is key to avoiding costly mistakes. The homeowner started by determining the layout to minimize narrow slivers of planks at the edges and ensure a visually pleasing pattern.

Detailed Steps:

1. Measure and Mark: Measure the room dimensions and plan where the planks will begin and end. Avoid creating small, uneven gaps at the edges.
2. Remove Obstacles: Heavy appliances, such as refrigerators and ranges, were temporarily relocated to make the work area accessible. Appliances were reinstalled only after the flooring underneath was complete, reducing the risk of scratches during placement.
3. Clean the Subfloor: Proper cleaning ensured no debris interfered with the planks’ locking system.

Step 4: Install the LVP Flooring

The actual installation process followed a floating floor method, where the planks interlock without being attached to the subfloor. This method allows for seasonal expansion and contraction but requires precision to ensure a snug fit.

Installation Process:

1. Start in Key Areas: The homeowner began near the refrigerator and range, working outward. This approach allowed appliances to be moved back into place early, minimizing disruption.
2. Use Spacers: A consistent gap of ¼ inch was left along walls and cabinets to accommodate natural movement of the floor.
3. Randomize Plank Placement: To create a natural look, plank seams were staggered and patterns randomized. This avoided repetitive patterns that could distract from the room’s design.
4. Address Problem Areas: Low spots in the subfloor caused planks to sit unevenly, leading to broken tongues during installation. To resolve this, a floor patch was applied in thin layers to gradually fill dips.

Challenges and Lessons Learned

While the installation was ultimately successful, the process highlighted valuable lessons for future projects:

• Plan for Imperfections: In older homes, achieving a perfectly level floor may not be feasible. Instead, focus on minimizing problem areas that could cause functional issues.
• Choose Materials Carefully: The rigidity of extra-large planks made them more difficult to manipulate on uneven surfaces. Smaller or more flexible planks might have been easier to install in this instance.
• Allow Time for Adjustments: DIY projects often take longer than expected, particularly when unforeseen issues arise. Be patient and prepared to pivot your approach when necessary.

Key Takeaways

• Subfloor Preparation Is Critical: Even minor dips can disrupt a floating floor system. Addressing these issues early saves time and frustration later.
• Work with the Characteristics of LVP: Larger planks create a sleek look but are less forgiving on imperfect surfaces. Choose plank sizes based on your subfloor’s condition.
• Order Extra Materials: Always have surplus planks on hand to account for waste, defects, or future repairs.
• Be Flexible in Your Approach: Every home presents unique challenges. Be ready to adapt your plans and prioritize functionality over perfection.
• Take Care Around Appliances: Install flooring under appliances carefully to reduce separation at seams caused by weight and movement.
• Leave Room for Expansion: Floating floors require a buffer for seasonal shifts. Always use spacers to maintain consistent gaps.

Final Thoughts

Installing LVP flooring in an older home presents challenges, but with careful planning and an understanding of the material’s limitations, you can achieve a durable and aesthetically pleasing result. This kitchen renovation exemplifies how thoughtful design choices and perseverance can overcome even the quirks of a historic house. For homeowners tackling similar projects, this guide offers a roadmap to success - one plank at a time.

Source: "Goodbye Ugly Floors – Hello Modern Kitchen! | Installing LVP Flooring" - Rusty Dog & Co., YouTube, Oct 30, 2025 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilL8TemzFBA

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