If you decide to DIY, follow the below instructions:

– Prepare everything before start to install

Step 1:  Make sure you have all required tools:

•  Safety glasses
•  Gloves
•  Penci
•  Underlayment
•  Finishing putty
• Wood glue(silicone sealant)
• Tape measure
• Felt furniture pads
• Dust mask
• Coordinating moldings
• Vapor barrier (for installation over concrete floors)
• Circular and oscillating saw
• Tapping block&5mm spacer
•  Level
• Moisture meter
• Knee pads
• Utility knife
• Hammer

Click here to buy each of these tools!

Step 2: Read the Instructions

Before starting to work, read the instructions that the manufacturer prepares. At least 48 hours before installation, put the unopened boxes of laminate planks in the room where you want to install them. Let them acclimate to the temperature and humidity.

Step3: Prepare the area

Before beginning, ensure that your subfloor is ready to install. The base floor should be solid, clean, level, and smooth.

Step4: Make sure your subfloor is level

Actually, each smooth surface that you see is consist of four different layers:

1)      Joist

2)      Subfloor

3)      Underlayment

4)      Floor covering

The starting point ensures that underlying joists are relatively flat and level. Use a level to check the level of your subfloor. Watch how to level a floor.

Step5: Prepare the door jambs

Take a section of underlayment and a piece of laminate and lay it finished side down next to the door frame to undercut the door frame and get the cut’s height. Trace a guideline along the surface of the frame with a pencil. Now cut along your guideline with an oscillating saw.

Step6: Underlayment Installation

Flooring manufacturers usually recommend putting down underlayment or vapor barrier before laying laminate flooring. Some types of underlayment are designed to serve as a moisture barrier. Some flooring comes with a pre-installed underlayment on the planks, so check it according to the manufacturer’s instructions for the product you’re using.

Step7: Put spacer around the perimeter of the wall

To provide an expansion gap, with:

1. Put laminate floor spacers around the perimeter of the wall.
2. Use a plank as a guide to ensure the spacers are close enough to provide the correct gap around the perimeter of the room.
3. Tape the spacers to the baseboards to prevent them from moving around during installation.
4. Check your manufacturer’s instructions on what size spacers to use. (How to Install Laminate Flooring https://www.homedepot.com/ c/ah/how-to-install-laminate-flooring/9ba683603be9fa5395fab903249c06a)

Step8: Measure the square footage of the room

you need to know the amount of flooring you will require, so it is necessary to measure the room’s width by the length, then add 10% more to account for any waste or mistakes. Floor Calculator also can help you to estimate needed laminate per square footage.

– Installation

• Install flooring parallel to the longest wall in the room. Trim off the tongues (not the grooves) from the boards that will edge the first wall. Usually, you can easily use a sharp utility knife or circular saw, or even table saw. It would be the best if you lay down the first row and continue your desired template. Please Blend planks from various boxes to ensure a mixture of shades and colors.
• When you reach your desirable layout, cut the tongue off the long side of the pieces. If you require to fit a piece in the corner against the spacer, cut the tongue off the piece’s short side. While cutting, don’t forget safety glasses and a dust mask.
• You should Layout the second row, before finishing the first-row tongue-side toward the wall again.

Don’t forget the required offset (6 inches) to avoid H joint. Now cut the planks to length as you need. Keep the trimmed section as they are usable to start other rows.

• Use an alternating pattern by staggering the planks in a double row at the same time.
• When installing the planks, use an alternating pattern by staggering the planks, going two rows at a time.

•  Similarly, join the short end first for the next two planks. To close the gap on the long side, lift the outside of the plank’s edge about an inch, and push in firmly until the edges meet. Then rotate down to lock. You could place a whole box of planks or any heavy box across the end of the row being installed to avoid any movement.
• Use a tapping block and hammer to gently tap along the long side to close the joint, considering 8 inches from the plank’s end. Move to the short side and, again, gently tap it so you don’t damage the flooring.

https://www.lowes.com/n/how-to/how-to-install-a-laminate-floor

It would help if you cut the pieces to fit for the last row. To measure the required width, subtract the expansion gap, and cut lengthwise. Be aware that some flooring products may have a small plastic tongue in the planks’ short side groove to help lock pieces together. Before Cutting be sure that you removed the plastic tongue.

• Insert the tongue into the long side, align the short side, then use a pull bar and hammer to lock the last row in place and tap the short side closed.
• Slide the plank at least 1/4 inch under the door frame while installing around a doorway and leave a concealed 3/8-inch expansion gap. Next, with your tapping block or pull bar, tap the long side closed first, then tap the short side closed.

– Finishing

• Remove all spacers from around the room.
• Fill the expansion gaps with a compressible PE 3/8-inch foam backer rod, for wall-to-wall waterproof protection.
• Apply a thin coating of 100% silicone sealant over the backer rod Make sure the silicone connects from the edge of the floor to the wall.

For tips on applying caulk and sealant watch  How Do I Use Caulk?

• Install any baseboards, trim, and shoe molding to the walls, and be sure not to drive any nails into your new floor.

If you need any help for installing a laminate floor just click on our webpage’s top right and schedule for a consultation!