I’m renovating my bathroom and decided to use the Mohawk Home Luxury Vinyl Plank Flooring purchased from Costco. This flooring uses the Uniclic locking system, making the installation process a bit different from traditional vinyl flooring but simpler and more secure.
The Uniclic system allows for a glueless, floating floor installation, where the planks lock together using a tongue-and-groove system. You can easily install the plank by either angle the planks or horizontally click them together, depending on the situation.
For the first row, I start from the right-hand corner of the room, placing spacers between the wall and the planks to maintain a ¼ inch expansion gap, which is crucial for allowing the floor to expand and contract naturally. Lay the first plank with the tongue side facing the wall. Insert the second plank by aligning it at an angle and pressing it down until it clicks into place. Continue this process across the first row.
The 2nd row should be installed with the planks staggered by at least 6 inches compared to the first row to create a more natural look. Fit the tongue side of the new plank into the groove of the plank in the first row. Maintain a slight angle as you align the tongue into the groove of the planks from the first row.
Using a rubber mallet, tap along the edges of the plank to ensure it is fully seated into the groove of the first row. As you install the next planks in the row, join the short ends of the planks first. Align the plank’s tongue into the groove of the adjacent plank. Once it is inserted, slightly lift and tap the long edge until the planks are locked in place. Always ensure that both the long and short edges of the plank are flush with the surrounding planks to avoid gaps. Another way is fitting the long edge first, then tapping the left side to ensure a tight fit between the joints.
So, that means you can either fit the short or long edge, then tap the other edge to lock the planks. I prefer tapping the long edge as it is a bit easier.
Once the second row is complete, you can proceed with the installation of the third row and beyond. The Uniclic system used in these planks makes the installation process efficient while providing a durable and seamless floor finish.
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