subject: Professional Laminate Floor Installation Is Definitely Faster [print this page] Professional Laminate Floor Installation Is Definitely Faster
After weeks of searching from one store to the next, you have decided on the particular laminate floor you want. Will you be installing the laminate flooring yourself or will you have a professional do it?
If you are going to install the flooring, you need to purchase a rubber mallet, a laminate flooring pull bar, tape measure, coping saw, utility knife, hammer, nails, and of course the laminate flooring.
If you have any type of flooring in the room that you are going to be installing the laminate flooring, it will all need to be removed. Make sure that you sweep and vacuum the floor and remove all of the debris. If there are any squeaks in the floor, install a 1 " screw into the floor joist next to the squeak. Any dips in the floor will need to be filled in and made level.
Remove all of the mop boards and door jams, while trying to keep them in one piece so that they can be reused. These will need to be put into another room, so that there are no obstacles in the way when you start to lay the floor.
Lay the moisture barrier out on the floor, this will keep moisture away from your laminate floor and prevent warping and bowing. Now you can lay out the laminate flooring; while leaving 1/4" clearance from all walls.
Installation will now begin by using spacers to leave the " between the wall and the first row of laminate that you are going to install. You will need to tack the first row of laminate every 10" or so. As you start the 2nd row you will need to use the mallet and pull bar to get the board's snuggly together. Tacking will need to be done at every other floor joist, and about every 10" or so.
When you need to go through a door way, use a saw and utility knife to trim the laminate to fit. Some of the fittings may need to be sanded to fit. You can then adjust the planks so that they slide together. You can always use a minute amount of wood glue to hold the planks together.
Keep tacking the planks every 10" or so and at every other floor joist, till you get to the last row. A template will need to be made for last row of laminate flooring that needs to be installed. Remember to leave the " space between the wall and laminate flooring. A separate template may be needed if there are any kinks, wiring, etc. in the area of the last row.
Wow! You have the last row in, and now all that is left is to install the door jams and mop boards. Take a look at the magnificent job you have done. It is magnificent!
Now you can get the floor molding installed. Take a close look at it and make sure that it complements the new laminate flooring you just put down. Now would be the time to install new molding if you are thinking about it.
If the installation of the laminate flooring had been installed by a professional, this would all have been done by the crew. They would be the ones with the back ache, knees that hurt, and arms that feel like they have been overworked and suffering from muscle exhaustion. This could all have been done by them in a couple of days, and they would have taken all the old flooring, debris and waste away to be disposed of.
