How to Install "Quick-Step" Laminate

"Quick-Step" laminate is easy to install.

Laminate floors have many of the benefits of hardwood without the high price and the tricky installation. Many laminates are so similar to wood in their appearance it's hard to know the difference. Laminate is easy to clean and will withstand heavy foot traffic. One of laminate's greatest benefits is the quick and easy installation. Products like "Quick-Step" laminate allow any homeowner to install the product with a few simple steps. There is no messy glue and no messy stain or finish coat.

Things You'll Need

• Moisture barrier
• Utility knife
• 5/16-inch spacers
• Circular saw
• Tape measure
• Insta-click laminate

Instructions

1. Roll out the moisture barrier in the room where the laminate will be installed. Trim the sheet with a utility knife so that it fits snugly between the four walls of the room.

2. Trim the tongue from the first row of boards with a circular saw. Removing this edge allows the board to set flush against the wall.

3. Place spacers along the wall where you start the installation. Use a 5/16-inch spacer. This allows for contraction and expansion of the floor boards due to humidity and temperatures.

4. Place the boards face down when cutting the tongues off with the circular saw. Set the first row of laminate boards against the wall. Press the boards firmly against the spacers next to the wall. Tap the boards into place with a rubber mallet.

5. Slide the next row of boards into the grooves of the first row. The boards will click together tightly. Measure and cut any boards that need to be sized to fit snugly inside the row. Tap the boards into place with a rubber mallet. Continue laying boards across the room until you reach the last row.

6. Insert a spacer next to the wall where the laminate floor will end. Measure the space from the last board to the spacers. Measure the board from the tongued side to the grooved side. Trim off the grooved side of the laminate boards to match the measurement.

7. Lay the "trimmed" board in the area where it will be installed. It should be slightly too large. Lift the trimmed side with a pull bar. Slide the tongue of the cut board into the groove of the other board. Snap the tongue and groove together. Lower the board into position using the pull bar and carefully remove the pull bar. Repeat for all boards in this row.

Tips & Warnings

• The edges of the floor will look slightly unfinished with the 5/16-inch gap on each side. Add quarter round to the perimeter to hide the visible seams. Remove the baseboards before installation if you do not want to use the quarter round. Replace the baseboards once the floors are installed to hide the seams.

• Some flooring will come pre-cut to allow for variations in the size of the floor boards. If your laminate is not pre-cut you will need to trim pieces with the circular saw. Cut a variety of sizes and mix them across the floor during installation.

References

• Quick Step: Installation