Guide · Prep

Chapter 5

Prep the room

Get the subfloor flat, dry, and clean before you lay the first plank. Click-lock forgives small mistakes in tapping — it does not forgive a wavy, wet, or dirty subfloor. Prep is where DIY jobs succeed or fail.

Clear and protect

• Remove baseboards carefully if you plan to reuse them (label pieces).
• Haul out furniture; protect adjacent rooms from dust.
• Decide whether old flooring stays (only if the manufacturer allows it — and it’s flat, sound, and thin enough).

Flat, dry, clean

1. Flatness — many brands want roughly 3/16 in over 10 ft (confirm your sheet). Grind high spots; fill low spots with leveling compound rated for your substrate.
2. Moisture — concrete slabs need proper testing (surface “looks dry” is not enough). Wood subfloors should be sound, screwed down, and within moisture limits.
3. Clean — scrape adhesive ridges, sweep, vacuum. Debris telegraphs through thin LVP.
4. Underlayment / vapor barrier — install only what the brand specifies. Skip a second pad if foam is already attached.
5. Acclimate — follow the box: some rigid cores need little time; others want 48 hours in the room.