Tricks of the trade for installing Laminate Flooring

How many of us install our own laminate?  I would say that more of us than not, so what are some ways to ensure a flawless finished product?  The finished product is dependant upon the set up or the "prep work".

First of all let's talk about the tools that one should have.

Yes, there are a lot of people that get themselves a few hand tools and expect to have a flawless adventure or at least that is the way the home store clinics portray it, unfortunatly it is not!

Some of the necessary tools:

Undercut saw, Miter box (jig saw will work but the power miter saw is the best bet, and a table saw.

First of all let's address the undercut saw, what is it?

This is a tool that allows us to cut the door jambs so that the laminate planks can slip flawlesly under the  jambs and trim eliminating any kind of tricky cutting.  It conceals the cuts and makes the floor look like it was there from the beginning.  Yes you can remove all of the door jambs but it is much easier to just cut them up.

How to utilize the undercut saw?

Simply take a plank of the flooring you will be using and turn it upside down so that the nice wood part of the laminate is face down and the bottom faces up.  What you are doing in this step is setting your thickness and transfering it to the trim.  Now snuggle the saw and the plank right up to the trim and start sliding the saw on the plank back and forth back and forth back and forth until the chunck of trim comes out.  now do this all the way around the door jamb if you are going to place flooring on both sides and continue through into the other room.  If you aren't making the round trip and you are just seeking a one way ticket so you will have to decide for yourself where the best spot is to stop the cutting process and then you can use a chisel to knock  this chunck out.

So now you are ready for the next step, ohh and good job on the undercutting trust me they don't tell you about that step and it makes a superb finished product when you are complete!

You need to put down the underlayment.  Yes you need to put this down as it will void your warranty if you don't but I will be honest with you the warranty process is gruelling and I am not sure it is even worth the effort but lets stick to the techincallities anyway!

Put the underlayment down per the manufacturer's recommendations.  If you can't find Mylar tape for the seams you can...(this is an installer secret so tell NO ONE!!! you can use Duct tape then add Laminate Flooring to the list of 1001 uses for Duct tape)

Then you need to simply lay the floor.  Some of the generic installation kits are as nice if not nicer than the manufacturers installation kits so if there is a $10 or $15 difference in the price then don't be too hesitent to buy the generic set as they all pretty much have the same components tapping block, spacers, and a pull bar.  There are different types of tapping blocks out there and it is just personal preference as to what you get.

You have just layed a floor so now clean it and get to enjoying the room.

What, did I forget something?

OHH YEAH right, "Should I take my baseboards off?"

That is a great question and I always do.  I think that the quarterqound looks like an after thought process but it can be a nice feature if you have old baseboards that are 3/4" thick if you have ranch style baseboards then I would recommend removing the baseboards.  Here is a carpenters trick ( I am going to put myself out of business here giving away all of my secrets, LOL) when you remove baseboards and/or trim and you have nails, NEVER pound them throught the front.  Always use a nippers or a pliers and pull them through the back!  Why?  Because when you pound them through the front it splinters the holes and then it looks like your puppy took the nails out for you.  Pulling them through the back also leaves the putty in place and allows you to reputty only the new holes you created.

OHH YEAAH  and pull out the appliances and install the flooring in the areas that the appliances go into.  I speak as an appliance installer here and it will save someone some skinned up knuckles.  I also know that it costs customers that I install dishwashers for $40 extra dollars (to cut off the front feet) when I go in and a previous laminate installer has locked the front feet of the dishwasher in with the laminate flooring!  This is a nice step and it will give you a chance to clean out the dust bunnies anyway!

I could go on and on with all sorts of technical information but I think I have covered the bases on this one.  With these tips and techiques I think you could lay a pretty attractive floor.  There are variations from manufacturer to manufacturer but the techniques are all pretty much the same.  Who would I recommend for flooring?  I REALLY like installing Wilsonart floors.  The nice thing about this manufacturer is that they have quality products when Wilsonart locks it locks.  Also be aware that although these are lock together floating floors ask your flooring dealer if the floor needs to be glued or not.  There have been some issues with pull aparts and to glue the seams only takes a second and there isn't any clean up like the old glue together floors.

I am going to close here and leave you to install your floor if I keep writing and you keep reading you will never get it done!

If you have any specific questions please don't hesitate to ask me.  My email is jamesvanraden@paragonrenovations.net and you can find my websites at

 www.paragonrenovations.net or www.paragonbathrooms.com

I wish you good luck and the finished product will be your reward!

Happy flooring.