This post is sponsored by The Home Depot. All opinions are my own. I appreciate your support! We have been in our house a little over 5 years, project by project making our house a home. But since the day we moved in, I dreamed of having continuous flooring that is beautiful, extremely durable, and easy to DIY. Pergo Defense+ of LVP fit the entire criteria along with other amazing features! I also really enjoy steam mopping my floors for a deeper cleaning, and there are not many floors approved for it but this LVP is!
There was a laminate installed in our home (it seems around 20 years ago), and I had seen some rough days with lots of wear and tear from previous owners. A few years ago, I noticed many of the newer homes in our area had Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring (LVP) installed and it looked beautiful. It has been on my list as the next project, and when the Home Depot wanted to partner together for this project I was thrilled. I heard nothing but amazing things about Pergo so I was pumped to hear about their new line Pergo Defense+ of LVP.
A little trip down memory lane. Our old flooring had a majorly orange tint to it, and an obvious fabricated feel to it. The tile also lacked character. I’ve always wanted continuous flooring in our home in order to give a more cohesive feel to our space, and especially to warm up the aesthetic kitchen area.
Flooring Choice
After hearing more about the Pergo Defense+ 7.5 in line, I was immediately drawn to the Grenadine Acacia. I have always wanted lighter floors in our space to give a brighter feel, and the color combination and pattern is gorgeous. The warm tones are beautiful, and the flooring has a chic yet forward feel. I also have to tell you that the whole flooring line is done so well, with many beautiful options that I feel would fit any home well. The pieces had a lot of variation so it was easy to space them to give an organic feel.
What really stood out to me though, was that these floating floors are waterproof and antimicrobial with advanced technology to protect against mold, mildew, fungi and bacteria.With having sometimes messy kids in our home, this really spoke to me. It is also dent and scratch resistant. We are not easy on floors, so it is a perfect combination of benefits for our family.
Tile Demo
We had a few weeks of tile demolition in the kitchen and entry area, before getting to the install of the flooring. Every tile demo job is different, but in our case the tile thinset was very connected to the floor, and a very tough demo job. We rented hammer drills and diamond grinders from Home Depot. Once we finished, we filled all the small holes with premixed concrete for ease in the process.
It was exciting to reach the point of installing the floors, since tile demolition was so difficult. The first few rows where you align the flooring and get the hang of click and lock install, are the most difficult. After the first few rows, we got into a groove and it was so exciting to see the install come together.
Steps for Installing:
Step 1: Get Prepared
Remove baseboards and previous flooring. Make sure your floor is level (the installation guide gives detailed specifics on how level it needs to be. This flooring has an attached underlayment, which makes installation so much easier. So no need to worry about underlayment. We also undercut the door jambs as it gives a cleaner look.
Step 2: How to start
Pergo says to begin in a corner of the room with the tongue facing the wall. We used 3/8″ (9mm) spacers for the expansion gap, but as with many houses, our walls are not straight. So once we laid the first 3 rows, I used a laser level to make sure the rows were straight. Since we wanted the flooring continuous, precision at the beginning sets you up for easy success with a fluid and symmetrical install.
Tips:
It’s good to keep in mind that first and last pieces should be at least 8″ long. End joints should be staggered a minimum of 6″. I began cutting my planks with a utility knife. It is pretty simple to score and snap the pieces. But by the end of the install, it was easier to use a miter saw. The Jigsaw came in handy for cutting around doorways, the stairs, and any spot that wasn’t a simple straight cut.
We could not be happier with this flooring! The color is gorgeous, it feels nice underfoot, and it also cleans up easily. DIY is amazing, and just so empowering. After waiting 5 years, I am so thankful to have made such a big impact in our home with this DIY flooring project. Please let me know if you have any questions about this project or the flooring. Y’all be sure to Dwell Aware out there!
Disclaimer: this post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you.
6 thoughts on “DIY Luxury Vinyl Plank Floor Install”
I am shopping for LVP at the moment and I honestly wouldn’t have chosen this acacia by looking at it in tht store, but seeing it installed, it’s GORGEOUS! well done on the install, so inspiring!
Hi Stephanie, thank you for your kind words!
Shalom—all the way from Israel
–yep, Israel. I was reviewing some unread Apartment Therapy posts and happen upon your blog. I think your house looks so nice. I love the simplicity and style. Currently I live in a small, I guess you could call it efficiency space in a shared house. I’m working on freeing myself of mental and material clutter. The process is slow but do able. Looking at your home definately gives me ideas and inspiration. I like the flooring too. Definitely a good choice. Thanks for sharing and inspiring. Please continue to share when you can…take care and stay creticent. Doriyah
Thank you for your kind words Doriyah! Making your space feel like home can take time, but it is definitely worth the effort. All the best!
It looks sooooo incredible!!!! Yay
Thank you Faith!