How to Install Dream Home Laminate
Updating or remodeling your floor with laminate flooring can add beauty and durability to your home. Laminate flooring comes in many different wood-like types, such as oak, pine, maple, cherry and more. Laminate flooring requires little maintenance and offers a scratch-resistant surface. Installing underlayment below the laminate will not only add a sound- and moisture-proof barrier, but increase the life of the flooring as well. Once complete, your new floor and home will take on a new and fresh look. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Utility knife
- Underlayment
- Underlayment sealing tape
- Laminate flooring
- Laminate flooring installation kit
- Electric saw (compound miter saw recommended)
- Hammer
- 1/4-inch round floor molding
- 1 box, 2-inch nails
- Safety goggles
Instructions
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1
Check the floor where the laminate is to be installed and remove and clean any debris from the flooring area.
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2
Identify the corner next to the longest running wall in the room. Starting in this corner, roll out the underlayment all the way to the opposite wall and cut it to fit the distance with the knife. Return back at the beginning wall and roll out a second row of underlayment, abutting the two edges. Roll the second row to the opposite wall and cut to fit. Repeat this step until the floor is completely covered with the underlayment.
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3
Tape each of the seams where the underlayment is butted next to each other with the underlayment sealing tape. If the underlayment already has an adhesive fold-over flap to seal the two seams together, you will not need the tape.
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4
Locate the same corner used in Step 2 and lay a full piece of laminate parallel to the longest running wall. Lay the laminate so the groove faces the wall and the tongue faces the opening in the room. The tongue and groove is how you will lock the pieces together.
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5
Connect the ends of additional pieces of laminate as needed until you reach the opposite wall. Measure and cut the last piece of laminate for the first row, so there is a 1/4-inch gap between both ends of the row of laminate and the wall and a 1/4-inch gap running along the row parallel with the wall. This gap will allow the floor to expand and contract as needed when the temperature changes.
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6
Cut a new piece of laminate that is 10 inches shorter and begin the second row of laminate. This will allow the seams to be offset or staggered, and the floor to appear more natural. Maintain a 10-inch difference in length with the first piece of laminate for each additional new row.
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7
Connect the first board of the second row by gently lifting up the first row of laminate and locking the tongue and groove connections on the board together. (Make sure as you install the first board of each row, that you leave a 1/4-inch gap between it and the wall.) Continue this process until you again reach the opposite wall. Measure the final piece of laminate for the second row, leaving a 1/4-inch gap at each end of the row for expansion. Repeat this step, to install additional rows as needed until the floor is filled in with the laminate.
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8
Start in one corner and work your way around the four walls installing the 1/4-inch round molding. The molding will hide the 1/4-inch gap around the walls, which will allow the floor to expand and shrink as needed. Measure and cut each piece of molding and secure it in place using the hammer and 2-inch nails. Hammer the nails through the molding into the wall, and not the flooring.
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Tips & Warnings
There are typically several grades of underlayment to choose from, that offer different levels of protection and sound proofing. The thinner the underlayment the less sound it will muffle, but each grade will provide roughly the equal amount of moisture protection from the concrete sub-floor.
Be sure to wear the safety goggles as you cut the wood with the electric saw to avoid injury to the eyes by saw dust or debris.
Avoid contact with the blades on the saw because they can cause serious injury.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit hardwood floor texture image by GoodMood Photo from Fotolia.com
