Why this Vinyl Plank is the EASIEST Flooring I've Ever Installed

[@prime3k]

Adding that partition wall was an inspired move!

[@webjr1981]

"I'm never going to refinish a hardwood floor" cut to Matt Cremona installing a hardwood floor from scratch. Just masterful work. :)

[@craftedworkshop]

Matt is a masochist, hah!

[@thomastimothy777]

A benevolent beaver!

[@mattguzman73]

Vinyl flooring install with a “Support you local sawmill” shirt on. 🤣🤣

[@AndyCallaway]

That flooring is awesome. I know, some people hate it, but it's so easy to install, and long lasting. I had it in my log cabin some years back, and it made the place look awesome. 👍

[@VanDerPol]

I really like the "5 pro tip" summary at the end.

[@The8th1]

Except the deadblow hammer. For me, it was the perfect tool to use when I installed in our 3BR house.

[@craftedworkshop]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Jonathan_Grider]

When we moved into our new house, they had laminate flooring with a under lament pad, that had severe water damage. It looked horrible. We have a concrete slab, so doing hard wood, or nail work flooring was a no go. We found the same brand flooring you used, and absolutely loved the click and go architecture. We did our entire 3 bed 2 bath house in just over a weekend. I made a decision to do a continuous pattern as to eliminate thresholds. It turned out gorgeous! I’m in love with the clock and go flooring. Great job Johnny!

[@force311999]

i love the click lock type flooring , all the side sliding is what takes so long with laminate

[@skjenn13]

That flooring looks great! Just watching this gives me the full confidence that I can rip up the cheap dirty carpet in our living room and install my own Vinyl Plank flooring. Super excited to do this project, even though as of right now it will probably be a 2024 project, my decision is at least made, and now it's just about budgetting and picking the right time to knock it out. Thank you!

[@jdmb03]

Thanks for the I4F vendor link. We are remodeling our 2,000sq home and will be adding LVP throughout. Currently looking at Cali. We also looked at Aspen and Element. The I4F seems like a great locking system.

[@sapelesteve]

Nice work on that flooring Johnny! I agree with you about the Vinyl flooring. However, we have had hard Maple flooring in our kitchen for the past 20+ yrs. and it has held up amazingly well. Still looks like new! 👍👍😉😉

[@marclangevin9152]

If you have dogs vinyl flooring makes way more sense ! I love wood but the wood floors in our house are not in great shape . I wish I could get the vinyl flooring over here in the Philippines. The most popular flooring is ceramic tile . Which is also good when you have dogs !

[@artistlovepeace]

Thank you for being honest and sharing your opinion.

[@onsapplikasies8620]

Floor came out really nice.

[@MarkThomas123]

Yep... It is the way to go on flooring.. Most of it is pretty durable too... I like to use it on shop table tops, and jigs..

[@MCsCreations]

Fantastic work, Johnny! The place looks pretty liveable now! 😃 About the false wall, that thing screams for a hidden door! Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@craftedworkshop]

That’s the plan, never done a hidden door so should be fun!

[@MCsCreations]

@craftedworkshop Absolutely! Looking forward to see it! 😃

[@tristanmuzzy9222]

just installed these a cpuple weeks ago in my kitchen. The orgional hardwood floors were covered in layers of tar, linoleium, Asbestos tile and carpet and we got down it down to the tar layer and installed Viynl plank over it. Its nice but a bit lumpy, hopfully in a few years if I have time I can restore the orional floor.

[@teddgram]

I re-finished a hardwood floor in my living room. The biggest mistake I made was thinking I didn't need to rent a floor sander and trying to do the whole thing with a belt sander. It could have saved me a week of crawling around on my hands and knees. Floor turned out great, but wholly crap - the dust. I blocked off the room with plastic, but every time the furnace kicked on it sucked it out of that room and re-distributed it around to the rest of the house. The furnace filter grabbed a lot of the dust, but not 100% of it. This is another reason to just rent the floor sander. I still like hardwood over vinyl, but I never want to refinish a floor again.

[@KP-sg9fm]

You should consider cleaning your evap coil inside the hvac unit if dust was getting pas the air filter

[@teddgram]

@@KP-sg9fm as luck would have it the furnace and central air were over 25 years old, so a few years later they were replaced. Good advice just the same.

[@KP-sg9fm]

@@teddgram ah ok very nice👍

[@RobinLewisMakes]

That exotic stuff looks like an Australian wood called 'Silky Oak' (Grevillea robusta). Some awesome tips as always!

[@Stretch2016]

vinyl plank is so easy for the money and can finish a whole house in 2 days with 2 people depending on situations and is really is easy to tear out and replace. Carpet is a huge pain in the ass though, especially dealing with concrete and usually ends up really gross in most houses

[@frankmthompson]

You mentioned issues with wood if you have water issues like you did recently, but as someone who has had and knows others who have had similar water issues and have vinyl plank. Insurance companies will make you rip up that flooring to insure there is no water trapped under them. This isn't a big deal except it's just a hassle. You don't have this issue with tile, which is why we've all replaced the vlp with tile. It's harder to put down but I don't have to worry about the disruption to our lives if we have another water event.

[@YamilMeMo]

Your house looks beautiful! Great job on the flooring. Im doing the same in the next few weeks with same floor.. Dusk Cherry!

[@gpzjeffrey7974]

Question about the order of operations: wouldn't it have been far better to fix / patch and paint the walls before installing the new flooring? Also, you didn't link to the trim pulling tool.

[@zimmejoc]

that media closet is going to be nice & cool in the summer since it has its own register. Not so sure about the rest of the space though :)

[@craftedworkshop]

Hah there are two registers on either side of the closet area so definitely not worried about it. Might have to throw a server in there and utilize the extra cooling 😂

[@caroltaylor-long3944]

Nice floor but I don't get the 45 wall install. Humm. Thanks for the awesome video too!!

[@jasonargentieri8954]

Great idea eliminating the curved wall

[@underscr0e]

Wouldn’t you have to pull up the vinyl plank if it was anything but clean water that flooded the basement anyways? Even clean water you probably want to pull it up as well to dry everything properly? Great video and thanks for sharing!

[@christianjunge8449]

I always wondered why you wouldn’t install the flooring before kitchen cabinets?

[@force311999]

the floor floats and needs to move with heat cold etc

[@failfurby]

I'm an advocate of vinyl plank, too. Looks amazing, low maintenance, low risk, the good stuff has its own underlayment, no special skills or tools required.

[@manueltirado7682]

Can you tell us the exact brand and model number of this vinyl , thx

[@leorbuis9024]

As a guy who's been building & remodeling houses for over forty years I would offer a word of caution to any DYI ers thinking of installing vinyl plank. I've yet to see a KZbin video on installing vinyl plank flooring that deals with the Achilles heel of these tilt to lock vinyl planks when it comes to installing the plank under existing door jambs with trim. If you're installing vinyl flooring in a home, you're going to have to deal with a lot of of door jams, and it's impossible to tilt the vinyl plank up and yet get them under the door jam. And most of the vinyl plank that I've used can't be tapped in place along the long joint without damaging the locking tongue. This makes door jambs very problematic and ultimately I've resorted to cutting off the lower lip of the locking edge and then simply gluing down that piece of plank. I've seen quite a few videos including this one that give only a few seconds of video attention to this issue, but never show a real world example of how you would make this work without removing the lower tongue on one of the planks. I suspect it's because most of these videos are being sponsored by the vinyl plank manufacturer and it wouldn't be in their best interest to show how difficult it is to use this click in place vinyl planking in a real-world scenario.

[@kevinbelcher8490]

Could you please do another hidden room to have some fun with your media room?

[@SoundReserveStudio]

For the post. You should’ve landed halfway through it then just cut a half circle on the end of your full board and a half circle on the start of your next one and you wouldn’t need the off cut.

[@MarkDownMark]

Care to share what brand those knee pads were? They looked really comfortable and I’m about to tackle a floor here soon. Awesome job by the way!!

[@Alex_Eggers]

good floor, also smart idea for the false wall hide all the ugly stuff, and that round wall is practically useless.

[@KiwiThunderStorm]

What knee pads do you use?? Great job on the flooring. Loving this workshop series

[@grahamwilson4354]

They look like ToughBuilt ones

[@NordicHomeDIY]

Cool, never knew how easy those vinyl floors were to install. How does the feel and sound of the floor differ from hardwood when walking on it?

[@jbrookeiii]

Johnny's dad here. This type of product has come such a long way from Pergo back in the day. It is dead flat and sounds like any other floor. Your feet are really sensitive to differences in the surfaces you walk on and I'm certain many would be fooled into thinking this stuff was wood.

[@johnp82]

If you had to pull up plywood underlayment before installing this vinyl plank flooring so the level of the floor isn't too high, and after you're done, about 5000 long crown staples remain stuck in the subfloor, what would you do? I tried pliers but it's too much work and half of them just break off. My next choice is an oscillating tool with a metal cutting blade.

[@mariushegli]

I have nothing to say really, but I appreciate your content, and wish to help with the yt-algorithms.

[@whitexeno]

Hey Johnny, got any furniture projects in the pipeline? Been missing them

[@LilGreenOFFICIAL]

The link for the flooring doesnt really have a place to buy. Who sells this?

[@i4fpatentstechnologies806]

Please use the information in the video description. Flooring boxes with our drop-lock can be recognized by an i4F label

[@janetrawls9635]

This drop lock flooring really interests me but I can’t find it for sale anywhere. Do you have recommendations?

[@glenlongstreet7]

I have refinished soft wood and hard wood floors. If you plan on doing this, hire a professional, it will be almost as cheap and a much better finish. But I am not going to install any hardwood floors. I installed engineered wood floors, the glue almost killed us and the surface crushed easily even though it had the very hard factory finish. I installed premium imported hardwood plank floors, you know who, and it was very expensive and looked beautiful. I installed cheap picture of wood floors and almost lost my mind. Now, all but 2 bedrooms are covered in vinyl waterproof flooring. And it is great and easy. I have also installed a lot of tile.

[@jonathanwelter]

Great video. Thanks for the instruction/suggestions.

[@YoursTruly78887]

If you cut one by length to fit a room, how would it attach to another piece?

[@dawnc1419]

Hey Johnny, could really use some advice. I'm over in the UK. I found you via Perkins and saw this VPL video. My beloved cat is getting really old and has started having #2 accidents (but only on the stairs weirdly). The only access to my crawl space in the hallway at the bottom of my stairs. So the ideal waterproof flooring is VPL so it can be unclipped should i need crawl space access. How can I safely install VPL on the risers and treads of my stairs??? Please help 🥺

[@mcmillanalex]

Would you need to use a vapor barrier over concrete if installing vinyl plank with an attached pad? Opinions seem mixed online.

[@craftedworkshop]

No, definitely not.

[@helenachase5627]

Im going pretty slow. I thought it woukd go much quicker. I am doing kitchen, livingroom, hallways , pantry and bathroom without transitions. I planned on a week at about 4 or 5 hours per day. Im a 60 yr old woman though

[@peytonwhiteman7265]

Where can I find this flooring online to look at prices, not seeming to be able to find it and not getting anywhere except brochures on their website.

[@i4fpatentstechnologies806]

Please use the information in the video description. Flooring boxes with our drop-lock can be recognized by an i4F label

[@bradboyer1381]

I've installed quite a bit of laminate and a bit of vinyl plank, and your estimate that vinyl is probably the easiest is probably spot on. Also agree that neutral is best. Now a question: just before I moved into my present house 4 years ago, the previous owner had installed vinyl plank in the kitchen. Yay, waterproof, good choice. The problem we have though is that there are now multiple spots where the joints in the planking has come undone--perhaps due to improper prep of the subfloor (definitely some high spots that you can still feel as you walk across it. Is the only solution to re-install (probably at this point putting in all new flooring), AFTER leveling the subfloor as you show? Is it possible to close the gaps/ repair? This also points to an issue with all floating flooring systems--maybe they move too much, and not together, opening up joints as I've described. What's your (and other viewers') advice?

[@trishblakely3476]

We had to replace all the flooring in my MILs condo (vacant and water heater leaked) and we used all vinyl plank. It’s been a rental unit for over a year and it’s held up great! We also put it upstairs in our kids’ living area and we are so glad it’s practically bulletproof. 😂 Vinyl certainly lacks the charm of hardwood, but in our situations I will take durability over charm any day.

[@matel9477]

Do you not need a moisture barrier? I'm looking for installing vinyl on concrete in my basement.

[@craftedworkshop]

Nope, no moisture barrier needed.

[@nhiakhang2622]

Tool question for you. How do you like your barrel grip jig saw? I had a hard time getting use to mine. I have a the M18 version and it just feels like I'm holding a large subway sandwich upside down. Might take some getting us to, but I ended up buying a standard grip jigsaw and now that barrel grip is collecting dust.

[@afonsopm1]

I hear Brazil I upvote

[@kazimierzsokolowski7810]

I refinished 3 rooms in one day by myself, and I'm just a home owner!

[@jeffreywolfe6313]

What about that vent in your false wall? Will you move it?

[@kazimierzsokolowski7810]

Nothing better than hardwood floors!

[@funkypunkypine]

I've seen several of these I4F videos and I can never forget how to buy the damn planks from the links😂

[@i4fpatentstechnologies806]

Please use the information in the video description. Flooring boxes with our drop-lock can be recognized by an i4F label

[@joeyn7399]

I can’t find a link to the trim puller that you mentioned.

[@WriterandPhotographer]

With vinyl, does it require an expansion gap?

[@i4fpatentstechnologies806]

We would advise to read the installation instructions but yes in general we advise to leave an expansion gap

[@Wordsalad69420]

Where can homeowners buy this flooring? Doesn’t really seem to be available for consumers.

[@NewcastleMatt]

Look at those kneepads holy moly! Must purchase.

[@helenachase5627]

How many man hours ?

[@50tigres79]

How did he trim the planks to length? 9:05

[@johnr5545]

Thanks god bless

[@anaphylaxis2548]

I would like to have this. I have laminate now, but it’s glued down. I’m wondering if this could go over the laminate?

[@YTubeSDD]

You might but if there is an uneven spots in your laminate, it would be hard to level it. If any moisture or spilled water ever seeped through the vinyl flooring then the laminate might swell and rot and you'd have a bad spot where you might want to might want to pull up both floorings and redo.

[@anaphylaxis2548]

@@YTubeSDD Very good point, thank you.

[@pdannysan13]

Felt a bit like an ad to be honest. But proper tips.

[@samsno3667]

no need for underlayment?

[@Cergorach]

I must have missed the video with laying shag carpet... ;)

[@EvanDunville]

Looked great. My whole house is vinyl plank. If it was any other flooring it would have been ruined by now.

[@cockyhemi]

Hardwood flooring is by far the best. Adds the most value also.

[@EvanDunville]

@@cockyhemi my friend, no hardwood would have been able to withstand the amount of spills and stains my kids and dogs have subjected the floors to. If I had installed hardwood I would already have to replace large sections and that does not add value.

[@Yoshiruu68]

Doesn't this flooring have a hollow sound when walking on it?

[@i4fpatentstechnologies806]

No it doesn't. Especially since you will be using an underlay (pre-attached to the panel or you purchase one)

[@rmee5165]

what happens using a "dead-blow" hammer ??

[@i4fpatentstechnologies806]

This can damage the board and potentially the locking hence why it is better to use a hard pvc mallet.

[@zachtutor7998]

Finding the vendors to purchase the flooring on that link is proving difficult (Impossible?) - Does anyone have a list of places in the USA that sell it?

[@craftedworkshop]

This particular flooring was made by Lifeproof in their Fresh Oak color, available at Home Depot around me. Hope that helps!

[@zachtutor7998]

@@craftedworkshop oh man, thank you so much - your channel is E X C E P T I O N A L (And that area of North Carolina is beyond amazing, too!)

[@zachtutor7998]

@@craftedworkshop Oh - Also! How thick was this type? Thank you!

[@force311999]

why not put the joint at the post then there is not the notch peace showing

[@johnkulpowich5260]

I. L. I. K. E. IT

[@robertopaolonidrywall4622]

Io poso CORETECH .. Classe c6 resistente all’acqua

[@tom-vx1lp]

so you dont need to fasten it down?

[@fixitfaxit4006]

wow

[@AB-nu5we]

Pulling your wood flooring out of your house would definitely be an amateur move. I'm taking the 1980's Honduran mahogany mantle and short-wall caps out of my house when I move because I know the clown that buys it will throw it in the trash and replace it with red oak finished with Golden Oak stain, while adding the same in crown (clown?) molding because, well, they're a know-nothing amateur. Don't be that guy.

[@ericanderson525]

Lifeproof vinyl planks are incredible - I wouldn’t put anything else in my house!!!!!

[@JakePlisskin12]

Why would you ever tear your wood floor out becuase you dont know how to refinish a wood floor. Its crazy easy. Doesnt have to super dusty. Also a tip. Measure and lay off the sub floor seems. That are for most part the straightest object to lay off.

[@labradorshalladore4966]

Another free floor for advertising a company

[@jenarmstrong6990]

Well that's a bugger, I need guidance to cut for a curved wall. No I can't straighten the wall tge room is a circle.

[@venera5675]

What I’d do is put fabric aligned with the floor line and cut it on curve. Than use it as a stencil.

[@bradboyer1381]

Aesthetically, I actually liked the traditional "i" results better. Just a matter of taste.

[@Drew-do9wx]

I usually use my teeth to remove carpet staples

[@stevepest4143]

I find solid wood the easiest to install.

[@treasurex6943]

You know I really liked your channel when you renovated the shop and built the backyard home. Now its like sharting down the hole. What in the world happened? Maybe the dealer is selling some bs. WOW. Just shart. YAHHHHHHHH😢

[@teeodoor]

Nice work! To bad you already installed new Windows since you build so thick outer walls. You should have put the Windows further out, plum with the outside Wall. Would have given the insets on the inside of the house instead of outside.

[@jazzlicafan]

its way more practical to have vinyl flooring, but men do i think its 'aesthetically unpleasing' tbh. especially how it feels. it feels so fake!

[@rongram]

You should sell bobble heads, for obvious reasons.

[@billymasoner3735]

I’m just gonna say this. You are hot. Hot like the tool girl on tool time with Tim Allen on Home Improvement. At the same time, I’m a practical man who understands the value of the service that you’re providing, so please carry on!

[@WompWompWoooomp]

"No furniture really fits along a curved wall." -Guy who has a shop full of tools that can be used to make furniture that fits along a curved wall

[@drysicle]

the idea of tearing out hardwood floor out of your house to put down a plastic floor is absolutely bananas. hire a decent floor refinishing company, they will do it in 2 days

[@naterosendahl9071]

What you just mentioned is, a lot of times, far more expensive than tearing up the old floor & laying vinyl yourself. Cost of labor is pretty ridiculous on just about anything these days. And flooring has become a pretty easy & relatively affordable diy option for home owners.

[@drysicle]

apples and oranges, if you want to do it yourself to save money it's the difference between doing the demo yourself or renting a sander. both are a pain in the ass. there's no way you're spending more money on poly than on all the new vinyl floor. mostly I’m just bummed about the old floor, this dude has the means to do whatever he wants.@@naterosendahl9071

[@sameedalgora8490]

Forgot to mention all the VOCs gasses it releases through out time.

[@contacthigh8571]

I agree. Preserve hardwood where you can. Many people would die to have natural wood in their homes!

[@JakePlisskin12]

Just lay over the wood if your putting lvt or thinner type floor. Even if you have to grind spots down.

[@McCoyFamilyFarm]

I see Cali uses I4F locking technology. I have first hand experience and can tell you that you don't want this brand or technology. Very difficult to install. Don't take my word for it, go read the comments on the Cali install vids on KZbin.

[@treasurex6943]

I’m gonna go let loose now. What a fart man

[@johnfithian-franks8276]

Hi, I find your reasoning odd as you have put your cabinets in before the floor. I find putting in the floor first give a better level to work from and the job goes faster

[@galady8632]

It's a floating floor aka not secured in-place. Cabinets would negate that requirement.

[@olegtania1]

Vinyl is easy,but i would not do it in my house. To much bad stuff inside evaporates and all you family will breath with it. Good luck.