Laminate Floor Installation Instructions

The type of laminate floor will decide the installation procedure of the flooring. There are two types of laminate flooring viz. glued laminate flooring and glue-less laminate flooring. Glue is applied to the underside of the laminate flooring during the manufacturing process. The glue-less laminate flooring is locked with a snap and lock system. The type of sub-floor over which the laminate flooring is to be installed must be checked for with the manufacturer of the laminate flooring.

Common Instructions for Laminate Floor Installation

The first two instructions that are common for both glued and glue-less laminate flooring are as follows:

Prepare the Floor
The foremost step for installing the laminate flooring is to remove the existing carpet and clean the floor. The floor must be clean and dry before installing the laminate flooring. The laminate flooring is to be glued or locked together over the floor. The sub-floor must be leveled flat before you install the laminate floor. Also, you need to check with the local government codes for the floor installation.

Decide the Direction of Laminate Planks
The laminate flooring is installed in a direction that is parallel to the incoming source of sunlight in the room. In rooms which are narrow, the laminate floor must be parallel to the longest wall. Initially, the moisture tests that are recommended by the manufacturer must be performed. For some types of sub-flooring, add the plastic, foam or cork sheets before installing the laminate floor.

Glue-less Laminate Flooring

These instructions are for the laminate flooring which has a snap and lock system. This type of flooring is also known as floating laminate flooring.

Step 1
The first row of the laminate floor should be carefully installed. First row must be started from the longest wall of the room. Measure the length of the longest wall and mark it with a chalk.
Step 2
The first row of the laminate flooring is laid with the grooves on the laminate facing to the wall. You can refer to the tips on laying laminate flooring to do this. After laying the laminate floors, do not lock them instantly. First, make it sure that the first row is straight and add spacers between the wall and the flooring. Once the laminate flooring is placed properly, lock the laminate planks to each other. The laminate flooring must be laid in a uniform level.
Step 3
Then install the remaining rows as you have installed the first one. This time you will not have to align the laminate planks as they will come in reference with the first row.
Step 4
The last row of the laminate flooring is laid with the tongue (part that is cut) of the floor facing to the wall so that the extra flooring can be cut.

The glue-less laminate flooring is one of the easy ways to install laminate flooring.

Glued Laminate Flooring

There are two types of the glued laminate flooring viz. pre-glued laminate and glued laminate flooring. For the pre-glued laminate flooring, you have to apply the water on the underside of the laminate flooring to activate the glue on the flooring.

Step 1
The first row of the glued laminate is laid along the longest wall of the floor. Do not glue them immediately. First check whether the flooring is in a straight line or not and add spacers between the wall and the flooring.
Step 2
Now that you are satisfied with the first line, activate the glue by applying water to the underside of the floor. Paste the floor laminate properly and wipe the excess glue on the laminate floor.
Step 3
Start with the main flooring by taking the reference of the first row that is installed. The adhesive is activated with water and the flooring is positioned on the sub-floor. Wherever spacers are needed, they are added between the flooring and the walls of the room.
Step 4
The last row of the laminate floor is installed with the tongue of the laminate plank, facing the walls. The last row must be installed with due care in order to install it in a straight line.

The laminate floor must be covered with a silicone sealant to protect the laminate flooring. This coating is usually applied to the places where the flooring is prone to moisture.