Lifeproof Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring - Installation and Subfloor Preparation Tips

I recently helped install Lifeproof vinyl click flooring (Lifeproof Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring - Sterling Oak) and wanted to share some tips relating to the subfloor preparation and installation of the flooring! I love how quickly this floor goes down, especially when your subfloor is in good shape.

This was a new build, so installing the flooring went fairly quickly. The vinyl flooring was easy to cut and turned out great!

--

Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to see videos first, and LIKE this video if you found it helpful!

Questions? Comments? Throw them in the comments below...let's chat!

--

"If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. It's the hard that makes it great." ~ Tom Hanks

[debragresham]

Can you plz tell me the color of life proof flooring. Love the look

[joshruby]

the way I install it is use the cutoff from the first row to start the next row unless it is an odd size like real short or to close to the previous seam that way the floor is really random. and I use a scrap piece as a tap block so its locked into the tongue so not to damage it.

[bosun]

How did you confirm/check the level on your (concrete) subfloor? How is the Lifeproof holding up so far?

[michelegrigsby]

Thank you for sharing your experience. I know this took time and it is appreciated. QQ for you, I can't tell what your subfloor is so can you tell me if your subfloor is concrete or plywood? Thank you!

[andrewhigdon]

They say to take pieces from different boxes for your rows so that the stamped/dyed patterns in each box aren’t so obviously close to each other. Also you’re supposed to cut the tongue off the first row’s long end where it meets the wall. I’m guessing that with the 1/4” spacing for expansion and the 3/16” of the tongue you could see it under the edge of your trim? To me it seems that you could put the tongue right up to the Sheetrock if it doesn’t meet the floor and the tongue could go under the Sheetrock for thermal expansion. If your Sheetrock hits the floor you’re SOL I guess and have to rip an entire row of planks.

[rdGenFireChicken]

You also can use you’re rubber mallet to tap the boards in with the tapping block. If you use a hammer it will tear up the tapping block and dent it up in no time.

[christopherland]

I’m putting it in my kitchen. I have no cabinets in yet and I put the floor down there then put your camera is it on? I am using waterproof vinyl, laminate real live in floors.

[caitlinschmocker]

I noticed you aren't using any sort of moisture barrier, even though you are on concrete. What is your reasoning behind that? Is it completely necessary, especially with new construction?

[jimmytyler]

Do u need under lay on cement floors or is it optional?

[mountainshire]

Should the walls be painted before laying the flooring?

[jasonroddey]

What issues can it cause by not cleaning the concrete good enough before laying the floor? My contractor didn’t clean the floors worth a crap and I called him out on it and they don’t want to fix it I close next week.

[jetkat]

What was the color/style name of that lifeproof? Thx.

[LR-btep]

HI, is this more gray, or beige/brown? I cannot tell and am sooo on the fence.

[fuzzyjem]

so no vapor barrier needed on concrete?

[M_Ladd]

Would it have been easier to start from the opposite wall with the opening than to fight with that piece that goes under the door jam at the end where you hardly have any room?

[rdGenFireChicken]

If your cutting 14 and 28 and a full plank your creating somewhat of a pattern. You should start with a full piece then out like a 8-10 inch piece then the 3rd piece your should take about 10-14 inches off of that you shouldn’t have set measurements when you do that you create a stair step which looks like a flight of steps

[rdGenFireChicken]

Cutting the plank for the length of the room at 14 28 and full length is not a random pattern he is wrong. If you do that you will see a pattern repeat. It is ok to have pieces less then a foot long. The smallest at piece can be up to 5-8 inches long. I install lifeproof every day. I love when these DYI guys make up things like this.