How to Install Tap & Lock Laminate Flooring
If you're thinking about installing laminate flooring in your home, a tap-and-lock flooring system can provide a durable option. Unlike many tongue-and-groove floors, which simply fit together, tap-and-lock systems require the installer to tap the pieces of flooring together with a hammer. The tongue, which usually features an extra groove of its own, then locks into place. A type of floating floor system, most tap-and-lock systems do not require adhesive between the floor and the subfloor and come in a wide range of styles, including planks and tiles. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Pry bar
- Foam underlayment
- Flush-cut dovetail saw
- Polyethylene or foil tape
- Measuring tape
- 1/4-inch spacers
- Circular saw or hand saw
- Adhesive
- Rubber mallet or hammer
Instructions
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1
Use a pry bar to remove any existing baseboards, trim and old flooring. Clean the subfloor. The surface of the subfloor must be completely clean and level before the flooring is installed.
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2
Lay a piece of underlayment and a piece of upside-down flooring on top of one another near your door casings. Mark the height with a pencil, if necessary. Place a flush-cut dovetail saw flat against the top of the flooring. Cut the casing, so your flooring and underlayment can slip under the edge.
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3
Lay the foam underlayment. Unroll the padding starting in the corner where you plan to begin laying your floor. Cover the entire room. Cut away any excess using a utility knife. Each row of foam padding should lay flush with the next row without overlapping. Tape the seams where each row of pad meets with polyethylene or foil tape.
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4
Measure the width of your room. Subtract 1/2 inch from the measurement for expansion. Divide the sum by the width of a single flooring plank or tile. This tells you the number of rows of flooring you need to lay to cover the floor. If the end result is not a whole number, decide if you need to cut the width of the boards in your first course down with a saw, so that the last row of the flooring does not end up too skinny and unsymmetrical. Typically, if the last board needed will be less than 3/4 of the regular flooring width, you may want to trim the first course down.
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5
Cut the tongue off the first row of planks or tiles. Place 1/4-inch spacers against each wall between the flooring, so there's room for the floor to expand. Lay the planks or tiles starting in the corner, tongue-side facing the wall. Apply a bead of glue to the end of each new board as you lay it. Slide the boards into place. Tap lightly with a rubber mallet or hammer to lock the boards together.
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Place a 1/4-inch spacer against the adjoining wall when you get to the end of the row. Measure the space between the last plank or tile you laid and the wall. Cut the next plank or tile to length with a hand saw or circular saw. Install the last piece of the row.
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Begin the next row. Apply a bead of glue on the tongue of the first board in the next row. Lever the tongue into the groove of the board that's already been laid. Tap the board lightly with a rubber mallet or a hammer, so it locks into place. Remove any excess adhesive from the top of the floor with a damp cloth. Repeat the process until all the flooring is laid except for the last row.
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Measure the distance between the last row laid and the wall. Subtract 1/4 inch from the measurement. Cut the final row of boards to width. Install the final row. Use a pry bar to position the final course if necessary.
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Remove the spacers. Install the baseboards or trim around the room using adhesive and finishing nails.
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Tips & Warnings
Laminate flooring must be laid on extremely level surfaces. Most manufacturers recommend no more than 3/8-inch difference between any two points on the floor.
If you tend to be a little hard with the hammer, wrap the head of your hammer with a soft cloth before using it to tap the boards together. Hold the cloth in place with a rubber band. This will help reduce the chances of the floor chipping or becoming damaged during installation.
Always wear protective gear, such as safety glasses, when using power tools like a circular saw.
References
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
