Since its invention in 1977, laminate flooring has taken the world by storm. It is attractive, stylish, practical and very hard wearing. The latest products are suitable for use in kitchens and bathrooms, where they may get wet, so there isn’t a room in the house where you can’t use laminate flooring.
Here is a guide you can follow to put down a stunning laminate floor in your own home.
It is a project most people can have a go at and complete to a high standard with a basic toolkit. If you are not a fan of DIY, or simply don’t have the time, look on the internet for installers of carpets and flooring.
You will find many reputable companies waiting for your custom.
Tools
Here are the tools you will need to complete the project.
- Hammer
- General Purpose Saw
- Coping Saw
- Wood Chisel
Prepare the Room
The first task is to remove all of the furniture from the room. Hopefully, you will be able to bring it all back in at the end of the day.
Lift and discard any gripper rods that were securing the carpet.
Using a hammer and chisel, remove the skirting board and architraves. Sometimes the skirting board comes away easily by splitting it lengthways with the chisel. Don’t worry about damaging it because you will need to replace it with new boards afterwards. Try your best not to damage the walls though, especially if you don’t use wallpaper.
Underlay
Use a layer of thermal insulation to keep the floor warm, and to limit noise when people walk on it. The insulation comes on a roll, so it is easy to put down. Make sure it touches the walls on each side with no gaps.
Flooring
Start in one corner of the room by placing the first board down. Click the second board onto the end of it, and the next until you get to the end of the first row where you must cut the last board. Use the off cut of that board to start the next row.
The second row is a little different to put down. Click the boards onto the first row and tap the ends of them until they slot into the preceding board. When you have mastered that part, which doesn’t take long, the floor will go down very quickly.
Sometimes you may need to cut a piece to fit around an obstacle such as a pipe. Use a coping saw to make the required cut. Sometimes they can be very intricate.
Woodwork
When the floor is down, you must fit new woodwork around the edges and the doors. New adhesives make that job much easier than it used to be. Cut the joints as accurately as you can for the corners, but if they are not perfect don’t worry.
Use wood filler to fill any gaps. Decorators caulking must be used to fill the gap between the wood and the wall. You squeeze it out of the tube, along the join, and smooth it off afterwards with your finger. Next, paint the new timber to finish the job.
As you can see, putting down laminate flooring isn’t rocket science. It is hard on your knees however, so get some good pads before you start work.
Take a look at the video below to see the process in action.
Video: How to lay laminate flooring
Source: Wickes
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