Vinyl Plank Flooring Installation in Orléans
LVP installed correctly — flat subfloor, proper expansion gaps, no skipped steps. Owner-operated service in Orléans and Ottawa's east end.
Get a Free QuoteLuxury vinyl plank — commonly called LVP — has become the most popular flooring choice for Orléans homeowners, and for good reason. It's waterproof, durable, comfortable underfoot, available in an enormous range of realistic wood-look finishes, and significantly more forgiving of everyday life than hardwood or tile. But LVP is also one of the most frequently misinstalled products on the market. The reason is almost always subfloor preparation: because LVP is a floating product that conforms only to what's beneath it, any bump, dip, or ridge in the subfloor shows through immediately and stresses the locking joints over time.
Orleans Flooring Co. installs vinyl plank flooring across Orléans — including Avalon, Fallingbrook, Chapel Hill, Convent Glen, and the surrounding east end — with a preparation process that meets or exceeds manufacturer requirements every time. Subfloor flatness is measured, corrected, and verified before a single plank is clicked together. Expansion gaps are maintained at all perimeter walls and fixed vertical objects. Underlayment selection, run direction, and starting-row calculation are all part of the planning step, not afterthoughts.
Joseph Leger installs every job himself. There's no crew variation, no shortcuts, and no mystery about how your floor will turn out. Call 613-981-8903 for a free on-site quote anywhere in Orléans.
LVP Installation — Technical Requirements
Installing luxury vinyl plank properly requires understanding the technical specifications that govern how the product behaves and what the subfloor must provide. Here is what goes into a correct LVP installation in Orléans.
Subfloor Flatness: 3/16" Over 10 Feet
The most critical requirement for a floating LVP installation is subfloor flatness. The industry standard — and the specification published by most LVP manufacturers — is no more than 3/16 inch of variation over any 10-foot span. Many premium products tighten this to 1/8 inch over 6 feet. Flatness is checked using a long straightedge or a laser level across multiple directions in the room. High spots are marked and ground down with a diamond-cup grinder. Low areas are filled with Portland cement-based floor leveling compound, applied in multiple thin lifts if necessary, and allowed to fully cure before installation begins.
Acclimation
LVP requires less acclimation than hardwood, but the product should still be stored in the installation environment for 24 to 48 hours before install. This allows the planks to reach equilibrium with the ambient temperature and humidity of the room. In Orléans homes, especially in heated spaces in winter (often very low humidity) or cooled basements in summer, this step prevents minor dimensional changes after the floor is locked in place.
Expansion Gaps
All floating LVP installations require a minimum 1/4-inch expansion gap at every perimeter wall, door frame, cabinet toe-kick, and fixed vertical object. This gap allows the floor to expand and contract with seasonal humidity changes without buckling. The gap is covered by baseboard or quarter-round trim, so it remains invisible in the finished installation — but it must be there. Skipping or reducing expansion gaps is one of the most common causes of LVP buckling in Orléans homes, where indoor humidity shifts significantly between winter and summer.
Underlayment
Underlayment selection depends on the subfloor type and whether the LVP product includes a pre-attached pad. Many premium LVP products come with underlayment already bonded to the back — adding a second layer beneath these products can actually interfere with locking joint performance. For products without attached underlayment, a thin foam or cork layer is typically used over wood subfloors to provide minor sound dampening and surface smoothness. Over concrete, a vapour barrier is incorporated in or beneath the underlayment layer.
Transitions
Every point where the LVP floor meets a different surface — carpet, tile, hardwood, or another level — requires a properly installed transition strip. The type of transition (T-mold, reducer, end cap, or stair nose) is selected based on the height difference and the adjacent surface. Transitions are mechanically fastened and correctly profiled so there is no lip or trip hazard at the junction.
What's Included in Every LVP Installation
- On-site subfloor inspection and flatness measurement
- Subfloor leveling — grinding high spots, filling low areas
- Underlayment selection and installation
- Layout planning — run direction, starting row calculation, sight-line alignment
- LVP installation with consistent 1/4" perimeter expansion gaps
- Proper cuts at doorways, vents, and obstacles
- Transition strips at all floor-to-floor changes
- Baseboard reinstallation or quarter-round addition at perimeter
- Old flooring removal and disposal (when included in scope)
- Complete site cleanup and debris removal
- Final walkthrough with homeowner
The Prep Process for Orléans Homes
Most Orléans homes built in the last thirty years have OSB or plywood subfloors over wood-frame construction. These subfloors are generally in good condition but need to be verified for flatness before LVP goes down. Newer subdivisions in Avalon and Fallingbrook often have very clean subfloors that need minimal correction. Older homes in the east end and closer to central Ottawa can have subfloors that have shifted, settled, or been damaged by previous DIY flooring installations.
The assessment starts with a visual walk of the room, checking for obvious humps or valleys, squeaky areas, soft spots, and any previous patching that may have been done incorrectly. A long straightedge is then walked across the floor in multiple directions to find and mark deviations. Any area that exceeds the tolerance is addressed before the day of installation — or as the first stage of the installation itself.
For basement installations on concrete, the surface is checked for flatness and moisture. A moisture meter reading or plastic sheet test is used to confirm conditions are within acceptable limits before product selection and installation method are finalized. A vapour barrier is always used over concrete regardless of the moisture reading, as LVP specifications require it in below-grade installations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is LVP better than hardwood for an Orléans home?
It depends on the application. LVP is waterproof, more impact-resistant, and better suited for basements, kitchens, bathrooms, and homes with pets or young children. Hardwood has a higher perceived resale value, can be sanded and refinished multiple times over its life, and has a look and feel that some homeowners strongly prefer. For above-grade living areas in Orléans with moderate traffic and controlled humidity, both are strong options. For anything below grade or in high-moisture areas, LVP is the clear choice. Joseph can walk through both options with you at the quote visit.
Is all LVP truly waterproof?
The plank itself — the core material — is waterproof in virtually all modern LVP products. What is not waterproof is the joint between planks: standing water that sits on a floating LVP floor long enough will eventually work through the seams and reach the subfloor below. LVP is therefore highly water-resistant and appropriate for kitchens and bathrooms under normal conditions, but it is not a substitute for a waterproof membrane in shower pans or areas with frequent, prolonged water exposure. For bathroom floors with normal use (foot traffic in and out of a shower), LVP performs very well.
What LVP brand do you recommend for Orléans homes?
Orleans Flooring Co. works with several reputable brands and doesn't push any single product line for the sake of margin. The right product depends on where it's going, the expected traffic level, the subfloor condition, and your budget. Key specifications to look for: a wear layer of at least 12 mil (20 mil for high-traffic areas or pets), a rigid SPC (stone plastic composite) core, and a pre-attached underlayment. Joseph can provide specific product recommendations based on your project once the site is assessed — or you can bring a product you've already selected and it will be assessed for suitability.
Should LVP be glued down or installed as a floating floor?
The vast majority of LVP installations in Orléans are floating — the planks lock together and the floor is not adhered to the subfloor. This is the recommended method for most residential applications and is what LVP is specifically engineered for. Glue-down LVP exists and is used in commercial applications or specific conditions where floor height clearance is extremely tight. For residential installs in Orléans, floating is almost always the correct approach. Loose-lay vinyl (a different product category) is also glue-free but uses friction and weight rather than locking joints — it's suitable for specific conditions but is not the same as standard click-lock LVP.
Can you install LVP over existing flooring?
In some cases, yes — LVP can be installed over existing vinyl sheet, existing LVP, or low-pile carpet underlayment (without carpet). However, each situation needs to be evaluated: adding height to the floor affects door clearance, creates step-up issues at transitions, and may require trim adjustments. More importantly, the existing floor layer itself must be flat and stable — if there are bumps or loose areas in the existing surface, they become subfloor problems for the new LVP. Installing over a problematic existing floor just buries the issue. The site assessment will determine whether going over or pulling up is the better call for your specific project.
Get a Quote for LVP Installation in Orléans
Call Joseph directly or use the quote form. Proper prep, clean installation, and a flat floor that stays flat.