How To Articles


How To Install A Floating Laminate Floor

By: Walter Sanderson

Common Mistakes:

  1. Failure to purchase sufficient flooring for the job.
  2. Purchasing flooring over a period of time resulting in different batch numbers, this will cause the flooring to have an inconsistency in the color of the finish.
  3. Failure to allow flooring to adjust to that room's temperature for 72 hours or more prior to beginning the installation process.
  4. Failure to use a saw blade with minimum of 40 teeth (less splintering, cleaner cut).
  5. Failure to Pre-Plan Layout of Floor Pattern.
  6. Failure to know when to call a professional.

Special Note: Always pre-plan the layout pattern of your floor. This makes a big impact on how your floor will look when finished. Even more importantly, this will have a huge impact on how much flooring you will need to purchase. Certain patterns will require more cuts than others generating more leftover scraps. PLAN AHEAD!!!


Additional Note: The direction you choose to lay the floor will have an impact on if it makes the room look smaller or larger. I realize that it may be easier to lay the floor in a particular direction.  However, will that direction give you the best end result?


Materials Required:

Laminate Flooring
Foam Underlayment
Seam Tape
Expansion Shims/Spacers
Tools Required:

Table Saw
40 Tooth Carbide Blade
Tapping Block
Hammer
Rubber Mallet
Utility Knife
Razor Knife
Pull Bar/Flat Bar
Safety Glasses

Special Note: Engineered floors are known to be more resistant to moisture than solid wood.  This makes them ideal for basements or concrete surfaces.


Additional Note: Cut boards as you install the flooring.  This will help keep you from making mistakes and wasting materials. If you have custom cut situations, use a piece of cardboard to cut and fit into place.  Once it is the way you want it, use it as a template. (Personally, I use the bottom of the box the flooring came in.  This also allows me to make as many or different templates as I want to have on hand).


  1. Start in the corner along the longest wall in the room.  Begin by rolling out the foam underlayment and remember to tape the seams together, slightly overlap the foam underlayment.
  2. Start by placing the grooved edge of the boards facing the wall.
  3. When installing, place the tongue of one board at an angle into the groove of the other board. (Usually the same for the ENDS of the boards as well). Depending on the manufacturer, you may have to interlock the ends together creating a whole row prior to placing row into place.
  4. Once the tongue and groove of the boards have been interlocked, push down firmly to LOCK the pieces into place. Use spacers to provide room for expansion.
  5. Cut a board to finish the first row, and then use a full board to begin the next one. (This can change according to your floor plan layout pattern). You may need the cut board to start the next row so the seams do not line up in a row. Seams should be at least 20” apart from row to row for best results.
  6. Use the tongue-and-groove method on the long edge then gently tap it in until the ends have butted up together
  7. Upon completion of laying the floor, remove the expansion shims and start nailing shoe molding (or quarter round) to the wall.

Your new laminate floating floor is done and can be walked on NOW !





Author Bio:

This article was written by Walter Sanderson, founder of this website, STL Home Rehabbers.  He has more than 15 years experience in rehabbing and remodeling homes.  For more information about him, you can check out http://waltersanderson.stlhomerehabbers.com/.


Article Source:  http://www.stlhomerehabbers.com/



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