Guide · Finish & care

Chapter 7

Finish & care

Once the planks are down, trim, transitions, and gentle cleaning make the floor look finished — and help it last.

Finish the edges

• Remove spacers; reinstall baseboards or add matching quarter-round. Nail into the wall, not the floating floor.
• Set transition strips so they cover the expansion gap but don’t pin the floor tightly.
• Caulk only where the brand allows (often wall/trim junctions — not locking seams).

First-week care

• Furniture: lift, don’t drag. Use felt pads.
• Rolling chairs: use a floor mat rated for vinyl.
• Clean up grit — sand acts like sandpaper on wear layers.

Ongoing cleaning

• Soft broom or vacuum (no beater bar digging into embossing).
• Damp mop with cleaner approved for vinyl — avoid steam mops and soaking water.
• Skip wax/polish unless the manufacturer says otherwise (most modern wear layers don’t want it).