Tips For Installing Laminate Flooring

TIPS FOR INSTALLING LAMINATE FLOORING

What Is Laminate Flooring?

TIPS FOR INSTALLING LAMINATE FLOORING blog.zenithindustries.net

How Much Does It Cost?


•  High-‐quality laminate flooring: $1.25 -‐ $3.00 per square foot

•  Underlayment: $0.60 -‐ $2.25 per square foot

•  Other materials (vapor barrier, tape, specialty tools): ~$150

Total Cost EsBmate: $1,500 -‐ $3,000 for an average room

Looking for more detail? Visit Tips For Installing Laminate Flooring (Part I) on the blog.

Where Do You Put It?


Where To Put Laminate Flooring

•  Hard, clean, dry, flat surface •  Over smooth or rough concrete, linoleum, exis\ng plywood,

par\cleboard, hardwood, or ceramic \le

Where Not To Put Laminate Flooring

•  Carpet or irregularly finished stone •  Rooms that are prone to water/moisture (kitchen/bathroom)

What Do You Need To Get Started?


Tools

•  Tape measure

•  Straight edge •  Marker

•  Hammer

•  Scissors

•  Safety glasses

•  Combina\on square

•  Speed square •  Pliers •  Pry bar •  Box cuaer

•  Oscilla\ng saw and bench

How Long Should You Let It Acclimate?


•  You need to let the flooring acclimate to the room’s

temperature

•  Leave the flooring for at least 2-‐3 days

•  Make sure the temperature is at

least 65 degrees Fahrenheit Source: Flickr Crea\ve Commons

What Should You Do With Low Spots?


•  Low spots will cause the floa\ng floor to flex when walked on

•  Low spots should be leveled before installing the flooring

•  Make sure to check your subfloor

for low spots and consult a flooring

expert for repair advice Source: One Project Closer

How Do You Install The Moisture Barrier?


•  A moisture barrier keeps subfloor

water from damaging the

laminate floor

•  Thoroughly clean the floor before installing the moisture barrier

•  Cover the en\re surface and tape

all seams so it is air\ght

Source: Flickr Crea\ve Commons

How Do You Install The Underlayment?


•  The underlayment layer is applied above the moisture

barrier and below the laminate

•  Underlayment helps to deaden foot traffic sound (we

recommend premium grade)

•  Lay the roll along the longest wall, cut with scissors, and make sure each seam touches

Looking for more detail? Visit Tips For Installing Laminate Flooring (Part II) on the blog.

How Do You Install The First Row?


•  Loosely lay down your first row with the tongue of the planks facing your star\ng wall

•  Cut off the tongue of those planks and run them along your

expansion spacers

•  Install each plank by inser\ng one end into the other at an angle and press down

•  Cut the last board to fit (but make sure it is longer than 8 inches)

How Do You Install The Final Row?


•  Cut the last row to fit against those expansion spacers •  Cut the rest of the excess underlayment around the outside

•  Follow your manufacturer’s guidelines for installing

transi\on strips

•  Add the quarter rounds and baseboards back around the walls of the room by aaaching them back to the wall

Looking for more detail? Visit Tips For Installing Laminate Flooring (Part III) on the blog

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Tips For Installing Laminate Flooring