Lifeproof Vinyl Plank Flooring - Installed in Reverse

This is an instructional video showing how to install Lifeproof Vinyl Plank Flooring in the reverse direction. That is installing the groove into the tongue rather than the tongue into groove like the instructions describe. This install is using Lifeproof Vinyl Plank, but it should be a similar process for other T&G products. There are also some overall tips and tricks for installing vinyl plank. Hope this helps some other DIYers out there, thanks!

[davidmiller]

Thanks for making this video, it really helped a lot. Installing backwards was not nearly as difficult as I thought it was going to be.

[magicball]

Excellent video, thanks so much. I installed Lifeproof LVP in 1 room several months ago and had been putting off the next room because I was concerned about working backwards. Your instructions gave me the confidence to finish it all up. It really wasn't too different from installing the "correct" way. Thanks again!

[vanessacazares]

Thank you so much for this video! An actual non-construction person laying lvp in a real house is just what I needed to see! I’m starting this morning, and am so glad to have seen this video.

[roberthansen]

Thanks, great video. I m glad you pointed out that the corner to corner method was wrong. When I first started watching I was wondering "hmmm, maybe i should go corner to corner".:) Btw, it isn't a mistake for this (having to do a room in reverse) to happen, it happens often when you want a continuous floor from room to room and you have rooms on both sides of a hallway. The only way to avoid it is to have transition strips at the doorways, but the continuous way looks nicer. Also, you usually start in the hallway anyways to ensure that the lines are parallel to the walls. Because hallways are narrow, any skewedness in the planking is very obvious, whilest in a larger room it is harde to detect. If you start at the far side of a bedroom and work your way to the hallway, it is likely by the time you reach the hallway you will have some skewedness. Thus you start in the hallway and work into the bedrooms.

[justinhudson]

This was just the type of situation I needed answers for! Great video!! 😄

[konstantinkonstantin]

Great video and update! I have the same issue - was going to do the same thing, so thanks for confirming this will work with Lifeproof Vinyl Planks

[emmythebun]

Thank you for the explanation at the end. I was worried how doing that whole corner first would've worked. Now that I know it didn't work, I won't repeat lol. But it is good to know how to do this in reverse because this was one of my big worries about seamlessly installing the flooring through doorways. Now that I know it's not as difficult as I imagined, I feel more confident. I sure wish my husband could comprehend this kind of work so I could get his help, but this just isn't his thing. I'll have to trust myself.

[billrbca]

thanks for video...I also had need to go reverse in a spare room and found it easier that I expected, just lay that first row all the way to end and then work across the room...just a little more work to get tongue into prior rows grove but not that hard

[epryor]

Appreciate you’re tips. Back to installing in reverse now lol

[zachhecksel]

I am doing my entire first floor with this brand. I'm half way there! But of course, I picked the biggest room first and it did end up being in the "left top" corner like the instructions say (when looking at the planks horizontally that is).

I just made it to our hallway. I have one bedroom on the left, one on the right, and also a bathroom straight ahead. At some point, I will have to go in reverse for a little bit. This video definitely relieved some of my over-thinking on the issue (I'm trying to start with the bathroom before the bedrooms).

So far, I've gone around 9ish obstacles with our layout and I picked a good starting point. It definitely takes time to try to be efficient with the pieces you have (limit wasted cut pieces) as well as cutting around obstacles and planning your pieces accordingly (not starting with a piece that will result in an awkward scenario for the last piece or the piece to go around something).

Definitely doable though to go throughout an entire floor plan!

[flooressence]

Good on you for teaching how to reverse install because odds are when installing multiple areas with click flooring you eventually will run into the situation, But I can't help wondering why you might have started in that room in the first place? Granted I don't know the entire floor plan but starting in the area where you are ending, and installing left to right with male side out? You may have avoided the situation possibly, Also I think finishing each row as you go will help you not getting into such of a large area of a frustrating situation. Just my thoughts.. everyone is a critic, right? 😁, , But great video and Thankyou for making a positive video 👍

[fredmorgan]

Thank you. So, the moral of the story is to complete the row and install completely in reverse?

[gameovered]

Thanks for the vid and that last tip now. We're using the same floors. Running into this scenario now since we're not using room transitions. How are all the joints holding up after being installed for a bit now?

[chriscolameco]

Cordless blower is great for getting the dirt out of the grooves

[rdGenFireChicken]

What you should have done is that first piece that you got through the door jamb you take that row all the way to the wall then work off of that row

[theodoreanderson]

The way you are showing to do this IS the correct direction. These planks are designed to go right to left.

[ghostbusterz]

What if you have to install backwards in both directions? E.g.the plank has to angle up for the long end and yet under the short end.

[wisebar]

Thanks a lot I appreciate it. I’m doing the same thing in my house currently and wasn’t sure how I was gonna reverse these into another room.

[rdGenFireChicken]

See the problem is everyone that makes the how to videos they never do videos like this for the homeowners who attempt to install their own floor. They always make videos of square easy rooms and do not show these parts that you really need to know

[Yikes-to]

That’s not backwards lol I need help reinstalling it completely backwards🤦🏻‍♀️