Laminate Flooring Tips

Manufacturers advertisements display the relative simplicity with which it can be installed.
Below we have outlined some advice and suggestions to assist you in the installation of your own laminate floor.
Laminate boards are made of natural materials and therefore will expand and contract. When installing any laminate flooring you must always leave what is known as an‘expansion gap’ at the edges of the flooring. This gap is generally between 9mm and 15mm.
Laminate flooring is often described as a ‘floating floor’
Before you decide on a laminate floor it is important to make sure that it will install properly over your existing flooring. As a general rule, laminate flooring can be applied to almost any surface including: vinyl, concrete, wood, carpet, cork and parquet. Be sure to check the manufacturer's guidelines with regard to your existing floor surfaces. You should also seek the advice of your DIY/Hardware store.
As previously mentioned, laminate floorings comprise natural materials. Before you begin to lay them you should leave them unpacked in the room they are being placed in for at least 40 hours; this will allow the materials to acclimatise.
If you are laying laminate over concrete flooring it is essential to make sure that the concrete is fully dry. The recommended drying time will vary from 2 months for concrete 50mm thick to 6 months for concrete 100mm thick. Again, be sure and check the manufacturer's instructions.
Before you begin to lay your laminate flooring you must ensure that your sub-floor is clean, smooth and dry.
You will need to select a suitable underlay for your laminate floor. The type of underlay will depend on the surface of your sub-floor. Polythene sheet underlay is used for concrete sub-floors, underlay paper or felting is used for a carpet sub-floor, foam underlay is used for vinyl, cork, parquet chipboard and floorboard sub-floors. Fibre boards can also be used on floorboards. Remember to check the manufacturer's underlay requirements as they may differ slightly to those listed above.
If you are laying your laminate floor over an existing wooden floor install the laminate at right angles to the existing floor.
If you are laying a laminate floor in a potentially wet area such as a kitchen or bathroom make sure that you use a sealant on the edges of the expansion gap. You can buy a coloured sealant to blend in with the colour of your surface.
When laying your flooring you have the option of removing the skirting before you begin and replacing it over the expansion gap when finished. Alternatively, you can leave your skirting in place and use a moulding to cover the expansion gap.
Lay the first row without applying any adhesive, the tongues should be towards you and the groove towards the wall. This will help you to establish that the boards are aligned before you stick them.
If adhesive seeps out from the boards as you are fixing them just wipe it away with a damp cloth.

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