Installing laminate flooring this weekend. Any tips or things to avoid?
Question:I've watched it be installed several times, but you never really learn until you do it yourself, right?:) Share your lessons?
Answers:
Read the directions carefully and go to the manufacturer's website for more info. A few things that I've seen that are a must...
1) Make sure the subfloor is level. Any depressions over 1/4 deep should be filled with a concrete floor leveler.
2) Remember that laminate floors 'float' on the subfloor. Don't nail the edges (I thought this was "flooring 101" but I've seen more than one homeowner nailing around the edges of the room!!)
3) Leave a 1/4 in gap between the flooring and the wall for expansion. That gap will be covered by the base boards.
4) You may need to trim the bottom of the door moldings. A flexible pull saw does the trick easily, but if you don't have one, a hacksaw with a small handle does the trick too.
5) Inspect each joint as you put the flooring in and if ANY part of the edge of a piece is damaged - discard it (or cut off the damaged section for use on the next row). Finding a flaw and getting back to it after the fact is very difficult.
6) Care after installation -- DON"T use a vacuum with a spinning brush to clean. This can damage the surface. A broom or damp mop is all that is needed. We use the "swiffer" mop with just a little of their cleaning solution and it works great. These floors are not meant to stay wet. If they get wet, soak it up promptly. The bulk of the floors are generally waterproof, but the joints ARE NOT. Get water in the joints and the floor will swell and heave.
Good luck -- One more thought. Take the time to do it right. No need to rush though and be unhappy later.
Common sense to some people but not my brother in law. Use a tape measure and don't eyeball it. Remove (you'll probibly break them) your baseboards. Lay down the waterproofing sheets. don't strike the edges where the snap locks are. When laying long runs, use wood scraps cut to hold the long pieces up at an angle while you get them in the groove and slide them back accordingly to allow the whole piece to slide into place correctly the first time.
Hi my parents put some laminate flooring in and discovered a few years later that white ants/ termites had come up through the concrete in a couple of small cracks so make sure if the floor is concrete that you have it ant proofed. Also make sure its clean underneath otherwise little lumps will appear after a while. Lastly don't rush it, good preparation comes before a good job. All the best.
we bought one that had glue that you had to wet as you were appling it. please don't go there. we have installed many and this was the worst. we ended up taking it back after a big fight with the supplier.
Measure twice cut once. Have a rubber mallet and take your time. It fun and easy
Here is a personal experience with Armstrong's Laminate floors.
I would not have laminate floors installed in my home again. I am somewhat disappointed with the fit and finish after the new laminate floor has been in our kitchen only one year. We had the laminate floor professionally installed through Lowe's Hardware and we bought the best quality laminate floor available.
Should something a bit heavy, such as a medium sized olive jar, or a medium sized can of peaches, be dropped onto the laminate floor, chances are the laminate floor will chip. Then, you become involved in repairing the chip, or replacing the section of laminate flooring. Additionally, as the weather changes little buckled up areas can be seen where the sections of laminate floors meet.
I suppose it goes to expectations. My expectations were for the laminate flooring to look and wear like the hard wood floors of my youth. However, after our current experience, Laminate floors, to me, are a pale copy of genuine hardwood floors.
This is one of those experiences I have lived and leaned with. I am not planning on ever installing any more laminate floors in the kitchen of our home.. We will look for other alternatives in kitchen flooring.
Hope this was helpful to you. (D.W.) 05-25-07
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