How to Install Right Step Laminate Flooring

Laminate floor looks as beautiful as traditional hardwood floor and is easier to maintain.

Right Step laminate flooring looks as attractive as traditional hardwood floors and is easier to maintain. Because of the way the mills create the base for the laminate, the problem of warped or irregular hardwood planks is avoided. Unlike traditional hardwood floors, laminate flooring is held in place with glue, and is not laid directly on the subfloor. Instead laminate floor lies on padding similar to carpet padding. Laminate flooring does not require the sanding and finishing of traditional hardwood flooring, either.

Things You'll Need

• Wood spacers (available in the flooring section of most hardware stores)
• Polyethylene foam padding
• Laminate planking
• Laminate glue
• Pry bar
• Rubber mallet
• Carpet tape
• Rip saw
• Hammer
• Finishing nails
• Shoe molding

Instructions

1. Install the foam padding, leaving 1/4-inch space between the padding and the wall. The padding must be unrolled in the same direction that the laminate planks will run. Do not install more than one roll of padding at a time.

2. Lay the first row of planks. Place 1/4-inch spacers between the grooved end of the plank and the wall, then fill the grooves with glue and tap the planks together. The tongue end of the planks should be facing into the room. When the last plank in the row is laid, use a pry bar to push the ends of the planks tightly together. Keep them tight by inserting shims at the end of the row.

3. Cut the first plank of the second row on its grooved end so it is about a foot shorter than the first plank of the first row. Fill all of the grooves with glue and place the remaining planks. Tap them to ensure a tight fit and brace with shims.

4. Continue to lay the padding and planks. Do not overlap the padding and tape adjacent rolls together with carpet tape.

5. Ripsaw the final row of planks so there is a 1/4-gap between the plank and the wall. This gap allows the floor to expand and contract with changes in air moisture content and temperature.

6. Cover the gap with shoe moldings nailed into the baseboards.

References

• "The Big Book of Home How-To;" Better Homes and Gardens; 2003
• "The Complete Photo Guide to Home Improvement;" Black and Decker; 2009