Where to start - Installing laminate and vinyl plank

In this video I show you how to get started when you are installing laminate or vinyl plank. You will learn where to start your first row and how to center the boards in the hallway when starting in a different room. This video is based off an installation that has multiple rooms to install laminate and vinyl plank into.

Here are the links to tools I use. If you use these links I do get a commission and my family and I thank you very much for your support!

iRobot Handheld Vacuum H1 - (coming soon)

This is where you will find all the tools I mentioned in the video

While you are there hit the like button!

[jonathanreilly]

Joe, your an amazing teacher, polite, to the point, no useless spending five minutes of video carrying boxes or things that don't directly deal with installation, we all know how to take out the garbage, watched several of your videos, yours are by far the best, thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience with us, God bless you and your family and have a wonderful day

[raymondsiewert]

Don't even bother watching anyone else ! Been installing for 30 years and this man is the real deal . Exactly how l set up layout ! It takes some time but it is worth it ! Great video !

[chenel]

This guy is the best! I had never installed flooring before and watched a lot of his videos, some repeatedly. When I came to a difficult problem when installing the flooring I knew exactly what to do. The floor turned out beautiful. I installed a luxury vinyl plank flooring in a large living- dining area, down a hall and into 2 rooms. I ran the flooring into 3 closets and had 2 transitions to tiled rooms as well. Everything is first class and I have a job that I am proud of. It would not have been possible without these videos. I also joined his Flooring University.

[mojomarj]

I have watched all your laminate flooring videos 3x'd and I seriously feel confident on starting my floors finally! Thank you so much for your generous tips and tricks to install flooring. Keep up the great craftsmanship and the informative videos you put out.

[crishdzs]

I have seen many videos of how to install flooring.
And because I do it, is part of my job, i know the way to do it. All those videos were trash ! Yours .. have been the only really good one I have find. Keep up the good work. You really know what you are doing bro.

[Dnlwsr]

I’ve turned to YouTube countless times to get in the head of other contractors to find a different way to do something. Many times it helps but this video wins the number one spot. You got a new subscriber

[wanderingon]

I viewed this video prior to installing LVP in the entire top floor of my house, including a bathroom, hallway, two bedrooms and a stairway. I was able to do the installation starting from one side of the house and working through to the other, without any issues. Really a time and money saver!

[jasonseifried]

I’m so happy that people still take pride in there work and be a professional. Great video

[justlooking]

I am studying how to install vinyl plank flooring in my house starting with the room over the garage. (I've already ripped the carpet out, got rid of the popcorn ceiling and re-taped and mudded the seams and repainted the ceiling!) But as soon as I get excited thinking that I've got this flooring issue figured out, I get SUPER intimidated by the math and precise measurements required. My mind sort of panics when it comes to fractions and possibly being "off" by a tiny bit and ruining the whole project. Your videos have been by far the best at explaining everything (I'm a retired Marine and we always called it "break it down potato-head style" haha, meaning "piece by piece") but that's the best way some of us learn!! This is NOT an easy project and also NOT one I want to have to do over, so thank you very much for taking the time to explain everything and (yes....I hate to say it) but THANK YOU for the drawn diagrams! :) Some of us are very visual learners and it puts everything together. Thanks again! -The lady that makes alot of trips to Home Depot in Virginia Beach!

[williamwoo]

Your explanation is by far the best and clearest on YouTube. Thank you for sharing

[Lab]

I watched most of your videos before I started my 1900 sq ft project.  They are VERY helpful and I had no idea how much was involved. Your video's are a credit to you and your craft. I really appreciate you taking the time and sharing your knowledge and experience. Couldn't have done it without you.Thank you Sir!

[cardinalrobbins]

You make me feel very confident that I can install my own flooring. Granted, it's only a small, rectangular office, but it will give me a sense of pride to do this myself. I am so grateful to you for this knowledge, Joe. Stay blessed! -- Ms. Cardinal

[nickbuol]

Outstanding videos. Made my multi-room install of engineered hardware so much easier to know how to make it "right" without having to re-do things. From basing things off of the center of the longest area (hallway), to putting boards together (10) to get the cheat sheet, to working backwards tips, to putting down some scraps that are screwed in to give a solid foundation to tap tight future rows. All worked out outstandingly for me.


Without getting into all of the details, I found the center of the hallway, put together 3 rows to span the "width" of the house as I didn't have great locations elsewhere to create a another measurement for the chalk line. We left these there just for another point of reference during the laying of the flooring. The most satisfying part was when we finished a dining room and large foyer and the boards snapped in PERFECTLY to the ones put down the width of the house. ALL because of your tips and instructions throughout this video series.


We still have some edge pieces to go, and a few feet down the L shaped hallway where it meets carpeted bedrooms, a tile bathroom, and 2 closets, but those are all just a little more tedious, but not hard, thanks to you.

[brianallen]

Man your videos are awesome. As a new floor guy 6 months on the job this is going to help me alot. My boss does all your little tricks but is terrible at explaining and teaching how. I'm about to get my skill level up now. Thanks!

[gregmccoy]

Joel is THE MAN!! Following his videos I was able to do an incredible job on our laminate floor in our kitchen, living room, and hallway. Can’t believe how well it turned out. Thanks Joel!!!

[bigsidable]

I’m just glad my wood shop teacher and math teacher. Instilled it me how much math would be needed in my life. From division, multiplying, fraction, metrics square root. Use numbers all day long. As I stock investor, Home Improvement Specialist. I was a large format multi color printing press operator. Using the metic and American Standard measurements. Studying Air Craft Maintenance. The number are mint boggling. To the millionths. And it’s still Pi.

[TheTruthHurts]

This is the first video I've seen where the installer centered the floor. This is how you install flooring.

[RedondoBeach]

I'm fortunate to have found your channel. Your plain spoken but detailed explanations are exactly what I need. Your hands-on practical demonstrations, periodic drawings for bigger picture understanding, tool recommendations/demonstrations, and more, are all value added. Thank you so much.

[kentbrown]

I plan on starting my own flooring business soon and this video was really helpful for understanding the 3 main measurements for a floor that continues through different rooms without transitions. Really simple cheat sheet that I plan to incorporate. Thank you!

[jonathanjimenez]

Hey thanks for this video, I'm a helper It's crazy how little planning some installers have when laying their first row, usually they just snap a line off a wall and go from their and then we end up with a 1in rip across a wall because of the poor starting point.Now I know how to judge and plan a job and what to avoid, I've worked for a variety of install companies, and anyone can do a square room, but usually what I've seen is when the layout gets more complex the quality of work goes down.