How can I fix the trim on this vinyl plank floor?

Cindy
by Cindy

We had a contractor lay a vinyl plank floor but, he did a horrible job around the door frames. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to fix this or do we need a whole new floor installed by someone who knows what they’re doing? Thanks for any suggestions you can give me. I really appreciate this site and all the help I get from knowledgeable people. Keep up the good work, Hometalk!

This is the French door frame, as you can tell from the next photo, there are two different size gaps.

French door frame

Door frame.in family room

Other side of door frame in family room.

Pocket door in bathroom

Other side of pocket door in bathroom.

  10 answers
  • You could cut the door frame wood up a bit and install the floor molding straight across underneath it.

  • Zard Pocleeb Zard Pocleeb on Feb 02, 2020

    Ann is correct...undercut the door frame and install a new piece of molding. If you have a family member or friend with an oscillating multi tool that you can borrow it would make quick work of the job.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Feb 02, 2020

    Hello Cindy,

    First do you have anymore of this trim? If so you could make a template out of card and cut out the trim to match. If this is not something you feel you could do yourself, any carpenter worth his salt should be able to do this for you! Stick it in place with "No more Nails" . Mind you, if the man was paid to fit the floor he should be capable of doing a good job, so my first thought would be to call him back in to do a proper job! Hope that helps!!

  • FrugalFamilyTimes.com FrugalFamilyTimes.com on Feb 02, 2020

    I think you could fill that gap with wood - and then paint it to match your door trim color.

  • No, you don’t need to replace the floor at all. You can take a matching piece and snip away at it to fit or as others have said, trim up the door frame to fit a piece of that transition in. I would not hire that unprofessional guy again though!

  • 17335038 17335038 on Feb 03, 2020

    Did you want to have new baseboards installed also, or did you want pieces cut out of the same vinyl plank flooring to act as baseboards?

  • Rymea Rymea on Feb 04, 2020

    What a horrible installation! He should have mitered the ends of the quarter round. And he should have run the flooring under the upright trim pieces. If you have more of the vinyl planks you might be able to patch in the gaps.

  • Lifestyles Homes Lifestyles Homes on Feb 04, 2020

    If you’re concerned about the tiny pieces of the “trim patches” not sitting level as there won’t be any flat surface to glue it into place, I would get clear painter’s caulk, painter’s tape and a small putty knife.


    Tape off the new flooring & the adjacent trim, so that when you squirt the caulk in the gaps and “trowel it” flat with the putty knife, your clean up on those taped surfaces will be simply pulling off the tape.


    When you’re done patching the subfloor with clear caulk, let it dry and then you can adhere your new “patch pieces”.


    If your joints aren’t picture perfect, then fill them with the clear caulk and let dry. Then paint to match the caulked gaps.

  • William William on Feb 04, 2020

    I agree with adding trim to cover the gap. Making a template out of card stock or index card and cut the trim to fit. Terrible job. Don't hire that person for anything again.

  • Dee Dee on Feb 04, 2020

    I would first call that contractor back, he did an awful job. He should have run the planks under the door frame when installation took place. I would ask him to do the job correctly without the shoe molding around the edges. Other than that you coul caulk the area. Is that a pocket door molding?