Laminate Floor Installation: Step by Step

Dec 14
08:52

2009

melville jackson

melville jackson

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Laminate flooring changes the look of your home and transforms it into something new. It is easier to install compared to vinyl, hardwood or carpet floors. Nevertheless, it has its own set of flaws.

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Hence,Laminate Floor Installation: Step by Step Articles it is necessary to educate oneself adequately before trying to install it, or seek professional help.

The very first step of the installation process is selecting the best material. Poor quality materials are available in the market but in the long run they might prove to be costlier. A good material can save a lot of money since they have limited chances of manufacturing defects. Connecting the planks together is another major point. Many people don’t do it properly, especially near the door jambs. This not only creates problem in installing but also does not look good. Another important aspect is installation of transitions. Transitions are installed where lamination flooring ends, may be at a threshold. Installing transitions at different heights than the laminate one can pose difficulty. Hence, this should be done carefully. Given below is the step by step procedure of the entire process:

Step 1: Calculate the total area you want to laminate and get the material accordingly.

Step 2: Determine the type of trim and transition molds you require. If you want to laminate over same height areas then go for the T-mold. Use the hard surface mold if the laminate flooring meets a lower surface, like vinyl tile. A square edge mold can be used if it meets a threshold or any other vertical edge. For areas around stair a stair nose mold can be used.

Step 3: Prepare the floor. It is better to stretch the material along the longest stretch of the room. Smoothen the subfloors and make them dry and dirt free. It is also very important to level them so that the laminate material stretches perfectly over them.

Step 4: Make under cuttings at the door jambs and place the laminate inside the gap. This gives a good finish to your work.

Step 5: Start laying the material. You can glue it to the subfloor or you can even nail it down.

There are several types of laminate material available in the market, like wood and tile. The wood ones have a smooth finish and are available in planks. They are hand scrapped narrow planks available in various textures. They look like wood and can either give a matt effect or even a high gloss one. The tile ones look like ceramic, slate or stone. They are available either in planks or in the form of individual tiles.