How is the subfloor checked before installation begins?

The surface is tested with a long straightedge to find high and low spots, and any section that deviates beyond the manufacturer's tolerance is leveled or fastened before planks are laid.

What does the expansion gap at the walls actually do, and how large does it need to be?

The gap allows the floating floor to expand and contract without transferring stress to the wall or buckling at the plank edges—typical clearance runs between a quarter inch and three-eighths of an inch depending on the plank specification.

Why does prior flooring need to be fully removed rather than installed over?

Residual adhesive, thickness variation, and any soft spots in old underlayment will telegraph through LVP planks and cause uneven wear or movement at seams over time.

How does subfloor preparation in older Raleigh-area homes differ from newer construction?

Homes built before engineered subfloor panels became standard often have board-laid subfloors with gaps and surface variation that require more extensive prep—leveling compound alone isn't always sufficient, and localized sistering or fastening may be needed first.

How are transitions between rooms or between LVP and other flooring types handled at installation?

Transition strips are measured and fitted at every doorway and material change at the end of the install, sized to the height difference between the two surfaces so neither edge is exposed or creates a tripping threshold.

LVP Flooring Installation

The existing floor is removed, the subfloor is inspected and leveled where needed, and then the planks are laid—that sequence is what separates an LVP installation that stays stable from one that develops hollow spots and movement within months of completion. Betterhouse LLC installs luxury vinyl plank flooring in homes and commercial spaces in Raleigh, handling both the subfloor preparation and the finished plank layout as a single job. The company is family owned and insured, and the subfloor is checked before any plank goes down because that step determines whether the finished floor sits flat or begins shifting at the seams.

In many older homes, prior flooring installations have left behind adhesive residue, height variations at transitions, or subfloor panels that have deflected over time. In areas like Wake Forest and Apex, homes with multiple layers of prior flooring often have uneven subfloor surfaces that require leveling compound or localized fastening before LVP is appropriate to install. Skipping that step to save time is the most common reason floating LVP develops gaps at the seams or a hollow, springy feel underfoot within the first year.

Set up an on-site evaluation to have the current floor condition assessed and the subfloor preparation requirements identified before installation begins.

LVP installation follows a defined sequence: existing flooring is removed fully, the subfloor surface is checked with a straightedge for high and low spots, any deflection or looseness is fastened or filled, and the planks are laid according to the manufacturer's layout pattern with expansion gaps maintained at all walls and transitions. Those expansion gaps aren't optional—LVP expands and contracts with building temperature changes, and planks installed without adequate clearance at the perimeter can buckle or lift at seams over time.

Once installation is complete and trim and transitions are finished, the floor should feel consistent across the entire surface—no soft spots, no hollow sound under foot traffic, no visible gaps at the seams or at wall bases.

Betterhouse LLC closes the job with trim and transition strips fitted to all doorways, thresholds, and perimeter edges, so the finished floor reads as complete rather than stopping abruptly at every opening.

Plank layout direction and starting point affect both the visual proportion of the room and the structural efficiency of the installation. Longer runs parallel to the primary light source tend to read better visually, while starting from a straight reference wall rather than an out-of-square wall keeps the rows consistent across the full span. These are decisions made before the first plank is cut, not adjusted partway through the job.

How is the subfloor checked before installation begins?
The surface is tested with a long straightedge to find high and low spots, and any section that deviates beyond the manufacturer's tolerance is leveled or fastened before planks are laid.
What does the expansion gap at the walls actually do, and how large does it need to be?
The gap allows the floating floor to expand and contract without transferring stress to the wall or buckling at the plank edges—typical clearance runs between a quarter inch and three-eighths of an inch depending on the plank specification.
Why does prior flooring need to be fully removed rather than installed over?
Residual adhesive, thickness variation, and any soft spots in old underlayment will telegraph through LVP planks and cause uneven wear or movement at seams over time.
How does subfloor preparation in older Raleigh-area homes differ from newer construction?
Homes built before engineered subfloor panels became standard often have board-laid subfloors with gaps and surface variation that require more extensive prep—leveling compound alone isn't always sufficient, and localized sistering or fastening may be needed first.
How are transitions between rooms or between LVP and other flooring types handled at installation?
Transition strips are measured and fitted at every doorway and material change at the end of the install, sized to the height difference between the two surfaces so neither edge is exposed or creates a tripping threshold.

Floors That Stay Flat and Quiet Underfoot