Laminate flooring may be installed quickly and easily and solve many flooring issues. The following factors lend support to this view:
Advantages include: *Great, contemporary, clean appearance *Ease of installation *Quick setup time *Cleanliness
Laminate flooring is not without its drawbacks, and these should be taken into account before committing to this material. Here are some drawbacks:
Marks quickly absorb moisture if improperly sealed and warp if not appropriately placed, making wood a poor choice for high-traffic areas.
HAVING TO MAKE A CHOICE
The flatness of the subfloor is a significant factor to consider when deciding if laminate flooring is right for you, as laminate flooring will conform to the slope of the subfloor if installed on an uneven surface. Consider how often and for what purposes the space will be used in the home. In a high-traffic location, low-priced laminate might not be the best option. The higher the quality, the longer it will last when put through its paces in the shop.
Can the baseboards and skirting in that room be taken out with minimal effort? Laminate flooring relies on the area under baseboards for expansion and shrinkage, which is usual in floors of this sort. Thus, it’s best to install it without the baseboards. Adding rugs on top of laminate flooring may make a space feel cozier, and it’s a good idea to start looking at complementary designs at this point to get an idea of the cost.
Consider the cost of underlay if needed; this is an often-overlooked expense that will significantly inflate the final bill for the project.
INSTALLATION
The first step in the installation process is to prepare the room, which is easy.
The space must be cleared of all existing furniture, baseboards, and skirting before installing a new floor.
The following items are required for the installation process:
*Strong and sturdy shears.
A jet saw, tape (ask the dealership which tape works best with the underlay), a small hammer, a small piece of wood, and some tape.
IMPORTANT
Laminate flooring should be acclimatized to room temperature for at least 24 hours before being laid down, so be sure to open all boxes the day before installation. The temperature at which the planks have been stored will differ from the ambient temperature of the space where they are to be laid, which is often overlooked by those laying this flooring. If this procedure isn’t followed, the floor’s flatness could be affected by contraction or shrinkage.
SECOND CROSS
Putting down the underlay is the first step. Taping the seams with the correct tape is an excellent idea when they appear, but otherwise, this is a pretty straightforward job. This can be taped around the room’s perimeter for added security and to keep the underlay in place during installation. Even though you should cover the entire floor, you can use scissors to trim to the correct widths and fit into corners. This improves thermal and acoustic insulation.
LAYING DOWN THE FLOORING
Before laying the floor, decide which way you want the boards to run, and then work your way across the room. Doors leading into the room may need to be removed if they do not swing freely. This is simpler than juggling two tasks simultaneously and can be done when the floor is done.
Using a whole length of laminate flooring, start at one corner and work across the room. Begin laying the row with half lengths on the second and alternating rows. This prevents the flooring’s structural integrity from being compromised by gluing together the planks’ tiny joints. If the boards’ ends are tongue and grooved click joints, the cut end must face the wall; nevertheless, the other half of the plank can be utilized on the opposite side of the room if the same precaution is taken.
Make sure each fresh row of flooring is pushed in as far as it should be, and if it requires a helping hand, protect the flooring by holding a wooden block over the area you want to hammer. If you want to avoid scratching the laminate’s surface, gentle tapping is the way to go.
FREE AIR TO INHALE
Such flooring requires enough ventilation. To do this, space is left around the perimeter of the flooring so that the skirting or baseboard can cover up the gap. Your floor will stay flat and be less likely to warp if you do this.
FADE TO WHITE
Boards can be cut efficiently with a jet saw; marking a straight line to the necessary measurement will aid in keeping your cutting precise and orderly. Cutting on the side of the line drawn away from the necessary flooring is essential, so keep that in mind when measuring. You can make more precise cuts using this.
DOORWAYS
To avoid producing a trip in which this floor is ever-so-slightly higher than those in neighboring rooms, a finish is necessary when this flooring is used in entrances. Installing edging strips with a gentle slope or rounded end can solve this problem elegantly. If you want your floor to look professionally finished, ask your dealer about available options.
Experiencing NO BASEBOARD REPAIRS WHILE WORKING IN THESE AREAS
While baseboard is typically installed everywhere, there may be an exception somewhere. As an illustration, consider the edge of a fireplace or other focal point. Here, you should lay the boards as neatly as possible and consult the dealer about adding edgings to make the job look more finished. If the space is small enough, mastics can fill it quickly, allowing the floor to expand and compress without cracking. These little spots won’t affect the floor’s ability to contract or expand much, but finishing them off is still great if you’ve placed them correctly with breathing space all around the room.
FINISH
While many laminated boards are prefinished, it is essential to ask your dealer about various finishes to seal the floors if you want to install them in a damp environment, such as a utility room, bathroom, toilet, or kitchen. When squeezing the planking together, some glue to seal the seams may be helpful if this is indeed a high-traffic location. If you ask your car dealership, they should be able to recommend a suitable adhesive.
If your mudroom or bathroom doesn’t have baseboards or skirting, you can seal the exposed wall with a specific mastic.
Laminate flooring comes in various colors and textures, so you must consider what would look best in your home before making any purchases. Because it is difficult to determine without seeing it in the space you intend to lay the floor, it is recommended that you bring home brochures with sample colors to see how they look in your home environment.
Remember that cheaper laminate may have problematic sections, which is why it is so inexpensive. With its quick installation and ability to transform the look and feel of a space, laminate flooring is a wise investment. You can establish a level of tidiness that could be difficult to achieve once the baseboards are installed, so now is an excellent time to remove them and varnish or paint them before putting them back in place. You can extend the life of your floor and make it easier to clean by preventing high-traffic areas from damage and general wear and tear.
Read also: How you can Remove Pet Stains on Carpet and Upholstery.
