Installing Vinyl Plank Flooring in Basement - whats the best order?

I am wondering where in Canada you live, as that will affect the aspect of humidity and temperature change over the seasons. Before you install the new materials, you should think about the HVac system that the house has and how you can integrate any improvements to air flow needs.

I agree with the HVAC system. Removes humidity and gives you continuous fresh air which is really helpful if anyone in the family has allergies. I would recommend putting down the damp protecting 2X2 insulation interlocking underlay first. This way if you have any dampness or water coming into the home this will save your flooring. The other thing it will do is to help to keep plank or tile flooring from coming loose on the edges. If there is any dampness at all you will eventually have a problem. (speaking from experience and I was advised by the flooring store that I would not need the underlay. (Very wrong) The underlay will also make your floors warmer. I used the more expensive vinyl plank flooring which had fiberglass in them too. Do the floor before you start piling stuff down there or it will be a huge job to move it all to do your project. Be sure to paint your walls before you do the floors because the paint will be hard to get off the flooring. Good luck!!

I would patch the walls first,paint them and do the moldings before the floor installation. Do you want to paint with a newly laid floor? Secondly Vinyl plank flooring has totally come along way from previous Laminates. I would still recommend you speaking to a professional on using this with moisture in the basement.

I went back to look at your other points and recommend that you do not install vinyl anything over anything that is lumpy because it will show. For the upstairs with the hard tiles, I would lay click flooring over that. There are transition strips available for doorways.

Hi Jay,

It depends on the type of vinyl planks you are looking for. The type I am thinking of buying is a drop plank. Each plank is removeable (without disrupting the others) and washable should there be a flood, or if one gets dirty. You cannot put it over a moisture barrier, because it would slide. It is as waterproof as you can get. It is made for humid areas like basements and bathrooms.

I recommend that you go to a higher-end flooring store, where the people are trained, to ask your specific questions. You can buy the flooring wherever you want afterwards.

I like to pick up samples, and try them in the space to see how they hold up. I borrowed some waterproof, rigid plastic type planks, and they scratched really badly before I even got them home.

http://usa.beaulieuflooring.com/flooring/luxury-vinyl/vintage-enchantement/

If you want to check for dampness, place a plastic over a suspect area and weigh it down, leave a few days and then you will see if you have any humidity. My test did not show humidity, but I ended up with a problem anyway. I sincerely regret not putting down the underlay and I did use the recommended glue for the planks It will cost a little more but you will find it well worth while and it will definitely make your floor warmer. The underlay is an insulator as well as a vapour barrier. The underlay is easy to put down.

Congratulations on being able to purchase a house in the crazy Toronto market. I hope that it brings you much satisfaction and pride in making improvements yourself, and that it brings you many happy years as your home.