How to Square the Layout of the Room for Installation

You've chosen Canopy Floors LVP—fantastic! You know you're getting a floor with a wonderfully thick WPC core, perfect for comfort, and hyper-realistic looks with EIR texture. Before you dive into the easy floating click installation, we need to cover the most overlooked step that separates an amateur job from a professional one: squaring the layout of the room.

Founded by the Dossche Family, our long passion for flooring means we’ve seen it all. Almost no room is perfectly square, and most walls are not perfectly straight. 

If you simply start laying planks against the longest wall, you will end up with visibly crooked cuts and tapering at the opposite end of the room. By squaring your starting line, you ensure the entire installation looks perfectly symmetrical and flows beautifully.

How to Find Your True Starting Line (Hint: It’s Not the Wall!)

Your goal is to find the dead center of your room and create a perfect, 90-degree perpendicular line that serves as the foundation for the entire installation.

Step 1: Find the Center Points

1. Measure and Mark: Measure the length of the room and mark the center point on both long walls (Wall A and Wall C).
2. Measure and Mark Again: Measure the width of the room and mark the center point on both short walls (Wall B and Wall D).
3. Snap a Line: Use a chalk line to snap a line connecting Wall A to Wall C (the long line) and Wall B to Wall D (the short line). This gives you the intersecting center point of the room.

Step 2: Test for True Square (The 3-4-5 Triangle Rule)

Just because your two lines cross in the middle doesn't mean they form a perfect 90-degree angle! We use the classic Pythagorean theorem—the 3-4-5 rule—to ensure true squareness.

1. Measure on Line 1: From the center intersection point, measure exactly 3 feet down the long line (A to C) and make a mark.
2. Measure on Line 2: From the center intersection point, measure exactly 4 feet down the short line (B to D) and make a mark.
3. Check the Diagonal: Now, measure the diagonal distance between those two marks. If the lines are perfectly square, that diagonal measurement must be exactly 5 feet.
4. Adjust if Necessary: If the measurement is slightly off (e.g., 5 feet and 1 inch), pivot your short line slightly on the center intersection point until the 5-foot measurement is achieved. Snap a new chalk line for your true square reference.

Laying Out for Balance and Symmetry

Now you have your perfect square line—this is your starting point. However, you don't actually want to start laying the planks right on that line. You need to ensure the final row on the opposite side of the room is wide enough.

Determine Your Offset

1. Measure the Plank Width: Take the width of your Canopy LVP (which ranges from 7" to 9").
2. Plan the Final Row: You want the final plank row to be at least half the width of a full plank.
3. Offset: Lay a few planks dry along your true square line to see how they land near the wall. Adjust your starting line parallel to the square line to ensure that when you reach the far wall, your last plank is a manageable size to cut (at least 3 or 4 inches wide).

The Final Starting Line

Snap a new chalk line—this is your adjusted starting line. You will begin your floating click installation right along this line, working your way toward the walls. 

By using the floating click system on a perfectly square line, you ensure that any minor imperfections in the walls are hidden by the baseboard trim, leaving you with a stunning, symmetrical, and regret-free floor that showcases the beauty of your Canopy Floors LVP.

Leave it Up to the Pros at Your Local Flooring Store! 

Canopy works with hundreds of reputable, local retailers across the country, each with its own service offering. Many of our retailers are experts in installing luxury vinyl flooring, including our luxury vinyl collection. If all of this sounds too complicated, leave it up to the professionals. 

Find a local retailer near you to ensure the best quality installation for your new floors!

If You Haven’t Found Your Perfect Flooring Yet, Try Canopy!

We believe beautiful homes start with the floor, and that precision starts with a square line. Taking the time to square your room guarantees a professional finish that truly shows off the quality of your WPC core LVP. 

Ready to experience the Canopy difference for yourself? See the quality, feel the finish. Order a sample today or find a nearby retailer. Canopy Floors: Where every beautiful home begins.