How to Install Laminate Flooring

Today, laminate flooring has gained immense popularity over all other types of flooring. A great advantage is that it doesn't require much maintenance and has a better durability. Laminate flooring is water and stain resistant and is very easy to clean. Attractive floors can also go a long way in enhancing your home decor. It resembles a natural wood or stone, thus providing a classic touch to your room. Looking at the advantages, I am sure you can't wait to install one in your house. So without wasting any time, let's start on how to install laminate flooring.

Proper Installation Instructions

Laminate flooring are available in various colors and styles. You can choose the type of flooring which is best suited for your floor.

Step 1 - Preparing the Floor
Firstly make sure the floor is clean and free from dirt and debris. If there is an existing carpet, you need to remove it. The flooring is to be locked together over the floor. The thickness is very less, so any underlying ridges or holes that can be clearly seen, will destroy the look of your flooring. So if there is any depression on the floor surface, necessary steps should be taken to level them. Uneven areas will cause a crack in the flooring. So depressions in the concrete floor can be leveled by a layer of thin mortar. In case of plywood floor, you can replace the damaged portion with a new plywood. After doing the leveling work on the floor, make sure the floor is completely dry before you begin.

Step 2 - Direction of Planks
Many people are confused with the direction or location from where they should start the flooring process. Remember to place the flooring in a direction which is parallel to the incoming source of sunlight in the room. In case of narrow rooms, make sure the laminate floor is parallel to the wall which is longest.

Step 3 - Underlying Pad
The planks cannot be laid directly onto any floor. Underlying pad is necessary for correct fitting and long durability. It also acts like a cushion and makes the floor comfortable to sit and stand on. There are many underlying pads available in the market, but choose the one which is thick. Usually gypsum based underlayment pad is more preferred due to its high durability and moisture resistant property. The underlying pads are receptive to expansion and contraction, due to extreme weather conditions. So to avoid distortion, it's always better to keep appropriate gap of about half an inch between edges of the pads and the walls of the room.

Step 4 - Around Pipe Area
The simple way to install is by making a hole on the laminate plank, which should be half inch larger than the circumference of the pipe. After this, cut the laminate plank containing the hole into two parts and place it around the pipe. Paste the two pieces up with a good quality adhesive. To make installing process easier, take accurate measurements of the walls. The task becomes difficult if the gaps under the door frames is very less. In such cases, trimming the door frames according o the thickness of planks is a good option.

Step 5 - The Laminate Planks
To lay the first row, start from the longest wall of the room. First measure the length of the longest wall and mark it. The first row of the laminate floor should be carefully installed from the longest wall. While laying the planks, use spacers to keep an expansion gap between the edges and the wall. As the planks have an inter-locking mechanism, there will not be any gap left in between the two planks. When the top edge of one plank touches the next one, turn it downwards, so that it fits correctly into the slot. Make sure that the first row is straight and its on a uniform level. In this way, continue till the final plank. The last row should be laid with the cut-part facing the wall, so that the extra flooring which is cut is not visible. During the process, if you are in any way confused, you can refer to the instructions manual or you can take the help of a professional.

Take your time when installing laminate flooring, as it should not be done in a haste. With these steps, you can easily carry out the task and get the floors ready.