Laminated Flooring: The Perfect Alternative to Hardwood Flooring

For a homeowner who desires the look of a classic hardwood floor without the high price, then laminate wood flooring is the way to go. Available in almost any hardwood texture and tone, laminated wood flooring can be matched to any existing decor and is easy enough for almost any homeowner to complete the project without the cost of a contractor to save even more.

Laminated wood flooring can be installed in any room of a home except a bathroom, basement or any other area prone to water leaks. The wooden planks will absorb the water causing them to buckle. Bedrooms, living room, den, office or kitchen are perfect candidates for laminated wood flooring.

Laminate can be installed on almost any existing floor material except for carpet and wood flooring laid on top of concrete. Both should be removed before attempting to install laminate.

Installing laminated wood flooring is easy and a fun project for the do it yourself homeowner. Very few tools are required and the project can usually be done over the course of a couple of days depending on the size and dimensions of the room being floored.

The first step in installing laminate is preparing the floor for the laminate. The floor should be dry, free of debris and level. The quarter round molding should be removed from the wall and saved for re installation at the end of the project. Doorjambs and casings will need to be cut to the height of the laminate to allow the flooring to slide underneath the jamb. Once the floor is prepped and the doorjambs are cut, it’s time to lay the laminated flooring.

The floor is covered first in a foam underlayment that acts as a cushion and noise reducer, taping the edges together to keep the underlayment from shifting during the rest of the installation process.

The tongue side of the plank is the side that has the wooden lip exposed and the groove side with the beveled groove in it. Starting on one side of the room, lay the planks with the tongue side facing the wall 1/4 inch away from the wall to allow for expansion of the laminate due to humidity. Cut the last piece to length at the end of the room. Now, cut the first plank for row two so there is at least twelve inches between the end joints of the first row compared to the second. Slide the tongue from the first plank of row two into the groove of the plank on row one and push down to lock the two planks together. Continue locking the pieces of the first and second rows together making sure the pieces come together seamlessly. A rubber mallet can be used to tap the edges to ensure a tight fit from plank to plank. Repeat the steps for row three and so on all the way across the room. The last row may have to be cut down in width to complete the floor somewhat. Make sure there is a 1/4 inch gap between all four sides facing the walls for expansion.

Once the flooring is laid, trim away any excess underlayment foam that might be showing and reinstall the quarter round molding to conceal the 1/4 inch expansion gaps.

Now that the laminated wood flooring is installed, proper care should be taken to protect it from excessive moisture such as spills. Wipe up all liquids as soon as possible to keep the moisture from getting into the seems of the flooring. Damp mopping is the suggested method of cleaning laminate.

Laminated wood flooring will last for plenty of years to come if cared for properly and has the appearance of a traditional hardwood floor. And for a fraction of the cost and installed by the homeowner, it’s fast becoming the choice in home remodeling.

*Matt Weber, “Flooring In A Snap: Installing Laminates“, extremehowto.com