Once upon a time, laminate flooring was overlooked by interior designers in favor of more ‘authentic’, expensive hardwood options. Luckily, with vast improvements in the quality of laminate flooring over the years, laying laminate flooring is officially back in vogue!
Laminate flooring is a hugely effective way to upgrade the look and feel of your living space. More importantly, it is practical and affordable – two things that can be hard to come by in the world of home design.
If you’re thinking of getting some for your home, there are a few things you should know to make your laminate flooring installation go as smoothly as possible. Here are the essential tips for installing laminate in your home.
1. Prep Your Floors Before Laminate Flooring Installation
Of all of the laminate flooring tips and tricks that are good to know, this one might be the most important.
Of course, one of the major appeals of laminate flooring is that it can be installed quickly and easily, with less effort than, say, parquet flooring.
However, it is more than likely that your existing floors will need a little bit of prep before you break out the laminate. Having a smooth, clean surface is absolutely critical.
Take the time to remove any and all nails, staples, and protruding ends from your floor.
Give it a thorough clean with a brush, mop, and wax. Once your floor is shiny and smooth, you’re ready to install laminate flooring.
2. Measure Everything Carefully
Even if you are using a professional laminate flooring installation service to get your floors laid out perfectly for you, taking measurements is still necessary.
You don’t want to end up with too much or too little laminate flooring, so careful measurements are crucial for getting it right.
Measure every square inch of floor space and multiply a room’s width by its length to get the accurate square footage. Take your time with this part.
3. Experiment with the Layout
Ideally, you want to get your laminate flooring right the first time, without having to rip it up and start again.
That’s why you should experiment with the layout before installing it properly.
Take your laminate tiles or sheets and place them on the floor in different patterns and formations.
Once you have found a style that fits you perfectly, you are ready to install.
4. Remember to Leave Gaps
This is one of those laminate flooring installation tips that people tend to forget about until it is too late.
If you are installing flooring that continues through a doorway, always leave a gap between the two rooms, so you can place a transition strip where the gap is.
This makes the process a lot less complicated and allows you to treat each room as a separate project.
Remember to place the transition gap directly underneath where the door will close so that it looks aesthetically pleasing.
Learn More
These essential laminate flooring installation tips are just the first step towards redesigning your home in a flash.
Make sure to check out my comprehensive Home Advice section for all of the DIY tips you need to see you through your decor journey.