I need to know how to put down laminate flooring?

Question

My husband is deployed and I need to know how to put down laminate flooring. Can someone tell me how, please? Thank you.

Answer 1

First and foremost I would like to thank you and your husband for the sacrifices you are making for your country. I know it must be difficult for you to have him gone for long periods of time. He's lucky that he married a lady that is willing to take on something such as you are asking about. I don't believe most women would consider it so good for you!

Anyway, go to the store where you plan to buy the flooring and they should be able to supply you with written instructions from the manufacturer on what tools and procedures to follow. Just remember to take your time, read the instructions and make sure you have everything you need and understand exactly what you are doing before you start. Good luck and God Bless.

Answer 2

you probably already have a subfloor.  it's the part under your carpet or whatever you're replacing.  also, almost all of the laminates you buy now are free floating and you DO NOT want to glue it down to the subfloor. your local home depot may hold a class on it, you can check with them.  there is also a bazillion websites that cover it.  

Answer 3

  All 1st timers should get a friend to help..If your not familiar w/ power tools get someone who is..The 1st row(s) is the hardest..Using a 1/4 inch gap cliclk  in the end pcs and cut last board to fit always leaving gap on both ends..lay 2nd row making sure no end seam is within 12 inches of the row before..In laying it out once you get the hang of it you can figure last board to be a big enough cut to reuse on the other end..You and friend can do a whole row at once since you can lay it in and lock it all at once..  

  Purchase a tapping block and bar (spacers included) You ll need it as you set rows..

Under cut all door casings and jams to slide laminate under, this is a bit tricky and may require extra thinking ..Rent a video( or at the library) to get additional pointers ..

  Start at wall that has longest sight line..  You can lay it any way you d like ..

  I don t recommend starting in the middle for 1 st timers, Theres certain things that you have to do in reversing the way you lock it in  GL  

Answer 4

There are several types of laminate flooring installation methods. Try shopping the big box stores and talk to a sales person there to find the style that fits your room and budget. I have found that for less expensive tastes the click together style done as a floating floor really works well. It has a minimum of connection problems and will give a good looking result with little experience.

Answer 5

Assuming you are taling about a floating wood-grained laminate floor..

!) Remove the old flooring or lay down a subfloor. If you go with a new subfloor, use 3/8" plywood, ideally tounge and groove.

2) If there is bare concrete over dirt under the floor, you are going to need a vapour barrier. Purchase a heavy-duty poly roll and special mosture resistant tape. Cover the floor, leaving wide overlaps between the poly sheet and tape the joints, leave some extra around the edges and trim this excess off at the end of the process, after the floor is laid.

3) Lay down a underlay material. There are two types, rubber and foam. Rubber is better (less springy) but more expensive. Trim to the walls (remvoe the baseboard first).

4) Lay down the lamiate flooring DO NOT GLUE. Laminate flooring is desinged to be floating (not glued or nailed). Start out either along the most obvious wall or in the middle and work outwards. I start at the wall. Trim to fit the end piece with each course and be sure to stagger your joints so that no two pieces end at the same point. Leave a 1/4" of space at each end where the flooring meets the wall to allow for expansion and contraction.

5) Trim the poly (if you have laid down a moisture barrier).

6) Reapply the baseboard, if applicable, and run a small shoe molding around the edges of the floor.