How to Apply Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring gives homeowners the look of solid wood flooring but without the hassle of installation. In addition, laminate flooring offers other designs that mimic marble and stone. With the right tools and techniques, a do-it-yourselfer can lay a laminate floor that looks professional in a weekend or less.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Laminate Flooring
• Edge Molding and Trim Pieces
• Foam Underlayment (if not attached to laminate)
• Duct Tape or Wide Plastic Tape
• Laminate Setting Block
• Laminate Spacers
• Rubber Mallet
• Skill Saw
• Finish Stapler with Staples
• Measuring Tape

1. Prepare the floor by cleaning away all debris and fixing uneven surfaces. Sink any nail heads that are not flush with the surface of the floor and do the same with screws. Laminate must lie on a perfectly smooth base. Vacuum or sweep up all dust.

2. Cut and fit the foam underlayment so it extends across the entire floor. Use the finish stapler to place an occasional staple through the foam into the floor. Use duct tape to attach cut pieces of foam. The foam must cover the entire floor and extend to within ½ inch of the wall. If your laminate comes with a foam backing already attached, you can skip this step.

3. Start on the longest wall that runs parallel to the direction in which you want the laminate pattern to run. This is not an issue for marble-type laminates without a visible grain, but wood laminate offers the look of wood planking so decide upon the direction you feel will look the best.

4. Take the first piece of laminate out of the box and inspect it. Make sure there are no dented corners. If you find a damaged piece, set it aside for now. Look at the edges of the laminate. Along one edge there is a tongue and along the other edge there is a groove. The tongue edge will line up closest to the wall.

5. Lay the first piece of laminate along the wall, starting at one corner. Place a couple of spacers at the end of the piece and at the back. Position another whole piece beside it and use the setting block and the rubber mallet to gently tap the ends together. Repeat this process until you come to the last piece.

6. Measure and cut the last piece to fit into place at the end of the row. Cut it ¼ inch shorter than the space provided to allow for future expansion. Wedge a couple of spacers between the cut piece and the wall. The spacers should be placed every couple of feet along the wall as you go to keep the flooring even.

7. Pick up the other end of the piece you just cut and use it to start your next row. In this manner, you will stagger the joints of your laminate, giving your floor a natural hardwood look and increasing the overall integrity.

8. Fit the tongue portion of the new row into the groove portion of the piece already installed by lightly pressing it into the groove at a 45-degree angle and pressing it gently downward. The new piece will snap into place easily. Continue with this process until the entire floor is complete.

9. Install the edge trim and base molding after the laminate is finished. Be sure to remove the spacers first.

Tips & Warnings

• Read the manufacturer’s suggestions for cleaning your new laminate floor. Many types of laminate will not tolerate water because they are comprised of pressed wood products that may swell.
• Keep children and pets away while installing. Some tools can be dangerous in the wrong hands.

[vallain]

on 7/31/2008 We did this last year and found it a little tricky getting the pieces to stay together while a new section was added. Now that it's done, we love it.