ServicesLuxury Vinyl Plank
Luxury Vinyl Plank in West University Place
We install luxury vinyl plank in your home after we check what's underneath. That means pulling up a corner, looking at the slab or subfloor, and fixing dips and old patches before the first row goes down. You get a floor that stays flat and quiet.
A tough floor that needs a flat base
Luxury vinyl plank is a layered floor with a printed wood look and a clear wear layer on top. Most of what we put down has a rigid core and a click-lock edge, so it floats over the subfloor instead of being nailed or glued. It shrugs off spills, pet accidents and kids. It's a good call for kitchens, family rooms, hallways and anywhere hardwood would worry you.
The catch is that a floating floor shows every flaw below it. Older houses tend to have a few. Slabs move on our clay soil and develop humps. Pier-and-beam floors have board subfloors with gaps and soft spots. Past owners leave behind layers of sheet vinyl, glued carpet pad or a patch where a wall used to be. If those aren't dealt with, joints pop open and planks click when you walk.
So most of our work on a plank job happens before the plank comes out of the box. That's the part we don't skip.
What the job covers
Taking up the old floor
We remove carpet, pad, tack strip, laminate or loose vinyl and haul it away. If old adhesive is still stuck to the slab, we scrape it down so it won't telegraph through.
Checking older vinyl before we disturb it
Small square tiles and black glue from decades back can contain asbestos. When we find them, we stop and tell you to have a sample tested before anyone sands or scrapes. Sometimes the safer answer is to leave that layer in place and cover it.
Leveling and patching
Plank makers want the floor flat within a tight tolerance over a few feet. We grind high spots on a slab and fill low ones with patch or self-leveler. On a wood subfloor we screw down loose boards and add plywood underlayment where the old planks are uneven.
Moisture protection
On concrete we lay a vapor barrier or use plank with an attached pad rated for slabs. The top of the plank is waterproof, but moisture coming up from below still causes trouble if it's ignored.
Trim, transitions and doors
We undercut door jambs so the plank slides under cleanly, leave the expansion gap the maker calls for, and finish edges with quarter round or reset baseboards. Transition strips go where the plank meets tile or carpet.
When vinyl plank makes sense for your home
Carpet that's worn out in a busy room
Matted paths and stains that won't come out are a good reason to switch. Plank cleans with a damp mop and doesn't hold pet hair or dust.
Old sheet vinyl that's curling or torn
Kitchens and laundry rooms from past remodels often have sheet goods lifting at the seams. Plank gives you a sturdier surface that handles water at the sink and washer.
Damaged laminate from a leak
Laminate swells when water gets into its core. If you've lost a section to a dishwasher or ice maker leak, plank is a more forgiving replacement.
You want a wood look without the upkeep
If dogs, kids or a busy household would scratch a hardwood floor fast, plank holds up better day to day. We're happy to talk through hardwood flooring too if you're torn.
Floors that don't match from room to room
Older houses often end up with three different floors after years of small fixes. Plank can run continuously through most of the main living area for one even look.
How a plank job goes
- 1
Look at the floor and measure
We walk the rooms, check for dips with a straightedge and look under a corner or a vent if we can. We measure and note every doorway, closet and transition. You get a clear picture of what the subfloor needs.
- 2
Pick the plank and let it settle
We help you compare wear layers, core types and lengths. Boxes are delivered and left in the house to adjust to your indoor temperature, which matters with Houston-area humidity.
- 3
Tear out and prep
Furniture is moved, old flooring comes up and we deal with what we find. If something surprising shows up, like rot near a tub or old tile under carpet, we stop and show you before going further.
- 4
Lay the plank
We plan the layout so rows run the long way and end pieces aren't tiny slivers at a doorway. Joints are staggered and each row is tapped tight. Most average-size rooms go down in a day once prep is done.
- 5
Trim out and clean up
Baseboards or quarter round go back on, transitions are fastened and scraps are hauled away. We walk the floor with you and listen for any clicks or soft spots.
What moves the price
The plank itself is only part of the cost. In an older house, what's underneath usually decides the bigger number. We'll explain each piece by phone and in person so nothing shows up later as a surprise.
- Subfloor condition
- A flat, clean slab needs little work. A slab with ridges from settling or a pier-and-beam floor with loose boards takes leveling compound or new underlayment, plus the labor to put it in.
- What has to come out
- Pulling carpet is quick. Scraping glued-down vinyl, chipping out old tile or working around a layer that needs testing first takes longer.
- The plank you choose
- Thicker wear layers, rigid cores and longer or wider boards cost more per box. Attached pads can save buying underlayment separately.
- Room layout
- Open rectangles go fast. Lots of closets, angled walls, doorways and transitions add cuts and time. Stairs are priced separately as stair flooring.
Vinyl plank questions we hear
Something not covered here? (346) 545-5749
Can you put vinyl plank over my old floor?
Sometimes. Plank can go over a single layer of well-stuck sheet vinyl or tile if the surface is flat. It can't go over carpet, cushioned vinyl or anything loose. We'll tell you which way makes sense after we look.
Is luxury vinyl plank really waterproof?
The planks are, and a spill on top won't hurt them. Water that sits and works down through the seams to the subfloor is another matter. That's why we pay attention to sealing edges near tubs and moisture coming up through a slab.
Will it work on a pier-and-beam house?
Yes, as long as the floor framing is solid. We check for bounce and soft spots and add underlayment over old board subfloors. If joists are sagging, that needs fixing first, and we'll say so.
What's the difference between plank and luxury vinyl tile?
Same material, different shape. Plank looks like boards of wood. Luxury vinyl tile comes in squares or rectangles that look like stone or ceramic, which some people prefer in bathrooms and entries.
Do we need to move out during the install?
No. Plank has no stain or finish to dry, so you can walk on it as soon as a room is done. Expect noise and some dust during tear-out, and plan to have the rooms we're working in cleared or let us move the furniture.
Ready to see what's under your floor
Tell us about the rooms, the old flooring and anything odd you've noticed underfoot. We'll set a time to come look and talk options.