How to Install A Wood Laminate Floor

Installing a wood laminate floor is a lot easier than installing solid hardwood flooring.

Wood laminate flooring is the next best thing to hardwood flooring - it looks just like it, is significantly cheaper, just as durable, and requires no nailing, sanding, staining, or finishing. Laminate wood flooring also comes in many styles and colors, requires minimal maintenance and is easier to install than hardwood floors so it's no wonder why it's a popular choice for homeowners who want to renovate their floors without spending a fortune. Here's how to install a wood laminate floor:

Things You'll Need

• wood laminate flooring
• rubber mallet
• tape measure
• electric saw
• utility knife
• hammer
• nails
• 1/8 inch thick cushioned plastic or underlayment pad
• plastic vapor barrier (optional)

Instructions

1. 

   Measure the length and width of the room and multiply the two numbers together. This is the square footage of the room and it will help you determine how much laminate flooring you need to purchase for the job.

2. 

   Purchase laminate wood floor materials (flooring, padding, rubber mallet, etc) and be sure to buy 10-15% extra for mistakes and future repairs. Consult the sales staff at the flooring store to make sure you purchase enough laminated wood flooring for your renovation project. The amount of flooring you need will vary depending on your flooring choice.

3. 

   Remove the old flooring, baseboards, shoe molding, doors and metal strips.

4. 

   Cut the door trim, door jambs and doors to allow enough clearance for the new laminate flooring (subfloor, padding and new flooring). Successful laminate floor installation includes allowing enough space for the floor to expand and contract with varying humidity levels.

5. 

   Remove any remaining debris and clean the floor thoroughly.

6. 

   If there is a plywood subfloor, great! Make sure it's flat and smooth before you install the laminate floor. If not, keep in mind you can install wood laminate flooring over concrete, stone, vinyl, or tile - you just need to make sure the subfloor is completely FLAT and SMOOTH (that means sanding high spots and/or filling grooves with leveling compound as necessary). An interlocking wood laminate floor should not be attached to the subfloor since the planks will need room to expand and contract with humidity.

7. 

   Roll out the underlayment padding over the subfloor and connect the pieces with plastic tape. If you are installing wood laminate flooring over concrete, be sure to put plastic sheeting below the padding - it serves as a vapor barrier.

8. 

   Start in a corner and install the wood laminate flooring planks in staggered positions parallel to the longest wall or perpendicular to any natural light coming from windows in the room. Lock the planks together carefully and use spacers to leave at least a ¼" gap where the flooring meets the wall. This will give you room to reinstall the baseboards after the laminate flooring is in place. Use the rubber mallet to make sure each plank fits snugly into place. Use a utility knife or electric saw to cut planks as needed near doorways, cabinets and other obstacles.

9. 

   Remove the spacers and install old or new baseboards, quarter round molding, thresholds and door jambs as necessary. Don't nail baseboards into the wood laminate floor - it needs to expand and contract with humidity levels.

10. 

    Clean the floor with wood laminate floor cleaner and move your furniture in!

Tips & Warnings

• Two days before installation, store the flooring in a room where the temperature is 65 degrees. It's always a good idea to keep the flooring at that temperature during installation and for at least one day after installation as well.

• Gluing the laminate flooring to the subfloor will reduce popping and warping from moisture. It will also help the floor from sounding hollow as you walk on it.

• Installing wood laminate flooring near doorways and obstacles like pipes and irregular objects can be challenging. If precisely cutting wood planks is not your forte, consider hiring a flooring contractor to install the wood laminate flooring for you.

• Avoid installing wood laminate floors in basements, bathrooms, laundry rooms and saunas - the humidity and moisture may warp it.

Resources

• How to Clean a Wood Laminate Floor
• How to Finish Wood Floors
• How to Choose Hardwood Flooring For Any Room
• How to Find Discount Hardwood Flooring
• How to Lay Resilient Flooring
• How to Stop a Linoleum Floor From Being Slippery
• How to Install Floor Tiles
• How to Lay Vinyl Floor Tiles In A Room
• How to Lay Carpet Tiles In A Room
• How to Find Discontinued Vinyl Flooring Tiles
• How to Install Bathroom Tiles
• How to Lay Bathroom Floor Tile
• How to Tile a Concrete Floor
• Wood Laminate Floor Cleaner