How to Lay Laminate Flooring

Laminate is probably the simplest type of flooring Little Rock to install, and that’s because it doesn’t require the use of special adhesives like you’d use with ceramic tile or porcelain, and the laminate boards come ready to install, like giant puzzle pieces that you can just simply put together without the use of difficult cutting or binding tools.

In this article, we will try to make it even easier for you by providing a step-by-step guide on how to install laminate Little Rock flooring, including the few components you’ll need during the process.

Preparation

The first step you should take in preparing for the job is to ensure that you have all the necessary tools you’ll need, including:

– Thin underlayment rolls
– Laminate flooring
– A table saw
– A little hand saw
– T-square
– Tape measure
– Pencil

Additionally, you should get rid of the old flooring and clean the floor thoroughly in preparation for the installation, leaving behind only a smooth floor surface.

Lay Planks Our “Dry” First

Doing tedious mathematical measurements is not necessary when it comes to laminate flooring. All you need to do is lay a row of planks from one side of the room to the other to determine the number of rows needed. This needs to be done before the underlayment is put into place. Just be sure not to ‘snap’ the planks together, as that’ll actually lock them together permanently, making it very difficult for you to pull them apart.

Roll Out Underlayment

Once you’re satisfied with your initial measurements, you can now roll out the underlayment onto the floor to make the floor evener. The underlayment will also serve as a barrier against air drafts, cancel out walking noise, and make it easier to tread on the laminate flooring Little Rock arkansas once it’s installed.

Lay the First Row of Laminate Flooring

Use your table saw to cut the tongue off the boards that are facing the wall. Then, take the first plank and place it on the floor about ¼” from the wall. Once you’ve clicked the planks together in place, the floor will start taking shape.

Cut the Planks

Cutting laminate planks is fairly easy, and you don’t have to worry about getting them accurately straight either because the ends will ultimately get hidden. So, take your straight edge and pencil to mark the line where you’ll be making the cut, and then take your table saw to cut along the line. Just be sure not to cut along the tongue part of the planks because you’ll need those for later.

Lay Laminate Floor

If you find that the planks are too long once you’ve gotten to the end of the row, cut off the end piece so that it fits. Don’t throw away the remaining plank, because you’ll be using it to begin the first row of planks.

Arrange the Planks

Arrange the planks in a zigzag formation and avoid placing any two seams from the two different rows together as that will make the flooring Little Rock AR fundamentally unstable.

Tilt Planks at 45 Degree Angle

This will lock the planks into place.

Close Up Gaps

If you see any gaps between the planks, tilt them up in order to reinstall them tighter.

Butt Ends of Planks Tightly

Strike the ends of the planks with a rubber mallet to make sure that the ends are attached firmly together.

Lay the Last Row

You’ll most likely have to rip this final row in order to leave the required ¼” gap and then cut it as required before placing it down at an angle, making sure that’s locked firmly into place.