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The Ultimate Must-Have Tools for Laying Flooring Like a Pro



Peter’s been laying flooring since 2017 when we renovated our first property. The first time he did it, he had never laid floors before and wasn't sure what to expect! He's learned a lot since then. 


We'll do a blog soon on the process of how to do it, and until then, here are his best tips for DIY floor installation: 


  1. Read the instructions. Each manufacturer has different procedures for installing their product, so make sure you know how to do it properly. And if it needs an underlayment, be sure to get the best quality that you can afford (we love working with Pergo gold underlayment!).

  2. Measure everything. Most manufacturers recommend against ending a row with a board below a certain size, so measure the space first to make sure everything fits. 

  3. Inspect each piece. Even a little damage to the tongues and grooves can leave you with boards that don't lock together. Keep damaged boards for scrap pieces, or if you have enough, return them to the store. 


While these tips can apply to hardwood (which we love) there's something real special about LVP. It's come a long way since the LVP of the past. It's not only easy to install, but it's durable.


Here are Peter’s favorite tools for laying flooring: 



Flooring Tools

This is your bread and butter right here. You will need this kit to lay any amount of flooring down. We love this kit because it comes with everything you need to take it out of the box and get to work! 










If you’re closer to 40 like Peter, your knees are likely not as strong as they once were. Plus, after you’ve laid thousands of square feet of flooring, your knees will be in rough shape. Get this style of knee pad that doesn’t have the plastic shells on the knees (those will scratch your freshly laid flooring!). Go with the mesh and you’ll have protection and your floors will be scratch-free. 


Get the knee pads and wear them every time. You’ll thank us later. 


  1. Table Saws: Dewalt or Skil

Can you do flooring with a smaller saw, yes. You could use a specific saw for flooring, or even a circular saw. We like a table saw, though, because it’s better to do the cutting outside (yes, it takes longer to walk back and forth, but you’ll have a lot less dust inside your house) and you can use the saw for other home projects. The table saw is probably one of our most used tools. 


These are the ultimate must-have tools to lay down flooring!



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