Split-level living room with wide light oak-look vinyl plank flooring

Vinyl plank flooring

Vinyl plank flooring that lies flat and stays tight

Basements, kitchens, bedrooms and whole levels. We prep the floor underneath, lay it out so the rooms flow, and put the baseboard back clean.

  • Fully insured
Carpenter's work area with a saw, tape measure and stacked flooring boxes

Why some vinyl floors click, gap and peak

Vinyl plank is forgiving to live on. It's not very forgiving to install.

  1. Hollow, clicking spots

    Planks laid over dips in the floor flex when you step on them. Over time the locking edges wear and break.

    We find the low spots with a long straightedge and fill them before we lay a plank.

  2. Gaps and lifted seams

    Floors pinned down by heavy cabinets or trim can't move, so they pull apart or buckle.

    We leave the right gap at the walls and follow the rules for long runs.

  3. Ugly doorways and transitions

    Chunky strips, uneven heights and planks cut short at the door jamb.

    We undercut the door jambs and pick transitions that sit low and clean.

  4. Baseboard that doesn't fit

    Shoe molding slapped on to hide a sloppy edge, or old baseboard put back with gaps.

    We reset or replace the baseboard so it sits tight to the new floor.

How we put in your vinyl floor

Same crew from the old floor to the last piece of trim. Written price and start date first.

  1. Measure and check the floor

    We measure every room, check for flatness and moisture, and look at how the floor meets doors, stairs and other flooring.

  2. Tear out and prep

    Old carpet or flooring comes up. We pull baseboard, fix squeaks, and patch or grind the floor flat.

  3. Lay it out and install

    We plan the direction and the starting row so the planks run straight through the rooms, then install.

  4. Trim and clean up

    Baseboard, transitions and stair edges go in, we clean up, and walk the floor with you.

What to decide before you buy

Vinyl plank covers a wide range. These are the choices that matter most in a Long Island house.

Rigid core or flexible
Rigid core planks click together and bridge small bumps better. Thinner glue-down vinyl needs a very smooth floor.
Wear layer
The clear top layer takes the scratches. A thicker wear layer holds up better to kids, dogs and sand from the beach.
Plank size and color
Wide, long planks make a room look bigger. Lighter colors brighten a basement; darker ones show more dust.
Underlayment
Some planks have a pad attached. Over concrete, a moisture barrier may be needed. We check what your plank calls for.
Stairs
Matching stair treads and edge pieces so the stairs look like they belong with the floor.
Baseboard
Reuse the old baseboard, or put in taller new baseboard while the room is empty. It's the easiest time to do it.

Where vinyl plank works well

Anywhere you want the look of wood without worrying about spills or a damp slab.

  • Finished basements
  • Kitchens and dining rooms
  • Bedrooms and hallways
  • Split-level lower levels
  • Laundry and mudrooms
  • Home offices and guest rooms
  • Homes getting ready to list
  • Sunrooms and enclosed porches

Vinyl plank in Long Island houses

Vinyl plank has become the go-to floor for a lot of homeowners around Medford, Lake Grove and Ronkonkoma, and it’s easy to see why. It looks like wood, it handles spills and wet feet, and it holds up to kids and pets. In a split-level or high ranch, it’s a good way to run one floor through the lower level so the rooms stop feeling chopped up.

The catch is that vinyl plank shows everything underneath it. A dip in the subfloor becomes a soft spot that clicks. A hump becomes a seam that lifts. That’s why we spend real time on the floor before we open the first box.

What we do before the first plank

After the old floor comes up, we run a long straightedge across the rooms to find the high and low spots. Low spots get filled with patch or leveler. High spots get ground or sanded down. On wood subfloors, we screw down loose areas to stop squeaks, since a new floor won’t hide them.

In basements, we check the concrete for moisture. Vinyl itself doesn’t mind water, but a damp slab can trap moisture under the planks and lead to mold or a musty smell. If there’s a sign of water coming in, we’ll tell you before we lay anything down.

Getting the layout right

Plank direction makes a big difference. Running planks the long way down a hall or toward the main window usually looks best. We also plan the first row so you don’t end up with a thin strip along the most visible wall. Where the floor meets a door, we trim the bottom of the door jamb so the plank slides under it, instead of cutting around it and filling the gap with caulk.

Stairs and level changes

Split-levels and high ranches have short runs of stairs between floors, and that’s where a vinyl job either looks finished or looks patched together. We cover the treads with matching stair pieces and a proper nosing on the front edge, so each step is solid underfoot and the color carries from one level to the next. Where the new floor meets tile at a bathroom or wood in another room, we pick a transition that keeps the height difference small, so nobody trips going through the doorway.

Trim, paint and the rest of the room

New floors usually mean new or reset baseboard, and it’s a good time to paint walls and swap out tired interior doors while the room is empty. Our same crew handles the trim, paint and doors, so the room is finished when the floor is. If you’re getting ready to sell, a fresh floor with clean baseboard is one of the changes buyers notice first in listing photos.

Before we come out

  • Which rooms, and roughly how the floors connect
  • What’s on the floor now: carpet, tile, wood or sheet vinyl
  • Whether you’ve already picked a plank
  • Any stairs you want covered

Vinyl plank questions

How much does vinyl plank flooring cost to install?

It depends on the square footage, the plank you choose, what has to come up first, and how much leveling the floor needs. Stairs and lots of doorways add time. We measure and give you a written, itemized price before any work starts.

Is vinyl plank good for a basement?

It's one of the most common choices for Long Island basements because it doesn't soak up water like carpet or swell like wood. We still check the slab for moisture first, since trapped water under any floor can cause mold.

Can it go right over my old floor?

Sometimes. Vinyl can often go over flat, solid tile or sheet vinyl. Carpet always comes up. Old wood can work if it's flat and not bouncy. We'll tell you what's safe once we see it.

Do you move the furniture?

Tell us what's in the room when you ask for a price, and we'll talk through who moves what. Most people clear small items and valuables, and we plan around the big pieces.

Can you do the stairs too?

Yes. We can cover the stairs with matching treads and nosing so the whole level ties together.

How long does it take?

It depends on how many rooms, what has to come up, and how much prep the floor needs. Your written price includes a start date and how long the job will take.

Get a price on your new floor.

Tell us which rooms and what's on the floor now. Photos of the doorways and stairs help us plan the transitions.

631-745-9982
  • Price in writing before any work starts.
  • One crew from start to finish.
  • Fully insured

Step 1 of 3

What are we working on?
Where and when?

Phone photos are perfect. They help us give you a better price.

How do we reach you?

A phone number or email is fine. We use it only to talk about your project.