How to Fit Laminate and Wooden Floors Easily

Laminate floors or wood effect floors are increasingly more popular these days as more and more people prefer a nice clean natural look in their living spaces. Apart from this there are the additional advantages that laminate or wood effect flooring is easy to manage and clean. If you spill a mug of coffee on a nice light coloured carpet then this could spell disaster as it may be difficult to remove any stains or damage that has been caused. However, should the same happen with laminate wood effect flooring, it is simply a case of getting the mop out and mopping it.

Preparing To Lay A Laminate Wooden Floor

Preparation is the key to laying a wooden floor successfully. Before you even consider laying the floor, you must totally prepare the surface that it is to be laid on ensuring it is as level as possible with any protrusions such as nails etc, being removed prior. Many people lay laminate wooden flooring and do not get the required results simply because their preparation was wrong. Once your surface is ready for fitting you can then proceed to start the first part of laying your new wooden floor.

The Correct Underlay Is Essential

For your floor to be right it will be necessary to put down an underlay for your laminate wooded floor to lie on. You can purchase the underlay from where you bought your flooring or any DIY store such as B and Q etc. Don't try to skimp on using any old type of underlay as it will simply not produce the desired results. The underlay you use will I n most case be made out of foam, come in a roll and be anywhere between 2 to 3 mm thick. You then lay this out in sections as you proceed to fit the wooden floor.

If you are fitting you new wooden floor onto a solid floor such as concrete, you must use a suitable DPM (damp proof membrane) to assist with any possible moisture or damp issues below. Either use a purpose made DPM from your local builders merchants or buy an underlay that combines a DPM with it.

Laying The Wooden Floor

Start fitting the floor from the left side of the room and lay the boards so that the tongue is facing the wall. This will make it simple to fix the next board in place when you need to join on to it. Leave an expansion gap between the wall and first row of boards and once the first row is in place, prepare to lay the second row of boards. Lay the boards in a staggered fashion, starting the next row with say a half of board instead of a full one. That way it you won't be able to see an obvious line on the floor when walking into the room and should any natural expansion take place, it will be less difficult to pick out any discrepancies. Apart from all of this, staggered joints are aesthetically better to look at. Depending on the manufacturer of your wooden floor, you may need to fit one whole row of boards and the lift the whole row In place before joining or butting up to the previous row. You will have instructional details to advise more on this.

Continue to fit the floor with the same staggering method until the whole floor is covered. Any untrue angles or final pieces to be cut may need to be scribed to fit. Remember to leave an expansion gap all around the perimeter or the laminate wooden flooring. This gap will be covered by any new skirting board you are putting on or edge beading.

Kirk Smith's company 4K Construction are professional builders from Liverpool, Merseyside, United Kingdom. Please visit 4K Constructions Builders Talk for professional help and advice on construction, DIY, and all aspects of building.

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