How to lay laminate flooring
Wednesday, 16 March 2011 7:23 PM
Laminate flooring can be an attractive choice of floor to have throughout your home. And with a wide range of designs and styles available, including tile effect laminate flooring, once you have selected a particular product, you will of course have to go about the process of installing it.
While you always have the option of hiring a professional tradesman to carry out such work on your behalf, laying laminate flooring by yourself is an achievable task.
And doing so can mean that you not only save time - as you do not have to wait for an installer to arrive at your home, you can put them in at a time that suits you - but could also be a much cheaper option. You will also get the satisfaction that you have fitted your own laminate flooring all by yourself.
The technique behind how to lay laminate flooring will vary depending on the particular product you have selected. Be sure to check the instructions that came with your purchase and read them carefully before starting work, as this should provide you with a clear indication of how to put the floor together.
Before you begin putting your new floorboards in place, take the time to inspect your planks to ensure they are in good condition and check that the surface they will be placed on top of is clean, dry and has no major structural issues. After all, there is little point in laying a laminate floor that contains defects or is to be laid on an uneven surface.
Many laminate floors harness the click-system method of installation, where the tongue of one board is fitted into the groove of another, in much the same way as a jigsaw.
However, you will find some require the use of glue so if this is the case make sure that a sufficient amount is used so that the laminate floor will stick together. Other tools you are likely to need include a drill, handsaw, knocking block, spacer wedges, hammer and measuring tape.
The fact laminate flooring is made from wood means that you will need to take into account that the product will experience natural expansion and contraction - due to changes in humidity and temperature levels. As such, leaving a small gap between the edge of the room and the laminate to allow for this is recommended.
Provided you have followed such guidance, as well as the manufacturer's instructions, you should find that you have installed a high-quality laminate floor built to last for a very long time.
