Laminate wood flooring is a great option that will transform your home into a warm and inviting space. It’s popular because it’s inexpensive, easy to install, and attractive. Plus, it’s extremely durable and can last over 20 years with little care needed. But like any product worth investing in, there are some pretty important factors to consider before even considering installing this flooring for your home.
This guide provides essential information as well as a step-by-step guide on how to install laminate wood flooring at home with no fuss.
Is Laminate Wood Flooring Convenient?
Laminate wood flooring is very convenient because it can be installed in just a few days with little to no experience required. This makes it the perfect option for DIYers who are on a budget and want to save money.
However, you may have some problems finding this type of flooring in your local DIY store. The better option is to order laminate wood flooring from an online retailer like Home Depot or Lowe’s that will provide you with the exact amount of product that you need while allowing you to purchase just one box at a time and send it back when you are done without having to pay return shipping fees or restocking fees when your project is complete.
There are many benefits to investing in laminate wood flooring. It’s affordable, sustainable, and it conveniently comes in many color choices. However, it does have its downsides. Laminate flooring is easily scratched and dented, so you might want to avoid high-traffic areas of your home where kids and pets play. Also, the color can fade over time due to sunlight exposure. Anyway, laminate flooring is still the most popular material most householders use.
How To Install Laminate Wood Flooring: 8 Easy Steps
Installing laminate wood flooring can be a challenging task for many people. But if you will follow these proven steps, you’ll do all the job with no fuss.
Remove The Baseboards
It’s important to remove the baseboards from your floor before you begin installing laminate wood flooring. This will make it easier to work with the material. But first, if you don’t have a utility knife handy, you can use a hand saw. If you do have a utility knife, make sure you carefully cut the softwood material. It should be easy to cut in because it’s broken down into tiny pieces and loosened up by the saw blade.
You can use a spade shovel or putty knife to scoop out and remove any damaged wood that may remain stuck in between baseboard slats, causing exposed nails or screws from sticking out and damaging your laminate-wood flooring.
Clean The Subfloor
Laminate wood flooring is a thin product that will go down over the top of your existing floor. If you can’t remove the whole floor, create space for more laminate-wood flooring by cleaning and scraping the old floor material.
Once the underlying subfloor is clean and free from any loose debris, it will be easier to start laying down the first few rows of your laminate-wood-flooring. And you’ll have a smooth surface to lay them on without any bumps or inconsistencies.
Install The Underlayment Or Vapor Barrier
It’s not always necessary but often recommended with laminate-wood-flooring to install an underlayment or vapor barrier before laying down your product over your subflooring. This will protect your laminate-wood-flooring from getting dirty and wet, which can ultimately lead to warping.
Trace And Cut
With a chalk line, mark out the first row. Then take your level and check it before starting this process. It’s necessary to ensure that you’re starting with a level floor. Trim the laminate-wood-flooring to size using a utility knife and then place it on the floor you just prepared. Don’t forget to face the tongues of each plank towards the adjoining plank so you can easily click them together for an excellent seal.
Assemble First Row
If you laid down your underlayment or vapor barrier, then you’re ready to start laying laminate-wood-flooring. Start by clicking and locking the planks together. Continue in a steady, slow, and unrushed manner to avoid any problems with the product later on. When you reach the end of the row, stop and check your work by pulling up on one of the planks to ensure it’s secure before moving on to the next plank.
Plan And Lay More Rows
Once all of your first rows has been laid down, you can start planning your second layer or new row alongside it. Measure and cut the planks to size so they will fit into place neatly. Attach the planks just like you did for the first row, so there is a clear, strong, and secure connection between them. Continue this process until you reach the end of the second and other rows.
Install The Last Row
Now that all of your rows have been laid down, check to make sure you’ve got enough material left over to complete one final row on top of all your previous rows. Cut up any extra material to a size that will be easy for you to handle, and then lay it down in each plank in your last row as you click them together.
Apply Sealant
Once you’ve got everything laid out nice and neat, you’re ready to apply a finish to give your floor that professional look and feel. Most of the time, it’s recommended to use an oil-based polyurethane sealant for this process. You should apply the sealant on the edges.