In this post, we’re going to simplify the process of laying laminate flooring into six simple steps you can follow at home. Be aware that if you’re not confident about what to do with laminate flooring, or of your skills as a DIYer it’s recommended to ask a more knowledgeable acquaintance to assist you – even if it’s to get you started on the right track. The process of installing laminate flooring has advanced with the advancements in technology as well as the flooring materials and is an feasible job for even the most basic DIY-er. The most important thing to keep in mind before starting our laminate flooring guide is to make sure that your laminate flooring was put in the area the plan to place in for at minimum 48 hours prior to the installation. This is crucial since the flooring needs to be allowed to adjust to the temperature of the room and humidity levels they can be subjected to. The boards will expand or contract in accordance with the time. Furthermore it is important to ensure that the floor’s surface is clean and that any dust or debris is eliminated. The debris that remains on the floor’s surface can create an uneven surface when you install the tiles since it could alter the height of the subfloor best steam mop for laminate floors.
Now, let’s start our guide on the process of laying laminate flooring.
Step 1: What you’ll require
The below equipment and materials helpful, even if they aren’t vital in the majority of instances:
a laminate cutter
tile spacers
knee pads
Safety glasses
a pencil
Set square
gaffa tape
A Hammer
a sharp craft knife
A pull bar
tapping block
foam underlay
Step 2: Measure for the laminate flooring
To buy the right quantity of flooring made from laminate you’ll need to know the square footage you’ll need to cover. Laminate flooring is available in packs (which differ in the number of boards they include based on the type of flooring you choose to purchase) and they indicate the dimensions of each of the flooring and also the total amount of area that is covered in each pack. To figure out the number of sheets of laminate flooring are needed for your project , you’ll have to first divide your width times the thickness of your space. That will result in the squared area. If your space isn’t entirely rectangular or square just divide the space into smaller portions which can be squared off. Take your new dimension and then divide by the amount that is covered, as shown on the labels of the kind or laminate floor. This will give you a number similar to the amount of packs you’ll need purchase to cover the area you want.
It’s essential to purchase 10 percent more boards that you’ll require just in case you make mistakesor any mistakes. This can prevent your project from being delayed or in the event that you realize that you need additional boards but they’re not in stock or are no longer available.
Step 3: Mark out your floor
Although you’ll to determine the place you’ll lay each laminate board the same way you would when laying tiles, it’s important to know the layout of your first row and to do this in a way that is correct. This is why prior to the installation of the underlay, you must decide when you’ll start the first layer of laminate and which direction the boards will travel into. It is always recommended to begin with the flooring that is in the lightest area in the space. After you’ve decided on the area where your first row will be laid, you can lay the row out as a trial taking care to place spacers between both boards and skirting boards. The trial row can help determine the amount of end-row boards you’ll need cut away to fit the flooring. It is helpful to plan ahead of time since you must be aware of a scenario that requires you remove more than half of thickness of the board (the shorter side) which is less than 400mm of the length of the board (the the long sides). This is because it can affect the strength of your flooring.
Step 4: Laying underlay
Begin to lay your underlay by first ensuring that you have spacers on your board and that you’re placing the sheets at a 90-degree angle from the direction you’ll lay the laminate boards. This is to ensure that joining seams of the underlay pieces never lining up with the joints between the laminate flooring. As you lay out the underlay, be sure that there’s no gaps or overlaps between the sections because they could make the laminate boards sink or rise up. The objective is to have an even surface. Tape the joints between the sections using the help of masking tape to secure them in the right place.
Step 5: Lay laminate flooring
The next step is lay the laminate flooring. Based on the layout you created in Step 3 Start laying the laminate flooring, ensuring that you ensure that spacers are in place between the flooring and skirting board, to let for the expansion. When you’re installing tongue and groove flooring you can simply place each board on a 45-degree angle to the one before and then gently slide the new board into place. The tongue should move into the groove and the boards ought to be in a straight line. It is recommended to utilize a pulling bar as well as beating blocks to move each board when you’ve put it. Bars for pulling are utilized to help you finish the last row of a row, but aren’t able to put a beat block in.
When it is time to cut your boards at the end of row The easiest method to accomplish this is to lay the board in the location where you want to put it. Make a marks on both sides the point where a cut needs to be cut. With your set square connect the marks so that you have a smooth cutting line. Utilizing your laminate cutter or any other saw at hand to cut the laminate board before deciding which side of the piece should be facing upwards to avoid the risk of damage (this is dependent on the kind the saw that you are using). Be sure to wear safety gear when you cut your laminate.
Sixth step – applicating the final touches
If you can, allow your floor laid at least 48 hours prior to adding any final touches, such as trims, scotias or even transition bars. This gives the flooring additional time to adapt to the space. And this is when the 10mm gap that we left between flooring and skirting boards is crucial which allows the flooring to grow without running out of space.
Cutting scotias and trims to allow for maneuvering around corners is easier by using a mitre tool that can help you make precise angles. Furthermore it is possible to make use of transition bars to connect your floor and any other floor surfaces that touch in doors, for instance. These are simple to put in and can help create an attractive transition.