How to Put Down Swiftlock Laminate Flooring
Swiftlock laminate flooring is a popular brand of glueless or ``floating’’ floor. It clips together via special fittings on the sides and ends of the board, forming a flat, tight floor surface that isn’t actually attached to the subfloor. Instead, it’s pinned down at the edges of the room with floor trim. You can lay Swiftlock laminate flooring over any firm, unbroken existing flooring surface. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Foam padding underlayment
- Razor knife
- Plastic underlayment tape
- Swiftlock laminate flooring kit
- Shims
- Miter saw
- Table saw
- Floor trim
- Trim nailer
Instructions
-
-
1
Cover the floor with underlayment, rolling it out in courses next to each other. Cut them at the ends as needed. Tape them together along the seams with the underlayment tape.
-
2
Snap two Swiftlock laminate floorboards together at the ends. Set them along your starting wall with the grooved sides facing the wall. Put shims between the boards and the wall to keep a gap that will allow the floor to move with climate shifts.
-
-
3
Snap additional boards at the ends of the first two, laying a whole course along the wall. Cut the ends as needed with your miter saw.
-
4
Lay additional courses, setting each course along the side of the previous course and snapping the edges tightly together. Stagger the ends of the boards from course to course. Cut the end pieces as necessary.
-
5
Use a table saw to length-cut the final course of boards, fitting them against the ending wall and leaving a quarter-inch gap.
-
6
Cut and install floor trim around the perimeter of the floor. Nail the trim to the walls.
-
1
References
- Photo Credit Ryan McVay/Photodisc/Getty Images
