Laminate and Vinyl Floor Fitting Course

Lesson 1 • Laminate Flooring Materials and Types

Examines laminate construction layers, AC ratings, and thickness grades. Students distinguish product grades and match them to appropriate applications.

Lesson 2 • Essential Tools and Equipment

Introduces hand tools, power tools, and measuring instruments used throughout installation. Students identify each tool's function and safe operating requirements.

Lesson 3 • Safety and Personal Protective Equipment

Establishes jobsite safety protocols, PPE requirements, and hazard recognition. Compliance with occupational safety standards is emphasised throughout.

Lesson 4 • Vinyl Flooring Materials and Types

Identifies LVP, LVT, WPC, and SPC vinyl formats and their structural differences. Students select the correct vinyl type for given project conditions.

Lesson 1 • Underlayment Selection and Installation

Explains foam, cork, and combination underlayment types and their acoustic and thermal roles. Students match underlayment to product and subfloor requirements.

Lesson 2 • Subfloor Repair and Leveling

Covers grinding high spots, filling low areas, and applying self-levelling compounds. Students execute repairs that bring subfloors within installation tolerances.

Lesson 3 • Moisture Testing and Control

Teaches calcium chloride, RH probe, and pin meter moisture testing methods. Students interpret results and apply corrective measures before installation.

Lesson 4 • Subfloor Types and Structural Requirements

Covers concrete slabs, plywood, OSB, and existing floor substrates. Students assess load-bearing capacity and deflection tolerances for each type.

Lesson 1 • Room Measurement Techniques

Covers measuring irregular rooms, alcoves, and open floor plans accurately. Students record dimensions and create scaled floor sketches for planning purposes.

Lesson 2 • Plank Direction and Visual Balance

Covers how plank direction affects room perception and how to plan balanced end rows. Students determine optimal run direction and calculate starting row width.

Lesson 3 • Acclimation Requirements

Explains temperature and humidity acclimation protocols for laminate and vinyl products. Students apply manufacturer-specified acclimation times and staging methods.

Lesson 4 • Material Quantity and Waste Calculation

Teaches square footage calculation, waste factor percentages, and ordering quantities. Students produce accurate material orders that account for cuts and pattern matching.

Lesson 1 • Transitions and Threshold Installation

Covers T-moulding, reducer, end cap, and stair nose transition types and their fastening methods. Students select and install the correct transition for each floor boundary.

Lesson 2 • Floating Floor Principles

Explains why laminate floats, how expansion gaps function, and what happens when gaps are omitted. Students apply the floating principle to every installation decision.

Lesson 3 • Cutting Laminate Planks

Teaches crosscuts, rip cuts, notch cuts, and curved cuts using appropriate tools. Students produce clean, chip-free cuts that fit precisely against obstacles.

Lesson 4 • Row-by-Row Installation Sequence

Details the starting row setup, stagger rules, and row-by-row progression across the room. Students maintain consistent stagger and alignment throughout the field.

Lesson 5 • Obstacles and Irregular Areas

Addresses installation around door frames, pipes, hearths, and columns. Students template and cut complex shapes that fit tightly without forcing joints.

Lesson 1 • Wet Area and Stair Applications

Addresses waterproof vinyl installation in bathrooms, kitchens, and on stair treads. Students seal seams and install stair nosings to maintain waterproof performance.

Lesson 2 • Floating LVP and SPC Installation

Covers click-lock assembly, expansion gap management, and row sequencing for floating vinyl. Students install floating vinyl planks that remain stable under temperature cycling.

Lesson 3 • Vinyl-Specific Installation Principles

Explains vinyl's thermal expansion behaviour, waterproof properties, and subfloor tolerance requirements. Students adjust planning and technique for vinyl's unique characteristics.

Lesson 4 • Loose-Lay Vinyl Installation

Explains perimeter-grip and friction-fit loose-lay systems and their room size limitations. Students install loose-lay vinyl correctly and identify when the method is appropriate.

Lesson 5 • Cutting Vinyl Planks and Tiles

Covers scoring and snapping, utility knife, vinyl cutter, and jigsaw techniques for vinyl. Students produce accurate cuts without cracking rigid cores or fraying wear layers.

Lesson 1 • Door Casing and Jamb Finishing

Teaches undercutting door casings, fitting planks beneath them, and finishing exposed jamb gaps. Students achieve seamless floor-to-door transitions without visible gaps.

Lesson 2 • Reducer and Transition Finishing

Details height-change reducers, carpet-to-hard-floor transitions, and flush stair reducers. Students select and install transitions that accommodate height differences safely.

Lesson 3 • Baseboard and Quarter-Round Installation

Covers removing, reinstalling, and scribing baseboards and quarter-round to cover expansion gaps. Students produce tight, paint-ready trim lines without fastening into the floor.

Lesson 4 • Final Inspection and Punch-Out

Introduces a systematic inspection checklist covering gaps, joints, transitions, and trim. Students identify and correct defects before client walkthrough.

Lesson 1 • Common Laminate Failure Modes

Covers peaking, gapping, buckling, joint separation, and surface damage causes. Students trace each failure to its root cause before selecting a repair approach.

Lesson 2 • Common Vinyl Failure Modes

Identifies vinyl lifting, adhesive failure, indentation, and seam separation issues. Students distinguish installation errors from product defects and material failures.

Lesson 3 • Moisture Damage Assessment and Remediation

Addresses identifying moisture intrusion sources, drying procedures, and reinstallation requirements. Students prevent recurrence by correcting the moisture source before reinstalling.

Lesson 4 • Plank Replacement Techniques

Teaches mid-floor plank removal and replacement without disturbing surrounding planks. Students execute plank swaps that are invisible in the finished floor.

Lesson 1 • Large Open-Area Installations

Covers expansion joint placement, layout line management, and team coordination for large floors. Students plan installations that accommodate movement across expansive areas.

Lesson 2 • Diagonal and Feature Strip Layouts

Teaches 45-degree diagonal layout, border planning, and decorative feature strip installation. Students execute non-standard layouts that meet design intent without structural compromise.

Lesson 3 • Radiant Heat Subfloor Compatibility

Explains temperature limits, warm-up protocols, and product selection for radiant heat systems. Students verify compatibility and adjust installation procedures accordingly.

Lesson 4 • Commercial and High-Traffic Applications

Covers product selection, adhesive methods, and maintenance planning for commercial environments. Students adapt residential techniques to meet commercial performance requirements.