Are You Interested to Install Your Laminate Flooring in The DIY Way?

If you are interested to install laminate flooring on your own then you will not find it too difficult to do. Rather you will think after installing yourself, why people pay professional installers for doing this job.

Unlike ceramic tile, the installation of laminate flooring will be a dry installation where you need not grout, also no mortar or adhesives will be needed. Also, unlike solid hardwood type of flooring, you need not nail it down. The laminate flooring is simply snapping together all the laminates in its place.

For installing laminate flooring professionally in the DIY way, you will need to use the following few tools:

  • Broom
  • Chalk box
  • Hammer
  • Jig Saw
  • Oscillating Saw
  • Painter’s Tape
  • Pencil
  • Protection for eye and ear
  • Pull Bar
  • Rubber mallet (optional)
  • Sealant
  • Speed square
  • Straightedge (6 ft)
  • Table saw (optional)
  • Tape Measure
  • Tapping Block
  • Utility Knife
  • Wall Spacers (3/8″)
  • Wood Chisel   

The following are the list of materials needed:

  • Laminate flooring
  • Scrap wood spacers
  • Underlayment and tape

You can either prefer to buy all these tools or get them on rent. Usually, most of the tools that are listed above must be available in your toolbox and you may need them more often for many other purposes too. However, if you feel that all tools will not be of your use then you can get them on rent too.

How to install?

1.     Remove the baseboards

To start with, remove the entire baseboards and trim them around the room’s perimeter. Thoroughly clean the entire floor.

2.     Prepare the subfloor

Usually, a foam sheet underlayment will be needed as a base before installing the laminate planks.

3.     Test your flooring layout

Instead of measuring the floor, you can just lay the laminates to test how you will lay them out.

4.     Install the underlayment

Roll out the underlayment sheets and butt the edges so they should be touching and not overlapping. Now, secure the seams by using tape, as per the instructions of the manufacturer.

5.     Start the first planks row

Now start laying only the first row on your longest wall, with the plank’s trimmed edges against the wall. You must start on your right side and do the work on your left.

6.     Finish your first row

Keep doing your first row, and your last plank may be a little longer. Now measure the length required and cut as per the measurement. Take into account any expansion gap at your wall.

7.     Plan for the next rows

You may continue moving from your right to left, and the last piece of each row will have to be cut and then begin with your next row. The cut-off pieces may also be reused at some corner.

8.     Continue to lay more rows

Keep going in the same manner for subsequent rows too.

9.     Install your last row

In most cases, for the last row, you will have to rip the last row to finish your room’s flooring installation.

You may like to find out more information before you do it in the DIY way. Therefore, you must take part in this work in your friend’s house or see how professionals install them.

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