Floor Preparation For Laying Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring is a great choice for homeowners who want the look of real hardwood at more affordable costs.

Floor preparation for laying laminate flooring.

Laminate flooring isn t limited to looking like a variety of wood. Add about 10 to that number to account for any possible mistakes and warped boards. Without the proper subfloor preparation you risk damaging your new laminate flooring. The key to this ability is the decorative layer also known as the pattern layer of the laminate flooring.

Before you install your plywood subfloor first calculate the room s square footage to find out how much flooring you ll need to buy. Knowing which direction the floor is going to lay will determine where you will start your floor preparation. To lay laminate flooring first clear out any furniture in the room you ll be laying the floor in. What i usually tell my customers is it looks better to run it the long way which is the longest stretch of room.

Most diyers can complete laminate floor installation in one day. It can mimic other flooring including ceramic tile brick and even slate. Like traditional wood laminate flooring is available in a variety of colors to complement virtually all design styles. Next cut strips of underlayment to size and lay the strips down across the exposed floor.

In fact laminate flooring can be installed in almost every room in your home including kitchens since it doesn t have to be glued down and doesn t involve grout or mortar. Planks can be cut with a hand saw circular saw or flooring cutter and most laminate flooring comes in planks that simply snap together with a tongue. And before the flooring goes down you ll need to lay underlay as this will make the flooring easier to fit help it to last longer and will improve sound and heat. Multiply length times width of the room.

Determine how much flooring and materials will be needed. Basically that layer is a photograph. The sub floor beneath should be smooth dry and level. Do this by multiplying the room s length by its width.

Preparation is the secret to laying a laminate real wood top layer or solid wood floor that s durable and looks great. Like the removal of existing floor or subfloor preparation. If you have a vinyl floor you may be able to install your flooring directly on top of it. To avoid creating more difficulty for yourself during your laminate flooring installation you need to ensure your subfloor is up to the task of supporting your laminate flooring for the long haul.

The key to a beautiful long lasting hardwood or laminate floor is a well prepared subfloor. Remove any carpet or other flooring. The floor can go either way front to back or side to side. Measure and cut 1 4 inch or thicker plywood with a circular saw to fit the entire floor of the room where you are installing vinyl flooring.