General Overview
Laminate flooring is a great alternative to wooden flooring. Besides looking like wood, termites are not attracted laminate, and they are very easier to install. The easiest type of laminate floor to install is the type that locks in place. There are a number of benefits associated with the laminate flooring like the some mentioned below:
- Simple To Maintain: It is easy to clean the laminate floor than carpeting and which in turn means it eliminates the need to hire professional cleaners. The user can simply sweep, dust, or vacuum the floor regularly.
- Quick And Easy Installation: One of the major benefit is the ease of installation. Depending on the condition of the existing flooring and whether or not the subfloor is level and secure, sometimes the user can install laminate on the top of the vinyl, tile or even hardwood floors as well.
- Affordable: The laminate flooring is also affordable that is totally opposed to hardwood, the laminate flooring is a more affordable option as far as the installation charges are concerned. The laminate flooring is a great choice for the users that keep an eye on the budget.
Easy Steps For Beginners To Install Laminate Flooring
If you want to install laminate flooring at your place and you are a beginner, don't know how to do it, then we are here to help you out. The easy steps for installing the laminate flooring, if you are a beginner, are mentioned below. By going through these steps the beginners will be easily able to install the laminate flooring:
- Acclimate: The first step is to let the boards acclimate, which leave the laminate flooring box's open for at least 48 hours before installing in the room. This process will help to minimize shrinkage or expansion of the flooring.
- Cleaning: Now the user need to clean off the surface area of the floor. Simply sweep the floor or use any other method but the important point is to make sure that the floor is completely dry.
- Moisture Barrier: Simply lay out a moisture barrier like the plastic lining on the floor where the flooring is to be installed. Tape down the plastic lining together with the help of moisture resistant adhesive tape. It is advisable to avoid overlapping of plastic lining because it may cause the floor to rise.
- Place The First Board: Start installation from the top left corner, keep the finished side up and the ridge side facing the wall. The good idea is to lay down the boards in a way that they are parallel to the longest wall in the installation room.
- Place Spacers: Here the user needs to place a Wedge spacer between the end to the edge of the board and the wall. The user can buy spacers or make the one themselves.
- Second Board: Simply place the next board the same way as the first board. For the best results, the user needs to make the entire first row parallel to the longest wall in the area or room.
- Second Row: For the second row shorten the first piece of the flooring, so all the joints in this row will be offset or staggered in relationship to the first installed row. For the taping Use a wooden block to tap the next row of boards in the first one.
- Continue: Continue the process until all the rows are completed, but the important point to remember is to make sure that there are no gaps between the boards.
- Finish The Floor: Atlast the user can finish the floor by placing baseboards, thresholds, or other finishing touches like staining the floor. In case of the Scuffs or holes use the special crayons available at local hardware stores.