Remodeling

Laminate flooring. Easy to install. Easy to maintain. Highly durable. These are just a few of the qualities that make this kind of flooring a major choice among home owners when changing the type of flooring used in the home. It gives the appearance of actual wood without the upkeep associated with real wood.

Manufacturers normally will have their own set of installation instructions and we recommend you read these instructions before you begin any installation project.

Installing That New Floor!

1.) When you bring your flooring home, allow up to 48 hours before any installation to allow the laminate to acclimate to the conditions in your home. After the laminate has been installed, this small pre-installation step will keep the laminate from shifting after it is put in place.

2.) Always cut laminate with a fine tooth jigsaw or a circular saw, placing the top surface face down. This will reduce tear outs.

3.) Before you begin, make sure that you measure the area you wish to cover and add ten percent to the total for excess.

4.) Make sure you have the necessary tools you will need for installation. If you do not have the proper tools you can purchase an installation kit that will have everything you need.

5.) Decide which direction you want to go. Normally laminate is installed along the length of the room, however you can install it parallel.

6.) Remove all molding, baseboards and doors.

7.) Check to make sure your floor is level and use leveling compound to level off any depressions. Remove any nails or tacks if you are replacing carpet. Also you may want to nail down any floorboards that squeak or may be loose.

8.) Roll out the underlay. If your installing over concrete, you may want to add a layer of plastic that will act as a vapor barrier. Make sure the ends of the rolls butte up against each other and do not overlap. You can use duct tape to seal the seams.

9.) Depending on the thickness of the laminate, you may have to modify your doorframes. A simple way to check is by placing a piece of flooring onto the underlay to see if it will fit under the door jam. If it will not fit, make sure to mark the jam so you can cut it.

10.) Measure across the room from the far side so you can determine if you have to cut the first piece. Remember you want the pieces for both sides to measure about the same width.

11.) When you start to lay the boards, lay them against the starting wall making sure that the groove side is facing the wall. If you need to cut your first row of boards to width, always cut them on the groove side. Also when laying boards near walls, use spacers to ensure you have 1/4″ gap between the boards and the laminate. This gap will allow for expansion during seasonal changes.

12.) When you lay your first row, the first board of the first row has to be full length, the first board in the second row must be 2/3 of a full-length board and the first board in the third row must be 1/3 of a full-length board. Fill in each row with full-length boards and cut boards repeating the pattern over and over again ensuring that the seams are at least 8 inches from one another.

13.) To join the pieces of laminate, you must come in at a very steep angle and once the tongue is in the groove make sure you press down. You will hear a snap, meaning the two pieces have been joined together. You can also gently tap with a hammer to ensure the boards have locked.

14.) As you near the wall, you will need a special pry bar or pull bar. This pry bar or pull bar helps pull the boards into place locking them together. You should never use a hammer on laminate flooring as this may cause permanent damage.

15.) Only after you have all of the laminate in place can you reinstall the baseboards or moldings. Make sure you nail the baseboards to the wall and not the laminate. The baseboards or molding should fill in the 1/4″ gap you made with the spacers.

You should now have an exciting new floor in place and a completely new look for your room. Remember, these instructions should never replace the actual instructions that are provided by the manufacturer.

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