How to Install Laminate Hardwood Flooring Yourself

Hardwood never became so easy to obtain than by installing laminate flooring into your home or office.

Why pay someone else hundreds of dollars, when you can do it yourself?

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Laminate Flooring
• Foam or rubber padding
• Rubber Mallet
• Tapping Block
• Spacers
• Pull Bar
• Skil Saw

1. Measure the size of room you wish to install new flooring. Using a measuring tape, determine the length and width of your room. Then take your length and width measurements times each other to figure the square feet.
   
   For example, if your room is 5' x 11'6" then your square feet would be: 58

2. When purchasing your flooring materials, check the side of the box for the square feet each box covers. Not all flooring is the same. Take the square feet coverage from the box and divide by your room.
   
   So if we take the example from step one and assume a box covers 19 square feet, you would need (19/58) 3 boxes + 1 box for error = 4 boxes total.

3. Before installing your new laminate flooring, you must first make sure the old floor is clean and free of debris. Sweep, vacuum, and make sure there are no nail heads sticking up.

4. Start at the upper corner of the longest length of your room. Roll out your foam padding, and then laying out a box full of laminate boards.
   
   One side of the board will be the tongue and the other is the grove side. Each piece will lift and slide (tongue and groove) together and lock in place.

5. 
   Floor Spacers

   Place 1/4" spacers around the perimeter of the wall. Spacers help keep laminate boards in proper position. Flooring should be 1/4" away from wall in order to expansion and shrink due to temperature.

6. Your first row should start with a full board. You will want to begin with the tongue side toward the wall. Read your directions, some manufacturers suggest cutting off the tongue on the first row.
   
   To start a new row (second row), cut a board 12" long. Tilt tongue side board up slightly at an angle and slide inti grove of another board then push down to lock.
   
   Alternate between rows, start with a full board on row #1, partial board in row #2, then a full board again and so on.

7. 
   Tapping Block, Pull Bar, Rubber Mallot

   Use a tapping block and rubber mallet once you've locked your laminate board in place to seal any gaps that may be present, or a pull bar when working close to the wall.

8. Keep adding laminate boards to your rows until you come to the end. You may find you need to cut the last piece of the row in order to fit your room.
   
   When measuring to cut a piece of hardwood laminate flooring, first flip the board over, so the opposite end that will click into the row board is facing the wall and the back of the laminate is facing you. Mark where the two boards meet, remember your 1/4" spacer, and cut to size.

9. Repeat steps 4 thru 8 until entire room is covered with laminate hardwood flooring.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your boards staggered in each row. If you start with a full board, then your next row should start with a partial cut board no less than 12" long.
• Tilt at an angle, slide against each other until lined up, and push down to lock boards into place.
• Laminate flooring is sold with or without the padding already attached.
• Double check measurements before cutting.
• Cut boards backside facing up to avoid splintering and damage to edge of hardwood.
• Ask a friend to help, two sets of hands are better than one.
• Always wear appropriate safety gear, such as glasses, when working with power tools.