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Laminate Flooring Install

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Cristy Gies

Designer and Founder - DIYGirlfriend

In todays flooring market, you’ll find a vast array of options that can suit the choosiest of do-it-yourselfers. However when it comes to affordability, ease of installation and an appealing choice of styles, laminate flooring is a great option. Depending on where the flooring is going to be located in the home, other options can be a great alternative. Perhaps using vinyl in the bathroom to provide additional support for those soapy storms, or in other areas that could see lots of moisture over time.

If you are looking to keep the budget moderate but luxurious, laminate is a great alternative to hardwoods. With as many choices as colors in the rainbow, laminate floors offer many styles to choose from, giving you complete control over the floors tone and texture. While hardwoods are the most desirable and bring many subtle characteristics to a rooms appeal, it is not without its possible drawbacks. The installation and budget tend to be a little more technical and include a higher price tag for materials.

This is where laminate flooring can be the next best thing. Laminate flooring is an engineered, pressed wood, designed for easy installation. The look of premium wood flooring that’s tough enough to withstand pets, kids and the tramplings of everyday life, makes laminate a smart choice.

Once you’ve completed your floor, show it off on social, and with friends and family. You never know who you’ll inspire to update their home. Follow DIYG for updates, additional projects, and insights that you can share.

Let’s Get Started!

Here is What you will need:

Materials:

  • Laminate Flooring
  • Vapor Barrier (for high moisture rooms)
  • Underlay (for wood or concrete flooring)
  • Finishing Nails
  • Caulk
  • Level
  • Tape Measure
  • Pencil
  • Safety Glasses

Tools:

  • Miter Saw
  • Jigsaw
  • Nail Gun
  • Rubber Mallet
  • Tapping Block
  • Contour Gauge

You can find these items in any local home improvement store. At the bottom of this article we have provided some links to make locating these items easier.

Watch the video below to get started on your accent wall.

Or you can follow the step-by-step instructions below.

Step 1: Lay out Laminate Flooring

final
  • Open Laminate Packaging and lay the planks in the room where they will be installed for at least 48 hours

DIYG Tip: Laying out the planks will allow them to acclimate to the temperature of the room and prevent warping

Step 2: Prepare the Subfloor

  • The base floor needs to be clean and smooth; we are installing the flooring over low pile carpet that was glued to concrete so we’re going to thoroughly vacuum the carpet. If possible, it is better to remove the carpet and lay the flooring directly on the subfloor.
  • Make sure the subfloor is flat, so if you have a concrete floor fix any chips or dips in the floor
  • If you have a wood subfloor, remove any nails and sand down humps and patch any cracks

DIYG Tip: If you are installing the flooring in a room with high moisture, you will need to lay down a vapor barrier. You will also need to install an underlay if placing laminate flooring on wood or concrete

Step 3: Measure your flooring for Installation

  • Decide what offset pattern you prefer by laying out the planks staggered on the floor. in a basic room, it’s ideal to place the planks parallel along the longest wall in the room.

DIYG Tip: It’s best to do at least 3 or 4 offsets for a more staggered look and then repeat the pattern.

  • If there is a fireplace or a focal point in the room, then the planks can be places parallel to that point
  • Measure the width of the room (which will be the longer side of the room) Allow a gap for the flooring to expand, subtract ¾” away from the width
  • To determine how many rows of planks you’ll need, divide the width of the room by the width of one of the planks
  • A typical room will not divide perfectly so you will need to make some adjustments for the last row of planks. To figure out the width of the last row, take the width of all the other rows and subtract that measurement from the total room measurement.

DIYG Tip: If your last row is going to be less than 3 ½” wide you should trim the plank width from both sides of the room for a more even look. For this number, you add the width of your last row to a full plank and divide that number by 2, this will give you the width for the first row and the last row    

Step 4: Lay first row of flooring

  • Start the first row of flooring by laying a plank with the tongue side facing out, away from the wall
  • Install the second plank next to the first by laying the tongue into the grove and apply pressure down on the plank until it snaps into place
  • Use 3 1/8th inch spacers along the wall for each plank as you go to allow for the expansion of the planks
  • Cut the last plank in the row to the correct length remembering to leave an expansion gap at the end of this plank as well

DIYG Tip: Cut your planks with the finished side up and use a tapping block with a rubber mallet to avoid gaps in between planks

   

Step 5: Cut and Place the Second Row and Beyond

  • Create an offset look with your planks by starting your second row with either a shorter or a longer plank that you started with on the first row
  • Angle the long side of the plank and feed the tongue into the grove on the long side of the plank on the first row then press down until the plank snaps into place
  • You may have to wiggle the plank for a perfect fit and continue to use spacers against the wall and use your tapping block to prevent gaps
  • Continue adding planks until the room is complete!

Step 6: Cutting Planks to Work Around Door Frame

  • Measure the area around the door frame, it helps to use a contour gauge tool to get the exact measurement
  • Replicate the measurement with the contour tool on the wood plank
  • Use a jigsaw to cut out the measured area
  • Then proceed to place the plank like normal

Step 7: Remove Spacers and Install Threshold and Baseboards

  • Remove the spacers and install matching threshold, baseboard and molding to the walls using finishing nails
  • Apply caulk to the edges of the wall for a finished look

Step 8: Enjoy!

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