Installing Laminate Flooring - Preparation is the key

Installing Laminate Flooring - Preparation is the key
By Richard Keech

Installing laminate flooring is a job that any keen DIY enthusiast can complete to a satisfactory standard, as long as a few simple guide lines are followed. Installing it yourself can be a very satisfying and rewarding experience, when standing back and viewing the completed floor. Laying the main laminate flooring planks is the obvious part of the job which everyone can immediately see, but it is all the smaller detailed items that turn a good floor into a great floor.

Find a room that has been installed with laminate flooring and cast your eye around the floor. For a professional looking job you need to see attention to detail :

• Are the trims around the edges neatly installed, and are the joints nice and tight ?
• Is there a correct transition bar in the doorway ?
• Is the laminate flooring neatly cut around any pipes to radiators, leaving the correct expansion gap, and then covered with a pipe collar ?

Installing laminate flooring correctly is of the utmost importance if you wish to have a long lasting floor, and a warranty that is valid. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for the laminate flooring that you have brought as failure to do so could invalidate any warranty.

One of the most important things when laying laminate flooring is to have the correct tools for the job. Trying to complete a job that will be seen by countless people without the correct tools will just lead to disaster.

The tools required for installing laminate flooring are :

• Hammer
• Craft knife or "Stanley" knife
• Tape measure
• T-Square
• Pencil
• Handsaw or fine toothed jigsaw / power saw
• Drill and selection of drill bits for cutting around heating pipes, etc.
• Manufacturer's installation kit, including: hammer block, spacers, and pull bar
• Mitre block for cutting trims etc.
• Sealant gun for applying adhesive's or sealant to trims, etc.
• Screwdrivers, masonry drill bits, for fixing down transition bars.

Much like most area's of work, preparation is the key, and laying laminate flooring is no exception. All laminate flooring needs to acclimatize in the area where it is going to be installed for at least 48 hours, otherwise it will expand or contract after installation and the floor will end up looking a mess. Place the unopened packs of laminate flooring into the middle of the room and leave for a minimum of 2 days.

The base floor must be clean and flat before installing the laminate on it. Remove any previous floor coverings and make good any dips or bumps in a way that is applicable to the type of base floor that you have. If you intend to install laminate flooring over a concrete floor then it is extremely important that the concrete is sufficiently dry, as any moisture that dries out once the laminate flooring is laid, will cause the flooring to twist and buckle.

By taking your time and being methodical in your preparations, you should be able to install a laminate floor that has that professional look.

Take a step back and admire your workmanship.

Richard Keech is an expert author with 20 years+ experience in the construction industry, who writes for the Laminate Flooring Guide.

For further information on laminate flooring, and installing laminate flooring please visit : The Laminate Flooring Guide.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Keech

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