What You Need To Know About DIY Laminate Flooring

Replacing the flooring in your home is a great way to make a major design overhaul and add value to your home. If you use laminate flooring, it is also an economical and long lasting solution. Due to ease of installation, DIY laminate flooring is a very practical option! If you are ready to take on this type of project, here’s what you need to know to get started.

DIY Laminate Flooring Basics

Laminate flooring can be relatively easy to install compared to some other flooring options. Manufacturers today produce flooring pieces with a tongue and groove section that snap together without the need for tools. When it comes to DIY, this type of flooring is hands-down the easiest to manage on your own.

DIY Laminate Flooring Steps

• Prepare floor for installation. You may need to remove old flooring like carpet or tile. Depending on the type of flooring you currently have, this could prove to be the most difficult part of the whole project.
• Ensure subfloor is level. This is critical when installing a hard surface floor like laminate over a floor that used to have carpet. If the subfloor is unlevel, it can cause the newly installed laminate to pop up and make annoying sounds when you walk over it.
• Measure everything. Twice.
• Cut. Once.
• Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for either ‘snapping’ the pieces together or gluing them to your floor.

What Tools Will I Need?

In addition to basic tools like a level and measuring tape, you will need a saw. The best options here are a jigsaw for irregular cuts or a circular saw, table saw, or miter saw if you have to do a lot of cutting. Don’t forget safety glasses, leather work gloves, and ear plugs.

(It also helps to pick up an extra box of laminate floor pieces just in case you don’t make a perfect cut the first time.)

How Much Time Will I Need?

Every project is different, but laminate flooring is one of the easier floors to install. The total time really depends on how many pieces you have to cut, total square footage of the room, and if you have to remove old carpet or tile for a new install.

You can expect to get a small to medium size room done in a day and a larger room like a living room done in about a weekend. If you have friends over to help you can go even faster. It never hurts to offer a free meal if you are looking for extra help!

What Obstacles Should I Expect?

Except for making cuts for irregular shapes, the biggest hurdle in installing laminate flooring is removing the old floor and preparing the surface for a new floor. Ripping up carpet and pulling out any leftover nails can be a tedious and messy job. If you pull up the old floor and find damage on the sub floor, however, you should probably call a professional for help.

If you are looking for more information on DIY laminate flooring, have any flooring questions, or are looking for a professional install, contact us to learn more!

About Yani Zah