Installing Laminate Floors - Wood Laminate
Flooring Installation Instructions
Maintenance, repair and general home improvements aren't as
difficult as many people think. Imagination is a big part of
any home improvement project. If you can think it you can probably
do it. Time is the most important obstacle that you will have.
Any project tends to take much longer than anticipated. Let's
look at some examples:
Say you want to install laminate/wood flooring. The job
itself is not that difficult, most anyone even novices can
install this type of flooring themselves. The worst thing
about it is the time that everything takes.
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Prepping the floor is first. This involves removing old flooring
and any baseboards that may be in the way. Oh yeah, don't
forget to clear the room of all furniture and any other obstacles.
See all the time that takes?
Next the floor has to be leveled. Fortunately in an existing
home when you are just replacing the flooring, the floor should
already be pretty much level. I would start with a laminate
type flooring for your first time. It is more durable and
less expensive than hardwood flooring. This flooring could
be nailed, glued or left floating. If you have a wood sub-floor
you can nail, float, or glue your laminate. With a concrete
sub-floor you can only float or glue the flooring. I recommend
floating the floor, this by far the easiest way to install
laminate flooring. Laminate is tongue and groove this means
that it locks together when you overlap the joints. With a
floating floor the flooring is layed on top of a foam underlayment.
This underlayment will dampen sound and just generally make
for a better walking surface.
Figure out what direction to lay the flooring. If you run
it with the length of the room it will make the room appear
longer. If you run it the opposite direction the room will
appear wider.
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Start with a straight wall if possible, this will make
it easier to make your first runs and give you the chance to
get comfortable with the install before you have to cut around
any obstacles.
Lay down a couple of rows of underlayment. Tape these together
with masking tape so it doesn't slide. Start with a full piece
of laminate just lay it in the corner. I like to put a pry
bar between the wall and the end of the first piece. This
will protect the wall when you are hammering the laminate
home.
Put the next piece close to the end of the first, now its
time to drive it home. Hardware stores sell a tool to put
on the laminate to keep it from being damaged. You could buy
this or use what I use, a block of wood and a hammer. Put
the block of wood on the top edge at the end of the laminate
and slowly hammer the pieces together being sure that the
joining edges go inside each other. You will know when they
are there because the pieces will pop together. Continue doing
the same thing till a full piece won't fit anymore.
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for larger view of the laminate flooring image.
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Now
measure to the wall, subtract a quarter inch and cut the next
piece. Use a pry bar to push on this piece until it pops into
place. Now start the next row using the piece that you just
cut off. This will make the rows space out randomly.
Continue across the room till you get to the opposite side.
Now measure the thickness of the last row. Subtract a quarter
inch and rip the pieces to fit. Cut pieces to fit around obstacles
and in doorways.
Now just replace your baseboard trim and enjoy your new floating
laminate floor.
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