Sunday, March 6, 2011
How to Install Laminate Flooring
How to Install Laminate Flooring
Laminate flooring is an affordable option to get the appearance of hardwood floors through surfaces that are durable and can be placed throughout the home. Available through home renovation stores, there are many finishes that can be designed to the particular style of the home being finished from light beach wood to bamboo styles and dark laminate wood grain.
Laminate flooring is created to mimic the styles and designs of wood flooring without the cost or the easily damaged finish and can be installed in as little as a weekend.
How much laminate is required? Allot the square footage for the laminate required, as well as ten percent for waste when determining how much laminate is going to be required to cover the flooring in the space.
Establish the Materials and Tools that are Required
The materials that are going to be required to install the laminate floor into the home include: the underlay that is going to be placed under the laminate to absorb shock and provide noise control, Laminate planks, laminate glue, sheeting, baseboards to complete the finish and transitions that will be used in doorways.
Tools that are required to install the laminate into the home include: a tapping block and pull bar to ensure that the laminate is not in contact with the tools, safety gear for the person installing the laminate, a tape measure and carpenter’s square to measure the pieces of laminate, router, drill and saw to cut the laminate to shape and a chalk line to determine the starting point of the laminate.
To reduce the amount of money required for accessories, the homeowner can make use of laminate floor installing kits that are available at the local home renovation store. This, in combination with the amount of laminate needed to cover the square footage of the floor can ensure the readiness of the homeowner taking on the home renovation task of installing laminate flooring.
Preparing the Floor for Laminate Planks
Our trained technicians at "Just Walk on Laminate” can install it for you.
Carpet and other types of existing flooring should be removed from the area. The flooring should be removed to the sub floor, where the underlay is going to be applied. Remove the existing underlay from carpeting and floor to ensure a smooth transition below it.
Next, make sure that the floors are level. This may include grinding the concrete or using filler on any holes that are uneven.
Once the floors have been evened, the baseboards should be removed from the walls and the bottom of the doors should be trimmed if required, depending on the depth of the laminate that is being installed into the home.
Installing the Underlay
There are two types of laminate flooring systems that can be installed into the home, laminate flooring with underlay attached and laminate flooring that requires the use of a separate underlay system. Using the attached underlay system is best for those unfamiliar with the installation process.
Installing the Laminate Flooring
The most common styles of laminate flooring include board styles of planks that are installed and connected through a tongue and groove connection on the side of the board. Reading the instructions that are accompanied with the laminate flooring can help to answer any questions that the homeowner may have.
First, set up the spacers that are going to be placed at the wall to allow for the expansion of the laminate to create the desired flat surface. Next, beginning at the left side of the room and working to the right, the laminate can be installed by attaching one to the other through the tongue and groove design found through the planks.
The boards should be installed to the short side, completing one row of the laminate flooring that is being installed before beginning the other. At the time that the laminate flooring is required to be cut it is important to cut with the top side of the laminate upwards, as this will minimize the appearance of any chips that may be caused by the saw.
Next, start the second row that is going to be installed into the floor, using the tapping block to secure the second row to the first. This can minimize the damage that may occur to the floor and ensure that the rows of laminate flooring are going to remain in pristine condition while on the floor. Having two people work together, once to install the piece and one to secure the piece with the block plank can help to reduce the amount of time that is required to install the laminate flooring into the home.
Continue to cut the laminate flooring and place the laminate flooring in the home, paying attention to the spacers that are placed at the end of each wall.
Finishing Up the Laminate Floor Installation
If an underlay has been installed throughout the room that extends higher than the walls, it is important to trim the underlay so it is not showing above the floor. Once this has been completed, the small cuts can be measured and placed throughout the room to ensure that any angles or short pieces required are covered and the surface area has been finished throughout with laminate.
Though the small cuts may seem like a tedious task, it is important that the cuts are accurate to preserve the appearance of the floor.
Once the ends and edges have been completed, the baseboards that have been purchased in the matching finish to the laminate floors can be attached to the wall and the laminate flooring job only now needs to be cleaned.
Rather than using solvents on the floor, using a simple combination of vinegar and water to wash the floor of any dust can help to preserve the natural shine of the floor without leaving a film that is caused by many of the traditional cleaning compounds.
Using a damp mop throughout the area without soaking the floors and after vacuuming any dust up from the floors can help to create the finished appearance that comes with laminate floors that have been installed, creating an updated and modern touch in the home.
Laminate flooring is an affordable option to get the appearance of hardwood floors through surfaces that are durable and can be placed throughout the home. Available through home renovation stores, there are many finishes that can be designed to the particular style of the home being finished from light beach wood to bamboo styles and dark laminate wood grain.
Laminate flooring is created to mimic the styles and designs of wood flooring without the cost or the easily damaged finish and can be installed in as little as a weekend.
How much laminate is required? Allot the square footage for the laminate required, as well as ten percent for waste when determining how much laminate is going to be required to cover the flooring in the space.
Establish the Materials and Tools that are Required
The materials that are going to be required to install the laminate floor into the home include: the underlay that is going to be placed under the laminate to absorb shock and provide noise control, Laminate planks, laminate glue, sheeting, baseboards to complete the finish and transitions that will be used in doorways.
Tools that are required to install the laminate into the home include: a tapping block and pull bar to ensure that the laminate is not in contact with the tools, safety gear for the person installing the laminate, a tape measure and carpenter’s square to measure the pieces of laminate, router, drill and saw to cut the laminate to shape and a chalk line to determine the starting point of the laminate.
To reduce the amount of money required for accessories, the homeowner can make use of laminate floor installing kits that are available at the local home renovation store. This, in combination with the amount of laminate needed to cover the square footage of the floor can ensure the readiness of the homeowner taking on the home renovation task of installing laminate flooring.
Preparing the Floor for Laminate Planks
Our trained technicians at "Just Walk on Laminate” can install it for you.
Carpet and other types of existing flooring should be removed from the area. The flooring should be removed to the sub floor, where the underlay is going to be applied. Remove the existing underlay from carpeting and floor to ensure a smooth transition below it.
Next, make sure that the floors are level. This may include grinding the concrete or using filler on any holes that are uneven.
Once the floors have been evened, the baseboards should be removed from the walls and the bottom of the doors should be trimmed if required, depending on the depth of the laminate that is being installed into the home.
Installing the Underlay
There are two types of laminate flooring systems that can be installed into the home, laminate flooring with underlay attached and laminate flooring that requires the use of a separate underlay system. Using the attached underlay system is best for those unfamiliar with the installation process.
Installing the Laminate Flooring
The most common styles of laminate flooring include board styles of planks that are installed and connected through a tongue and groove connection on the side of the board. Reading the instructions that are accompanied with the laminate flooring can help to answer any questions that the homeowner may have.
First, set up the spacers that are going to be placed at the wall to allow for the expansion of the laminate to create the desired flat surface. Next, beginning at the left side of the room and working to the right, the laminate can be installed by attaching one to the other through the tongue and groove design found through the planks.
The boards should be installed to the short side, completing one row of the laminate flooring that is being installed before beginning the other. At the time that the laminate flooring is required to be cut it is important to cut with the top side of the laminate upwards, as this will minimize the appearance of any chips that may be caused by the saw.
Next, start the second row that is going to be installed into the floor, using the tapping block to secure the second row to the first. This can minimize the damage that may occur to the floor and ensure that the rows of laminate flooring are going to remain in pristine condition while on the floor. Having two people work together, once to install the piece and one to secure the piece with the block plank can help to reduce the amount of time that is required to install the laminate flooring into the home.
Continue to cut the laminate flooring and place the laminate flooring in the home, paying attention to the spacers that are placed at the end of each wall.
Finishing Up the Laminate Floor Installation
If an underlay has been installed throughout the room that extends higher than the walls, it is important to trim the underlay so it is not showing above the floor. Once this has been completed, the small cuts can be measured and placed throughout the room to ensure that any angles or short pieces required are covered and the surface area has been finished throughout with laminate.
Though the small cuts may seem like a tedious task, it is important that the cuts are accurate to preserve the appearance of the floor.
Once the ends and edges have been completed, the baseboards that have been purchased in the matching finish to the laminate floors can be attached to the wall and the laminate flooring job only now needs to be cleaned.
Rather than using solvents on the floor, using a simple combination of vinegar and water to wash the floor of any dust can help to preserve the natural shine of the floor without leaving a film that is caused by many of the traditional cleaning compounds.
Using a damp mop throughout the area without soaking the floors and after vacuuming any dust up from the floors can help to create the finished appearance that comes with laminate floors that have been installed, creating an updated and modern touch in the home.
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