The placement of vinyl plank flooring has to be excellent.
It’s common for mistakes to be made when the flooring is laid and it can cause the planks to shift and/or not remain stable.
With this in mind, you will want to ask, do you have to stagger vinyl plank flooring?
Yes, you have to stagger vinyl plank flooring. Staggering the planks will help stabilize the flooring and ensure the wood does not crack due to natural expansion from moisture.
Do not compromise on this as that can lead to unwanted repairs in the future.
The rule of thumb is to maintain an 8″ stagger when it comes to the setup. This ensures the planks are spread evenly despite being staggered.
For those who are on the fence, you will want to know more about the advantages of staggering vinyl plank flooring at home.
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Benefits Of Staggering Vinyl Plank Flooring
1. Improved Stability
When it comes to the pros of staggering vinyl plank flooring, the main benefit has to do with the increased stability under your feet.
Since the flooring is going to be handling regular weight, it’s important for the planks to not shift when someone is walking on top of them.
The staggered design is a way to make sure there is an increased sense of stability and it becomes easier to walk around.
Not only is this but going to help with how stable the surface is, it is also going to make it easier to maintain.
This is due to the planks not moving around, which can create unwanted gaps.
You will want to keep things simple and continue to follow the rule of thumb where there is an 8″ stagger between the planks.
2. Aesthetically Pleasing
While this is not the first thing you are going to think about during the installation phase, it’s still important to consider the aesthetics of this type of setup and how it plays out when everything is said and done.
In general, the beauty of a staggered design is good and modern.
It is something you are going to appreciate due to how the lines sit on the flooring. You are going to enjoy how it opens up space and makes it seem more welcoming.
Straight lines don’t do this as well as the staggered setup.
This is why you are going to enjoy having the staggered planks set up from one end to the other.
3. Easier To Maintain
When you are thinking about installing vinyl plank flooring, you will want to make sure it is easy to maintain.
There is nothing worse than walking on flooring that begins to creak and/or crack as soon as a bit of weight is put on top of it. This happens often when the planks have not been installed the right way.
As a result, the best option is to go with the staggered approach.
Based on the research done into the installation of vinyl planks, the staggered approach makes sure the planks are easier to take out and will also be easier to maintain if something were to go wrong.
This tends to go hand-in-hand with the idea of a staggered design being more long-lasting.
4. Increases Durability
What is the one thing you are going to want to think about when it is time to set up vinyl plank flooring at home?
You will want to ensure it lasts for a long time.
There is nothing worse than having to deal with a cracked floor because one of the planks broke down after a few days.
This does happen depending on the temperature in the room or how humid it is. Due to the nature of the material, you will want to make sure it does not expand rapidly.
There has to be a bit of leeway and that is why the staggered design works.
It is not just about the looks but also making sure it lasts longer as soon as it is in place.
Final Thoughts
Do you have to stagger vinyl plank flooring?
You should stagger vinyl plank flooring. The rule of thumb is to maintain an 8″ stagger as a way to ensure the planks last longer, remain easier to maintain, and look aesthetically pleasing once set up.
This is one of those requirements that will play a role in how things turn out with the new flooring.
You will find it easier to take out the planks when they are in a staggered setup. This does matter to those who want to keep the floor in pristine condition year-round.
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