Installing Laminate Floors

A major aspect of changing the type of flooring one has in their home is the installation process. it can take many hours days, cost a fortune to pay a professional to do it, and in the end it may not come out right anyway. With all the money people spend on flooring the installation should be the easy part. It should be, the fruits of the consumer's labor.'

This is one reason why laminate flooring has taken over a large part of the flooring market share from competitors like hardwood and tile. Laminate flooring makes for a quick and simple install. This way once can enjoy their new floor the very day they receive it.

The first step is to remove the existing show molding in the room where the laminate is going. Be careful not to damage the rest of the molding or the walls when doing this. It is important to take out the show molding first because the laminate flooring cannot go down on top of it. Later it can be reapplied to protect your walls.

Second, it is not obligatory to remove old flooring before applying laminate boards, but it still should be done. This is for very straightforward reasons. When old flooring or carpeting is left underneath a new laminate floor, the chance it will come out uneven is increased considerably. Not to mention, any moisture, mold, or foreign matter that has already invaded the old floor will get its shot at attacking your new floor as well. If this occurs it can damage your flooring to the point of replacement. Don't waste hard-earned cash. As the saying goes, when in doubt, throw it out. Heed this advice and there is nothing to worry about. (In the case of hardwood flooring, it may not need to be removed if it is in good shape and just lacks its former luster. This may also be true in the case of tile.)

If there really is just a subfloor, and nothing that needs to come up, spend some time sweeping and vacuuming to ensure the best possible install.

Third, an underlying layer of foam needs to be laid down. A lot of laminate floor supplier sell this foam with the laminate but make sure that this is acquired because it is a critical component. What the foam does is lay down a foundation for the laminate that allows it to give and take a bit. The purpose of this is that just like the strongest trees aren't flimsy or rigid, but flexible, so is your flooring, The foam gives it that flexibility. This underlayment also serves to separate the laminate floor from the base floor. This buffer zone allows the flooring to float so that it is less susceptible to temperature and the like of the sub floor. Make sure that the underlayer is applied flush to the base floor, meeting the precise dimensions the flooring will cover.

Fourth, apply the laminate flooring. A few key points here are to make sure the most visible areas receive the full pieces of flooring, and those underneath furniture and the like are where the custom cut pieces will go. Once these key spots are designated, start placing down the laminate flooring from there and move outward (or inward) to the rest of the room. Remember to always leave 1/4 inch of space around the parameter of the room so that any natural expanding and contracting can take place. If this is not done and the flooring is flush with the walls it may begin to bow and bend, slowly transfiguring the whole floor itself.

Fifth, add new or re-add old shoe moldings by placing them flush with the walls and using a nail gun. If there is empty space between the show molding and the new laminate floor, then either a small piece of laminate needs to be cut to fill it in, or more likely, a bit larger molding is needed. These can be acquired at basically any hardware or home improvement store for cheap.

If installed properly, there should be no need to do anything but occasionally sweep or vacuum a laminate floor many many years. Enjoy!