Have any of you used vinyl plank flooring?

[alfie]

We are planning to replace our carpeting with laminate flooring. I recently read a discussion about vinyl planks. Two comments that attracted my attention were how much more moisture tolerant the vinyl was and how easy they were to replace if a section became damaged. Any pros or cons from anyone?

[Adsos Letter]

1. How does it install?

Glue down? Is it the type that has an edge with a tape-like strip to join the planks?

[alfie]

2. I believe it is glue down

The post said use hair dryer to loosen damaged plank (s) to replace.

[Adsos Letter]

3. If it were the adhesive strip type I would have suggested you avoid it

There are others here who will know better than I about the glue down type.

We remodeled last year and considered vinyl plank as we are on a slab and can't use solid hardwood. We ended up going with one of Pergo's mid-grade click-lock laminates. We chose the Pergo because my wife couldn't scratch it with her keys, and this is important because we have three dogs.

The floor has been down about six months, and I've yet to find a scratch in it. Water has only been an issue in two small seams in an out of the way corner where one of the puppies had an accident and we didn't notice it for a couple of days.

As in anything, price can be a factor in how the product performs.

Best of luck to you.

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

4. I keep an eye on that particular type of flooring.

i'm in local home depots ,lowe;s and flooring stores a lot. Been looking at the stuff for at least five years or more. Actually I am considering vinyl plank flooring for our bathroom and if I go with it ,it will go right over per go !

Here is what I can tell you, the stuff I looked at just the other day is glue-less. And it is joined together about like the snap together
pergo and all the other plank flooring name brands. The joints however are simply pieced together. In short easy install. Actually I hate per go, I use different brand names on the snap together plank flooring.

You may have noticed there has to be at least 100 different name brands in that snap together plank flooring since per go's patients
ran out years ago. And the stuff keeps getting better because of improvements.

OK, so it is the improvements in the different product lines you really have to stay on top of. 3 years is a long time ago.
All that stuff is rated kitchen and bathroom. What you have to do is find out which of brand names is the best for your money.And the easy install.

AND, you do know the carpet and padding hides a lot ,talking about whats under the carpet, your flooring. If it's an older home
nothing is level. High point and low points. The vinyl will fallow the contour of the floor-sub floor.

OK so the first thing you want to do after ripping out your carpet, padding and tack strips is sweep it all up clean and inspect the underlayment. Find the high and low spots, throw a level across the floor. Than make your decision about what you are going to put down.

[alfie]

5. Thanks for all the info.

Our house is on slab, so hopefully no sagging or bucked places. Because we are occupying the house, no way to empty it, pull the carpeting and padding, etc befor choosing what is going to replace it.

The thing that worries me is the difficulty replacing any flooring that might become damaged if I use the snap together type planks. Stuff happens.

Nothing is perfect, though. I will head back to the stores with your advise making it easier to ask the right kinds of questions. Thanks

[Digit]

6. Just going to mention it alittle after the fact

I chose to use a product called Coretec Plus which is an "engineered luxury vinyl plank & tile flooring". It installs without glue and locks together. I used the tile look in the kitchen and a plank style which resembled oak planks in the rest of the house. The home is a rental and this is working out perfectly.

I want to try to have it put on my stairs in my own house next and continue into the living room.
The brochure I have says USFloors.

So far I like it but it is still tenant occupied so it is difficult to inspect.
If anyone knows additional information on this flooring, please pass it along.
Thanks!

[NMDemDist2]

7. we used it through our entire house in Phoenix (pic attached)

8 years, 3 dogs and a cat we only had to replace 2 planks right in front of the dog door when we sold.

still looked brand new.

we bought it at Costco 15+ years ago so i can't tell you the name of the stuff...

[alfie]

8. It looks great

Thanks for the Info and pix. I hadn't thought about looking at Costco, will do so.

[NMDemDist2]

9. i know they carry it at Lowes now

we put it right over the slab, it was glue down and a bit thicker than the usual 'peel & stick' style vinyl tiles.

we wished we had done it here instead of the click & lock floating laminate for sure.

it had a texture to it so the dogs didn't slip and slide like the laminate

get the thickest grade they have, a really sharp lino knife and rock and roll!!

[FloriTexan]

10. We just installed vinyl click-plank flooring...

We love it! The installer, not so much. We have dogs and waterproof was a must. Ours didn't glue down, it just clicks together so its easier to replace if needed. The dogs have tested it out (unfortunately) and so far no liquid penetration

The installer started to put it down without a moisture barrier (i.e. sheets of plastic). Since we were told it was required, we were not happy he didn't know that. He didn't get the plastic laid out across the room first to get it flat and instead pulled it as he went along. This meant that by the time he got to the other wall the plastic was crinkled and when you walked across the floor it sounded like bubble wrap. They had to pull it back up and fix it.

We were going to do the baseboards ourself, later on, as we painted each room, but we learned from the installer on the last day th at the baseboards are what holds everything in place so now we are in a hurry to get them down. If I did it again I would have the baseboards ready to go for the installer to put down so the job could be finished.

It will be louder and it is harder on the feet. The dogs slip and slide but they are adjusting. Humans don't seem to have that problem.