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Contents
How high can I stack laminate flooring?
Your laminate flooring can be stacked, but lay it as flat as possible. The longer you can leave the laminate flooring the better, but a minimum of 48 – 72 hours is advised for best results.
How do you stack laminate?
Stacked or spread out? The best approach is to stack them crosswise, with each successive layer rotated 90° with respect to the last. This saves space, allows air to circulate better and prevents the boxes from tipping over.
How far can you run laminate?
Usually the limit for running continuous laminate is about 40′. If your room is longer or wider than 40′, a t-molding is usually required to break up the floor. Usually manufacturers recommend the use of a t-molding under doors to allow for an expansion joint between different rooms as well.
Will laminate floor swelling go down?
If your laminate flooring was glued down, the source of the swelling may not be caused by moisture. After gluing, the joints of the boards may swell slightly as they absorb the water in the glue. This is temporary and often resolves itself in three to four weeks.
How high can you stack boxes of vinyl plank flooring?
Product installed in homes with unregulated temperatures (summer or vacation homes, etc.) may experience gapping between planks or edge curling over time. Stack boxes flat, and no more than eight cartons high. Keep away from direct sunlight.
Does laminate flooring expand?
Expansion gaps are essential in all laminate floor installations. Temperature and humidity will change in all rooms. This result is the laminate flooring will expanding and contract as the temperature and humidity change. It’s the same with solid and engineered wood floors.
What happens if you don’t let laminate flooring acclimate?
While manufactures’ recommendations vary slightly, it is generally best to let the flooring acclimate for at least 48 hours before installation. Skipping this step can lead to warping and/or gaps in the finished installed product.
Is 24 hours long enough to acclimate laminate flooring?
Laminate flooring material needs to acclimate (adjust) to the moisture and temperature conditions of the installation environment for 24 to 72 hours (depending on the product) before it can be installed.
What is the best direction to lay laminate flooring?
The best direction to install laminate flooring is parallel to the room’s longest wall. The way you install it is determined by your own preferences. But there are as many solutions as there are floors in the world. You could go in a diagonal pattern if you wish.
Does laminate flooring need to be staggered?
Laminate flooring manufacturers often require their floors to be staggered anywhere between 6 to 12 inches, some manufacturers even want more.
What happens if your expansion gap is too big?
Failure to account for this may result in their pushing against each other as temperature and humidity levels rise, an incidence which may result in buckling laminate floors. (Conversely, falling temperatures, and humidity levels may result in your laminate floor planks separating.)
Should floating floors move when walking on them?
Making sure the subfloor is relatively flat minimizes vertical movement of the floor when people walk on it. Note, though, that with a floating floor you will always have a certain amount of movement, as it is installed over a pad. When you walk, the pad compresses and the floor will move.
How long does it take a professional to lay laminate flooring?
Expect the laminate flooring project to take at least two to four days from start to finish.
How long should laminate flooring sit before installing?
Never install your new laminate floor as soon as the cartons arrive at your home. Any new laminate floor product, including Swiss Krono, needs to sit in your house for at least 48 hours in the room it will be installed in order to acclimate or to become accustomed to a new climate or conditions.
Can You Stack Laminate Flooring to Acclimate? (Explained)
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- Summary of article content: Articles about Can You Stack Laminate Flooring to Acclimate? (Explained) You can stack the planks. But do not make it too high or more than 3 feet. Stack them lower for best results. …
- Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for Can You Stack Laminate Flooring to Acclimate? (Explained) You can stack the planks. But do not make it too high or more than 3 feet. Stack them lower for best results. If you love wooden floorings but cannot afford these expensive floorings, you can think of laminate floorings. Laminate floorings are cheap and require some
- Table of Contents:
Can you stack laminate flooring to acclimate
How high can you stack laminate flooring
How to stack laminate flooring to acclimate
How long do you have to let laminate flooring acclimate
What conditions are critical to correctly acclimate your laminate flooring
Is 24 hours long enough to acclimate laminate flooring
Does laminate flooring really need to acclimate
What happens if I don’t acclimate laminate flooring
Can you walk on laminate flooring after installation
Frequently Asked Questions
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How to Acclimate Laminate Flooring! – DIYist
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- Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for How to Acclimate Laminate Flooring! – DIYist Updating Acclimating your laminate flooring is one of those areas that first-time laminate DIYists sometimes believe to be unnecessary. It’s not!
- Table of Contents:
Why laminate flooring need’s to be acclimated
What happens if you don’t acclimate your laminate flooring
The process Acclimating laminate flooring
Acclimate your flooring in the conditions of a lived-in room
Transporting and Storing Laminate Flooring | KRONOTEX Laminate Flooring Guide
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Transporting and Storing Laminate Flooring | KRONOTEX Laminate Flooring Guide
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Transporting and Storing Laminate Flooring | KRONOTEX Laminate Flooring Guide
Updating Flat or upright? Spread out or leave in the box? The right temperature and humidity? Find out everything you need to know about properly storing laminate flooring.Storing laminate flooring - Table of Contents:
The Right Way to Transport Laminate Flooring
Proper Storage
Acclimating Laminate Flooring
Long-Term Storage
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Laminate Floor Installation Tips
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Laminate Floor Installation Tips
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Laminate Floor Installation Tips
Updating Tips and tricks of the trade for installing new laminate flooring. - Table of Contents:
Over 32475000 sqft of flooring sold online since 1998!
Here are some installation tips when it comes to laminate flooring
How to Acclimate Flooring Before Installation – YouTube
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Transporting and Storing Laminate Flooring | KRONOTEX Laminate Flooring Guide
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Transporting and Storing Laminate Flooring | KRONOTEX Laminate Flooring Guide
It’s a good ea to stack laminate flooring in a crosswise pattern with successive layers at right angles to one another. … - Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for
Transporting and Storing Laminate Flooring | KRONOTEX Laminate Flooring Guide
It’s a good ea to stack laminate flooring in a crosswise pattern with successive layers at right angles to one another. Flat or upright? Spread out or leave in the box? The right temperature and humidity? Find out everything you need to know about properly storing laminate flooring.Storing laminate flooring - Table of Contents:
The Right Way to Transport Laminate Flooring
Proper Storage
Acclimating Laminate Flooring
Long-Term Storage
Cookie Settings
Laminate Flooring Acclimate Tips (Time Taken, Stacking) – Home and Garden – Purplepedia
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- Summary of article content: Articles about Laminate Flooring Acclimate Tips (Time Taken, Stacking) – Home and Garden – Purplepedia If the room you want to install the laminate flooring does not have enough room to lay each box on the floor, you have to stack them up. When stacking the boxes … …
- Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for Laminate Flooring Acclimate Tips (Time Taken, Stacking) – Home and Garden – Purplepedia If the room you want to install the laminate flooring does not have enough room to lay each box on the floor, you have to stack them up. When stacking the boxes … Laminate flooring is one of the best materials for your house because it is durable, easy to install, and affordable. When installing a new laminate…
- Table of Contents:
How Long Does It Take for Laminate Flooring To Acclimate
Can You Stack Your Laminate Flooring To Acclimate
Wrap Up
About Us
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How to Store Laminate Flooring | Hunker
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- Summary of article content: Articles about How to Store Laminate Flooring | Hunker Once the stacks of laminate flooring are in the car or truck, they should be tied down with belts or rope, according to Kronotex. This will keep them from … …
- Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for How to Store Laminate Flooring | Hunker Once the stacks of laminate flooring are in the car or truck, they should be tied down with belts or rope, according to Kronotex. This will keep them from … If you found a good deal on laminate that you intend to use immediately or in the future, properly storing vinyl plank flooring in your home is critical.
- Table of Contents:
In This Article
Transporting Laminate to Your Home
Storing Laminate Flooring
Storing Leftover Laminate Flooring Planks
How to Acclimate Laminate Flooring! – DIYist
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- Summary of article content: Articles about How to Acclimate Laminate Flooring! – DIYist Your laminate flooring can be stacked, but lay it as flat as possible. The longer you can leave the laminate flooring the better, but a minimum of 48 – 72 hours … …
- Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for How to Acclimate Laminate Flooring! – DIYist Your laminate flooring can be stacked, but lay it as flat as possible. The longer you can leave the laminate flooring the better, but a minimum of 48 – 72 hours … Acclimating your laminate flooring is one of those areas that first-time laminate DIYists sometimes believe to be unnecessary. It’s not!
- Table of Contents:
Why laminate flooring need’s to be acclimated
What happens if you don’t acclimate your laminate flooring
The process Acclimating laminate flooring
Acclimate your flooring in the conditions of a lived-in room
How Long Does Laminate Flooring Need to Acclimate? – HomelyVille
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- Summary of article content: Articles about How Long Does Laminate Flooring Need to Acclimate? – HomelyVille You should not stack laminate flooring to acclimate it. The goal is to expose all the planks to the room’s typical temperature and humity … …
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- Table of Contents:
Why Should You Acclimate Laminate Flooring
How To Acclimate Laminate Flooring
What Happens if Laminate Does Not Acclimate
Does Vinyl Flooring Need To Acclimate
Conclusion
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Can You Stack Laminate Flooring to Acclimate? (Explained)
If you love wooden floorings but cannot afford these expensive floorings, you can think of laminate floorings. Laminate floorings are cheap and require some detailed attention for installation.
But they give the impression of perfect wooden floors. Stack and acclimate these floorings before you install them.
Can you stack laminate flooring to acclimate?
You can stack laminate floorings to acclimate or adjust its temperature and humidity with that of its installation environment. To stack laminate floorings, lay a base of planks. Then make layers of planks in criss-cross orientation. And keep gaps between the planks.
Stacking laminate floorings for installation is a vital step of the whole planning. Do not forget to acclimate your planks to get the best installation and perfect impression of wooden flooring.
How high can you stack laminate flooring?
Laminate floorings need to be acclimated before installation. You have to unpack the flooring planks and stack them for acclimation.
Acclimation needs time. To let the planks get adjusted to the environment, allow it time and space.
Stack the planks with a little gap and in a criss-cross manner for them to let the air pass through them.
You can stack the planks. But do not make it too high or more than 3 feet. Stack them lower for best results.
Stacking them higher will cause an unbalanced situation, and the planks can fall as well. It can cause damage to the planks.
How to stack laminate flooring to acclimate?
Laminate floorings are made of wood and fibers or plastic. These are sensitive to water and humidity. That is, the floorings can change their texture and formation when they come in contact with water.
So, it is necessary to let your laminate floorings acclimate before installing them. Acclimation needs to be done for a specific amount of time. And it is done by stacking the laminate floorings.
The steps on how to stack your laminate floorings are given below:
Place the floorings in the room of installation:
You have to stack your laminate floorings in the room it is going to be installed.
The humidity of the air and the temperature of the surroundings has to match with that of the floorings. Otherwise, the flooring may deform or crack after installation.
Unbox the floorings:
Before stacking the floorings, unbox them to adjust to the environment. If you stack your laminate floorings without unboxing, they will not acclimate.
Perforate or remove the plastics from the floorings:
You have to remove or perforate the plastic wrap around the laminate floorings. It is done to let the humidity and temperature of the surrounding come in contact with the floorings.
Lay down the base for stacking:
You have to leave your floorings in the room of installation stacked for a few days.
The floorings should be stable. So, form a base for the stacking. Place the floorings for the base in the same orientation. Lay them down uniformly by keeping one or two-inch gaps between them.
Stack in the criss-cross configuration:
Then you have to stack the next layers of floorings in a criss-cross orientation. Alternate the orientation of the rows after each layer of stacking.
Keep a gap between every flooring. Do it in every layer of the stack of laminate flooring.
Balance the laminate floorings:
You have to stack each layer uniformly. Do not stack in a disoriented manner. In that case, the floorings will not stay in balance, and the stack can fall at any time.
Without balancing the stacking, the floorings can fall. And this can cause scratches and deformation in the floorings. Sometimes, the flooring can even break if it gets a hard fall.
How long do you have to let laminate flooring acclimate?
Acclimation is the process in which the moisture content of the laminate floorings adjusts with that of the environment of the installation. It is an important process for laminate floorings. It can cost you time and money if you do not acclimate your laminate floorings before installation.
Laminate floorings adapt to the humidity and temperature of their surroundings if given the perfect amount of time.
Taking the time and being patient while acclimation will give you your desired flooring. It will be flawless.
In general, you have to stack and leave your floorings for about 24 – 72 hours to acclimate. But different laminate floorings need different times for acclimation.
Engineered hardwood comprises different layers. You have to acclimate it for 3 days before installation.
For Geo Wood floorings, you have to acclimate it for 24 hours.
In the case of Cali Vinyl Plus floorings, acclimate it for 1-2 days.
After buying your laminate floorings, check the instructions for acclimation before installation.
What conditions are critical to correctly acclimate your laminate flooring?
Time:
The proper time for acclimation is the most critical condition for laminate floorings. They need time to adjust to the installation environment.
New paint:
If the room is painted fresh, then you have to wait for it to cure properly. Set your floorings for acclimation after that.
Fresh paints and woodworks need to be cured for at least 3 days.
Heater:
If you have built-in heaters, you should turn the heater appropriate for the installation of the floorings.
Turn the built-in heat to around 80 degrees. And you have to do it at least before 3 days of installation.
Temperature:
For acclimation, the temperature of the room must be between 64 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit.
You have to adjust the temperature of the floor as well. Make sure that it is no more than 59 degrees Fahrenheit.
This temperature may vary depending upon the location of your house or place of installation.
Humidity:
Use a Hygrometer to measure the humidity level in your room. It should be somewhere between 25-70 percent.
Humidity is an important factor when you are acclimating your floorings. So stack your floorings beforehand to let them adjust to the humidity content appropriately.
Cured concrete:
Concrete curing takes a lot of time. It can take around 60 days to cure. So plan to get a proper implementation of your plans.
Let the concrete cure before acclimating laminate floorings.
Clean floor:
Your floor of installation must be clean and free of dirt. A clean environment will ensure a good acclimation of your laminate floorings.
Is 24 hours long enough to acclimate laminate flooring?
Laminate floorings add a new dimension to the decor of your house. It gives your house or room an aesthetic vibe. But these floorings require some processing before installation.
Acclimation is an adjusting process. It takes some time. And the nature of the material used for making laminate flooring determines its acclimating period.
Some materials require less time to acclimate. Some materials take more time to acclimate.
In general, laminate floorings can take 24 hours to 72 hours to acclimate. It totally depends on the material in use.
So, 24 hours might be enough for acclimation of some laminate floorings. And other laminate floorings might require more than 24 hours.
You have to be careful when you plan on stacking laminate floorings for acclimation. Check the instructions in the box of the floorings to check its material and acclimation period. Do this before you install your floorings.
Does laminate flooring really need to acclimate?
Laminate floorings are actually made of fibers or plastic and engineered wood. These materials are layered to give a wooden surface to your floorings. These floorings are cheaper than actual wood floorings.
Acclimation is the adapting process of the floorings with the installation environment.
There are different layers in laminate floorings. And these layers need time to adjust with the surrounding temperature and humidity.
Laminate flooring acclimation makes it match the environmental factors and makes it ideal for installation.
Acclimation makes the floorings planks ideally conditioned. It also helps the floorings to lock properly when installed.
Therefore, the acclimation process is a must step before the installation of laminate floorings.
What happens if I don’t acclimate laminate flooring?
Laminate floorings are not fully made of wood. They are layered in such a way that it gives the impression of wooden floorings.
The main or core part of laminate floorings is made of fibers or any other synthetic material. This part can get affected by the surrounding humidity and temperature.
Various problems can occur if you don’t acclimate laminate floorings before installation. Some of them are:
The floorings may expand or compress due to varying temperatures
Gaps can appear between the joining areas.
It can make your floor unstable.
The consistency of the flooring may change.
It will increase the necessity of adjusting your floorings.
You might need to do the floorings from the start again if the floorings do not fit anymore, etc.
Can you walk on laminate flooring after installation?
Laminate floorings are low maintenance and easy to install. But few things are to be kept in mind while planning to install it in your house.
Proper acclimation of laminate floorings and curing of the floorings after installation are the two steps that require the most attention.
After the acclimation period, you install the floorings. But you cannot walk on the laminate floor yet. You have to let the laminate floor cure before using it.
If you do not want your hard work to go in vain, do not walk on laminate floorings before waiting for 24 hours or more.
You have to let the floor heal properly before use. Otherwise, your floor will be uneven and damaged.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can Laminate Flooring Be Installed Over Carpet?
Can Laminate Flooring Be Installed Over This?
Can Laminate Flooring Be Installed Over Tile?
Can Laminate Floors Be Buffed?
Can Laminate Floors Be Refinished and Sanded?
Can Mold Grow Under Laminate Flooring?
Transporting and Storing Laminate Flooring
Transporting and Storing Laminate Flooring
It’s easy to get your new laminate flooring home in good shape by following a few simple rules. In the following, we describe in easy-to-understand language what matters for transporting and storing it.
The Right Way to Transport Laminate Flooring
It’s best to leave the new laminate in its original packaging for transport. Assuming that you’re planning to take it home yourself in your own car, here’s how:
Lay the boxes down flat inside the car, preferably in the boot or if necessary on the back seat. Don’t place them upright or lean them.
Make sure that they are also supported in the middle and not just on the edges.
To prevent the boxes from sliding when driving through curves and making turns, we recommend that you fasten them with belts etc. But not too tightly, to avoid damaging the tongue-and-groove joints!
Don’t run the risk of the packaged laminate getting rained on – that means not transporting the boxes on a vehicle’s roof or in the back of a pickup truck, for example.
After arriving at your destination, leave the flooring in the original packaging until you get around to installing it.
Proper Storage
In case you decide to postpone installing your new floor (for whatever reason) or are unable to move into your new home when planned (perhaps because it’s still under construction), it’s important to properly store the new laminate flooring. The same goes if some is left over after installing your floor and you want to keep the rest in reserve (you never know!).
Short and sweet:
Upright or flat?
Make sure to store the laminate panels in a flat, i.e. horizontal, position. Otherwise they can suffer damage or warp.
Stacked or spread out?
The best approach is to stack them crosswise, with each successive layer rotated 90° with respect to the last. This saves space, allows air to circulate better and prevents the boxes from tipping over.
Inside the original packaging or not?
It’s better to leave the laminate flooring in the original packaging, which will protect it from damage.
It’s a good idea to stack laminate flooring in a crosswise pattern with successive layers at right angles to one another.
Acclimating Laminate Flooring
Before installing flooring, allow it to acclimate for about 48 hours at a temperature of at least 18°C. Lay the panels down (without removing them from the original packaging) in the same room in which they will be laid. It’s best to lay four packages alongside one another, then the next four on top of them at right angles so it looks like a grid. This has the added advantage of preventing the panels from sagging in the middle.
This lets the engineered wood that the laminate mainly consists of adjust to conditions in the room. It’s then ready for installation, and you’ll continue to enjoy your new floor for a long time to come.
Long-Term Storage
If you need to store laminate flooring for longer than the 48 hours required for acclimatisation, make sure to monitor the temperature and relative humidity. The ideal conditions for longer-term storage are a temperature of 20-22°C and 50 to 60% r.h. Avoid large temperature fluctuations and constant draughts – they can damage laminate by causing it to repeatedly expand and contract. It’s best to leave the panels in the sealed boxes and store them in a heated room.
If a box has already been opened, it’s advisable to use packaging tape to reseal the plastic sheet surrounding the panels. So just in case, it’s best not to dispose of the packaging right away when installing the flooring. If you do, however, a tip is to wrap individual panels in the plastic membrane you’re using for the vapour barrier – it very effectively protects your laminate flooring.
Laminate Floor Installation Tips
Laminate Floor Installation Tips
by Crystal Hosking – Hosking Hardwood Flooring, Inc. © 2014, Copyright Protected. All Rights Reserved
Laminate Flooring is a godsend to the modern DIY-er. These days, most laminate floors have click locking edges and ends for incredibly easy and quick installation. There’s no glue and no mess. In an afternoon, you can install a laminate floor yourself and save yourself the high cost of a professional installer.
Remember that these are just general guidelines and tips for installing a laminate floor in your home. For manufacturers’ specific requirements, make sure to visit that manufacturer’s website for their own installation instructions or contact the manufacturer of your laminate floor directly. In all cases, use the manufacturer’s installation instruction specifics over any other advise.
Here are some installation tips when it comes to laminate flooring:
Ordering a Laminate Floor
First, you need to know how much laminate flooring you’re going to need. Here’s How to Measure a Room for Laminate Flooring. That page features an easy to follow diagram for measuring a room yourself, including tips for odd spaces, waste factors and ordering extra cartons of material.
Your laminate floor is only as good as your underlayment. Make sure to choose an underlayment that fits the requirements of your room and your expectations. A cheap, thin underlayment is going to have a cheap, thin feel (less than desirable). Some subfloors will require use of a moisture barrier along with a pad, some don’t. If you live in a condo, you might be required by the association to use a cork underlayment. If your new laminate flooring has a pre-attached underlayment, never use a second underlayment. With pre-attached underlayments you can only use an additional moisture barrier. Learn more about different types of underlayments here: Underlayments for Laminate Floors.
Decide whether or not you want to remove any wall base pieces or moldings for the installation of your new laminate floor. If you choose to carefully remove existing wall base and reuse it to cover the necessary expansion gap around the room, that’s great! If you want wall base or quarter round to match your new laminate, manufacturers typically make ones to match the specific color you’re interested in. You can order these moldings at the same time you order the laminate floor or you can wait and decide after installation, as these are generally the last finishing pieces to be installed.
Room Conditions for a Laminate Floor
Laminate boards are best suitable for rooms that are kept between 50 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit and between 30% and 60% relative humidity. Generally, laminate planks need no time to acclimate, but if you’re installing in an extreme climate, it’s never a bad idea to let the laminate flooring adjust to your specific conditions for at least 48 hours.
The ideal subfloor condition for installation of a new laminate floor is that it is flat. Although the required underlayment will work to smooth out the surface of your subfloor, you want to make sure that there’s no unevenness greater than about 1/8 IN. over the area of 40 square inches. If your room has a slope greater than this in any areas, it needs to be fixed prior to installation. There are self levelers for concrete floors. If you’re working with plywood, maybe it’s just sunk in a bit from age — you can add stability by adding a layer of 3/8 IN. or 1/2 IN. plywood but to fix the problem you need to add supports to the joists from up under the subfloor. For more information on subfloors: All About Subfloors.
A second ideal condition for new laminate flooring is that the environment is dry (do a moisture test), that the subfloor is stable (no flexing when you walk across it) and clean (no nails sticking up). Any issues with these conditions must be fixed prior to installation. If you’re working on an newly poured concrete floor, it MUST be allowed time to cure. To most laminate manufacturers, this means at least one week per 3/8 IN. thickness. If your concrete is thicker than 1-1/2 IN., allow for two weeks per 3/8 IN. thickness. Again, most manufacturers have stipulations in their installation instructions which will address installing over new concrete.
Different laminate boards are different thicknesses. Make sure that, once the laminate flooring is installed, all the doors in the room have enough clearance to open and close (typically at least a 3/8 IN. space recommended). If you’re ripping up an old floor covering and replacing completely with this new laminate floor, height of the new floor shouldn’t be a problem. If you’ve thrown caution to the wind and decide to install your new laminate floor right over your old floor covering (wood, laminate, vinyl or tile **LAMINATE CANNOT BE INSTALLED OVER CARPET**), the new total height of the laminate floor may inhibit the doors’ movements. In this case, you will have to either cut the bottom of your doors to allow for clearance or take up your old floor covering prior to installation.
Everyone loves radiant in-floor heating systems! The great thing about laminate is: most laminate flooring options work really well over radiant heat. Refer to the specific manufacturer’s installation instructions, but as long as the systems are used properly with surface temperatures not exceeding 85 degrees Fahrenheit, there’s no downside to using laminate flooring over radiant heat.
During Laminate Floor Installation
The first step in installation is to install the underlayment. If the underlayment you’re using has an attached moisture barrier make sure to read the underlayment installation instructions to determine which side should be facing down. With most of the underlayments with attached moisture barriers, you install with the moisture barrier side facing up. Shown to the right is Silent Stride (red part is the attached moisture barrier).
Never use a board that you don’t like. Once you install a board, you deem it acceptable. If there’s a visible manufacturer’s defect in the board (warranty issue), it’s much harder to file a claim with the manufacturer if you saw but defect but installed the laminate plank anyways. Since laminate flooring is a man made product, unlike real wood coming from nature, there is very little chance that there will be an “ugly” board you don’t want to use. This is a huge benefit of laminate flooring — what you see is what you get.
If you’re installing over old wood floor planks, you can run the boards in either direction (as long as the existing floor is flat). For more information on different types of subfloors: All About Subfloors.
The old idiom still rings true: measure twice, cut once.
Lay out a few rows of laminate planks prior to starting the install. Laminate flooring is basically a detailed picture of a real wood floor. It depends on the specific manufacturer how many different board images are used for each product SKU#, but board patterns will definitely repeat. The best looking laminate floors have a balanced mix of the laminate images (there are no boards with identical images right next to each other).
Expansion gaps are a must! Changes in seasons brings changes in moisture, which means natural expansion and contraction. Without proper expansion gaps at the walls of the room and at any other immovable objects, the possibility of buckling increases. During installation, use spacers or carpenter shims to ensure the proper expansion gap is maintained along all walls of the room. These spacers/shims will be removed after you’re finished installing your new laminate floor.
For most laminate floors (check with your specific manufacturer), an expansion joint is required for larger rooms. Usually the limit for running continuous laminate is about 40′. If your room is longer or wider than 40′, a t-molding is usually required to break up the floor. Usually manufacturers recommend the use of a t-molding under doors to allow for an expansion joint between different rooms as well.
During installation, it’s important to make sure that the ends of the planks are not lining up all at one place. Not only does it look bad, but it’s going to decrease the dimensional stability of the floor as a whole. Stagger board ends for best look and best stability. See below.
The first laminate board laid down should be a full plank. Cut the tongue off the end and edge which will be closest to the walls. The use of spacers will ensure the proper expansion gap is maintained around the walls of the room.
A tapping block comes in handy when installing through the room (you can buy an actual tapping block or just use a spare 2×4). A pull bar is handy when you get to the end of the row or if you’re installing the new laminate under cabinets or other spaces where it’s difficult to use a tapping block to tighten the locking system.
In a perfect world, the cut off from the last board in a row can be used to start the next row of laminate boards. If it’s too short or if you don’t need to make a cut at the end of the row, make sure to cut the first board of the next row to allow for staggering of the seams (remember that thing about staggering the seams of the planks within the floor mentioned above).
When you’re nearing the end of your project and are at the last row of boards, if you’re lucky, you won’t have to cut a board lengthwise at all! But, in most cases, you’ll have to cut the laminate plank the long way to make it fit. Keep in mind when you’re measuring the width of that last board that you still need to allow for that expansion gap against the wall for the last row.
Finishing Your Laminate Floor Installation
Once you’ve finished your install of the laminate floor, you can remove any spacers used for the expansion gap spacing.
Cover up the wall expansion gaps with either your old wallbase, a new wallbase or quarter rounds. More about different types of moldings here: Molding & Trim Guide for Hardwood and Laminate Flooring. Make sure when you’re installing the wall base or quarter rounds that you’re not attaching them to the actual laminate flooring boards. These moldings are to be attached to the wall instead, allowing room for any floor movement during expansion and contraction of the new laminate flooring.
If you ran your new laminate flooring around any exposed pipes, columns or poles, you can fill in the expansion gaps there with flexible silicone chaulking. The flexible silicone will still allow for minimal movement during expansion and contraction.
Laminate Floor Maintenance
Although laminate flooring is much more durable than a real hardwood floor, you still want to take precautions in order to protect it from damage. If you’re moving heavy furniture back in, make sure you’re not dragging it along the floor. If it’s heavy enough, there is a possibility of it scratching or denting your new laminate floor.
Chair glides and hard surface flooring go hand in hand. These little circles of felt give homeowners peace of mind every day. Chair glides are inexpensive and easy to attach; there’s really no reason not to have them on all your chairs and tables.
Keep your new laminate floor clean! To make sure the surface stays pretty, make sure you’re getting any dust or dirt cleaned up regularly and use a cleaner specifically meant for laminate flooring. You can see some laminate floor cleaning options here: Laminate Floor Cleaners. Never use waxes, polishes, oils, soaps or water on your new laminate floor. There are lots of fad cleaning products on the market today (OrangeGlo, Steam Cleaners, etc.) but spray cleaners made specifically for use on laminate floors are typically the most beneficial. OrangeGlo tends to build up a film and the steam cleaners have the potential to actually force steam (moisture) between the seam of laminate flooring.
Make sure to clean up spills right away. There’s no need to cry over spilled milk — as long as it hasn’t been there for weeks and has already seeped into the seams of the laminate boards right down to the subfloor (cue horror film soundclip). Laminate flooring is pretty resistant to liquid spills, but standing liquid needs a place to go and eventually travels through seams to find it, potentially damaging the laminate flooring, the underlayment and the subfloor underneath.
More laminate maintenance tips here: How To Clean Your Laminate Flooring.
Repairing Damaged Laminate Flooring
Repairing a damaged laminate board is generally pretty simple. Find the wall where the flooring was ended (usually it will be the wall where the last row of flooring was cut narrower), unclick the good laminate boards until you get to the damaged ones, replace the damaged board/section with new laminate boards cut to fit in that space and then reclick the good boards. It varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, but many laminate boards can be unclicked and reclicked up to three times before they lose structural integrity.
If the damage to a board is very minor, there are also touch up kits for laminate floors which typically contain some sort of putty, touch up marker and/or some sort of finishing product. These work well for hairline scratches, but they won’t fix discoloration or buckling due to water damage.
Laminate manufacturers are constantly updating their click locking technologies. Because of this, a product visual that you purchased two years ago may still be made, but it might include a different locking system than the one you have. If you’re looking to purchase more laminate to replace damaged planks or if you’re looking to get matching laminate for an addition, keep in mind that the visual may be a match but locking systems do change. Many manufacturers denote a change with a suffix to the product SKU #.
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Page Reviews Web Page: Laminate Floor Installation Tips
by Jeff Hosking
Overall Rating: 4.9 stars – 19 reviews
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By: Chuy
Date: March 22, 2022
Page Rating: ( 5.0 / 5 ) Comments:
Excellent March 22, 2022
By: Diana
Date: December 28, 2020
Page Rating: ( 5.0 / 5 ) Comments:
excellent!! thank u. I kept watching those videos the store provides but skips important parts like, “did he remove the spacers or he left them on because he did not say or show it.” grrrrr….. Thank u very much for helping out someone that has never put down a floor before, but is really excited to do so now. :o) December 28, 2020
By: Zoltan.Berinkei
Date: August 20, 2020
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Perfect August 20, 2020
By: bill dempsey
Date: July 8, 2020
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excellant job. July 8, 2020
By: Carrie
Date: January 17, 2019
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Great! January 17, 2019
By: Pete
Date: November 11, 2018
Page Rating: ( 5.0 / 5 ) Comments:
very helpful tips and not click bait fluff. thanks! November 11, 2018
By: Cristina Piastrini
Date: June 13, 2017
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Excellent source of information. June 13, 2017
By: ash
Date: January 6, 2017
Page Rating: ( 5.0 / 5 ) Comments:
hi, do you know what the moisture levels of laminate wood floors should be? I have a pinless reader General MM8 which is showing me readings of 25-30%. Is it too much? If so what can be done about it? I dont see any bubbling or warpage or cupping etc. It rained here last few days does that have an effect? Are these meters the right ones to use? January 6, 2017
By: Nancy R Bennett
Date: August 26, 2016
Page Rating: ( 5.0 / 5 ) Comments:
Very informative!! Cant wait to purchase and install new floor. August 26, 2016
By: Billie
Date: April 12, 2016
Page Rating: ( 5.0 / 5 ) Comments:
WE have slab i bought coek to put under leminate floor .do i need anything under the cork as barrier. And what kind of extension joints you recommend. April 12, 2016
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