Laminate floors are the new rave in home improvement now. Not do they provide a look that is exactly like that of real wood, they also infuse a warm touch of class into your living area with ease. The best thing is that they are quite easy to install at home. So you can go to a hardware store, grab laminate flooring that speaks to you and head home to install it yourself.
What you need to do a laminate flooring installment
Here's a list of things you need to have when planning to replace your flooring yourself safely prepare for all eventualities:
Apart from these, if you have someone experienced in home DIY projects to assist you, that also helps.
Step 1 – Remove the existing floorboards. Use a pry-bar to remove the baseboards that exist on the floor. If there is carpet on it, cut that at the edges and dispose of it safely. If any other fasteners are remaining on the subfloor, remove them with a pair of pliers and clean away the dust and dirt.
Step 2 – Prepare the laminate flooring. Get the laminates out of the box to set up the wood tones around the house. Get the precise dimensions of the plank and add 3/8 of an inch to allow for expansion. Mark that distance from the wall you intend to start from and then make a chalk line at the corner. Chalking enables you to have a straight line for the first run of planks.
Step 3 – Plan for custom cut boards. There will be areas across the room where you will need shorter lengths of flooring planks. Measure these ahead to know where you will make the board cuts for these areas early enough so that you are not caught unaware.
Step 4 – Install the first row. Once the flooring lines up against the chalk line you marked, ensure the tongue side faces the wall. Don’t forget to leave the 3/8-in gap between the wall and the edge for expansion and also at the end of the first run.
Step 5 – Install the rest of the floor. With the first run done, continue adding planks across the room using a tapping block and hammer to ensure a snug fit between planks and across. Check everything first before moving. Trim custom cut boards wherever necessary to get a good fit.
Step 6 – Install the last run. The final run involves ripping each board to size. A circular saw helps with this. Load the 16-gauge nails into a nail gun and reinstall all baseboards and nail these into the studs.
If you encounter any installation issues along the way, call the store, and they will direct you to a professional installer to provide you with some help.
Terese Ferrara is a long-time resident of the Bay Area and has been a partner with the Goss | Ferrara Real Estate Team. She and her husband raised their two daughters in San Jose, where she successfully continues to build her real estate career.
After earning a bachelor’s degree from San Jose State University, she went on to teach in the San Jose Unified School District for 9 years. Transitioning to real estate was a logical choice, utilizing her patient demeanor to educate all levels of buyers and sellers. Knowledge and experience demonstrate her vested interest in delivering the highest level of care and professionalism to every client. She consistently strives to exceed her client’s expectations throughout the entire real estate transaction and remains a trusted advisor long after each close.
As a board member on KW Bay Area Estates’ Associate Leadership Council (ALC), she aids in support of culture and professional development strategies for over 180 associates. Terese is also a Director for the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors Foundation, which supports community service initiatives in Silicon Valley.
Terese is the consummate real estate professional dedicated to providing unparalleled service to her clients through ongoing training and education, keeping her on top of the dynamic market and latest real estate trends. Her high-touch approach coupled with honesty and integrity support her commitment to her client’s real estate needs.
