Laminate flooring isn’t just a choice, it’s a way of life for millions of homeowners an environment-friendly way of life. It’s engineered wood style provides the look of wood flooring while being measurably cheaper. They even provide better finish and don’t need to be sanded, nailed or stained. Moreover, they are more resistant to denting, scratches, stains and fading.

 

Laminate floors are amazing, because they are available in different styles and colors. This style of flooring has they become a mainstay in the home décor industry because they can be easily installed on an old floor. Laminate flooring is a great choice for those who are looking to upgrade their old floors.

 

A laminate floor is made up of natural cellulose fibers, so it’s not supposed to be attached to the subfloor. These floors have interlocking tongue-and-groove connections so they can easily sit on the top of the subfloor, allowing for them to expand and contract with the varying levels of humidity.

 

So what do you need to install laminate flooring?

 

Tools and materials required

The type of tools and materials to be used depends on the your existing and as well as the new floor. Some of the most common items that should be on your list include:

  • Flooring
  • Barrier sheeting
  • Underlayer
  • Adhesive
  • Polyethylene tape
  • Flush, Stair nose, or over-the-top
  • Baseboard, quarter-round moulding, or wall base
  • Threshold, end moulding, and other transitions
  • Plastic sheeting that you will need to cover the furniture

 

Here are some of the tools required:

  • Pull bar
  • Spacers
  • Tapping block
  • Safety goggles
  • Utility knife
  • Gloves
  • Pencil
  • Hammer
  • Tape measure
  • Router
  • Carpenter’s square
  • Drill
  • Dividers
  • Saws: jigsaw, hand, circular, table, miter
  • Chalk line
  • White vinegar
  • Laminate floor cleaners

 

Starting off with the installation

Before you start with the installation, ensure that the subfloor is clean. Remove all the carpeting or carpet padding. Also, get rid of any adhesive residue or debris. You would want to have a flat, clean surface to work on.

 

Now, you have to choose an appropriate underlayer that will depend on the type of subfloor that you have. The underlayer reduces the noise when you step on these laminate floors, which are more noisier than wood (because they are harder than wood). Some laminate flooring products are preinstalled with the underlayer cushions.

 

Measure the area and add roughly 10 percent for the waste. To avoid unusually narrow board, measure the distance between the starting and ending point of the wall, and divide by the width of the laminate floorboards.

 

Laminate floors come with tongue-and-groove construction so you can easily install the planks by following the instructions. Start from the left side of the room and finish to the right. Use a spacer along the wall to keep space for the expansion zone. Normally, you would be required to keep a half-inch gap for expansion. Simply join the planks as you would do with a puzzle and you are good to go.