Complete Guidelines on How to Lay Laminate Flooring

Strengthening the foundations of your home is a number priority. And very basic, you can achieve this goal by laying grounds for solid floorings, such as laminate flooring installation. When laying laminate flooring ensures that your home won’t be apart and is reliable against weathering. However, how to lay laminate flooring? Today, you will learn how to install laminate flooring successfully and ensure longevity.

What Do You Need to Know Before Laying Laminate Flooring

Hybrid or laminate floor installation is a home improvement whereby the floors are laid with an added layer of protection. The planks used in this process are typically made of either laminate or vinyl. Although they are reliable against scratches, it has high tolerance against water damage, stubborn dirt, and strong downward impact.

Initially, it may appear a challenging task to accomplish. The good news is that it is a straightforward process, but it requires attention to detail. And you need to remember a few things in mind before you install laminate flooring, which include the following—

• First and foremost, you need to check for any signs of moisture sipping on the floor.
• In addition to moisture, you also have to see if there are any leaks that are coming from the bathroom furniture and other equipment situated in the house.
• You also have to check the humidity level inside the room. With this being said—the ideal humidity to prevent the accumulation of moisture should be between 30% to a maximum of 70% only.
• Last but not least is that you have to make sure that the subfloor must be leveled.

Tools and Materials

The basic tools and materials you will need for the project are as follows—

• Tape measure
• Floor spacers
• Pencil
• Protective goggles
• Knee pads to prevent any injuries as you kneel
• Shark knife
• Drop saw, and jamb saw
• Pull bar
• Rubber mullet

You can also use optional tools to help you make the work faster to accomplish and effectively lay the laminate flooring—

• Moisture barrier
• Flooring cutter
• Scotia cutter

How to Lay Laminate Flooring

So about how to laminate floor installation, just carefully follow the pointers below—

Cut Laminate Flooring

The very first consideration that you have to take is the cutting procedure along the edges of the room or around the door or whenever it is necessary. The following are the proper procedures for how to cut laminate flooring or hybrid planks—

• Take note of the measurement of the room in order to determine the right amount and dimensions of the planks you are going to use for the area
• Use a pencil to draw the marks where you are making the cuts
• Use the shark knife to cut the laminated planks
• Another alternative is that you don’t have to cut the planks completely. You can make a tiny incision on the markings before breaking them into two pieces of planks

Lay a Wood Laminate Floor

A wood laminate floor is popular among many homeowners because they’re extremely stylish and aesthetically pleasing, needless to say. For how to lay a wood laminate floor, please follow the steps relayed below—

• Carefully choose the best-laminated wood planks that suit the interiors of the room, along with blends of skirts, scotia, and trims
• Conduct a test before the installation by laying the laminated wood planks on the floor to give you the proper number of materials needed in the space
• And then stagger the boards to make them more pleasing. You need to create an allowance of at least 20cm to a maximum of 30cm along the edges
• Ensure that there are no unwanted excess around the door frame so they will not interfere with the mechanism when it closes and opens
• The laminated planks are usually installed perpendicular to the window when a floating floor is apparent. However, it is suggested to make the installation parallel to the window if you intend to make the room appear larger and more spacious

Lay Laminate Flooring on Concrete

The concern that many homeowners may have is the installation of laminated flooring if the foundation is concrete. You have to bear in mind that hybrid flooring is made of vinyl and laminate, which means that they are suitable on any grounds. Check out the following details on how to lay laminate flooring on concrete—

• Assess the area and measure the space where you are going to install the laminate flooring. This method also helps you determine the number of planks needed to equally install the hybrid laminate flooring
• Clean the subfloors first and make any repairs, if necessary, after you have measured the dimensions of the room
• Apply adhesive or any underlay glues if you see fit for the surface of the floor and the laminated planks to fully adhere together and remove the gaps
• Press the laminate flooring thoroughly, especially if an underlay glue is applied
• Wait for the adhesive to cure before you allow any foot traffic inside the room

Common Mistakes When Installing Laminate Flooring

I also listed the common mistakes when laying laminate floorings, do pay attention to these laying laminate flooring tips when you work on them:

• Failing to seal gaps that cause moisture
• Not giving time for the adhesive to assimilate or cure
• Failing to level the floor before installation
• Not using barrier vapor to ensure that moisture doesn’t sip in
• Not using expansion joints when the floor is not leveled
• Failing to read the manufacturer’s instructions first even if it’s included in the package

Conclusion

How to lay laminate flooring can be not that difficult if you follow the right guidance. The steps in this article are necessary so you can properly install the hybrid flooring without any hassle. As long as you follow the steps, apply all tips and tricks, and know the common mistakes to avoid when installing laminate flooring, you’re good to go! All that’s left for you to do is enjoy your beautiful hybrid floor.

FAQ About How to Lay Laminate Flooring

Below are the common concerns people have about how to lay laminate flooring—