If you’re eager to invest in laminate flooring but are wary of the potential costs of professional installation, don’t be discouraged. It’s more than possible to lay your own laminate flooring. All it takes is the right tools, a dash of patience, and some careful planning.
In fact, laying laminate flooring is an increasingly popular choice for project-hungry DIYers. And it’s easy to see why. Laminate flooring is affordable, durable, and easy to install, leaving you with a stylish new floor.
While it requires time and labour investment, professional results can be easily achieved if you follow the right steps.
So how do you lay laminate flooring?
We’ve broken it down into seven easy steps. Read on for a step-by-step guide for laying laminate flooring, as well as handy tips on which tools to use.
This guide focuses on laying single-plank flooring, so if you’re laying parquet flooring please consult this guide on laying parquet flooring.
In fact, laying laminate flooring is an increasingly popular choice for project-hungry DIYers. And it’s easy to see why. Laminate flooring is affordable, durable, and easy to install, leaving you with a stylish new floor.
While it requires time and labour investment, professional results can be easily achieved if you follow the right steps.
So how do you lay laminate flooring?
We’ve broken it down into seven easy steps. Read on for a step-by-step guide for laying laminate flooring, as well as handy tips on which tools to use.
This guide focuses on laying single-plank flooring, so if you’re laying parquet flooring please consult this guide on laying parquet flooring.
Tools for Laying Laminate Flooring
As with any DIY project, it’s wise to make sure you have all the necessary tools and materials before you begin. This will ensure that you move smoothly through the process and address any issues that might crop up.
For laying laminate flooring, you’ll need:
Tools
- · Handsaw or electric saw (for cutting planks to size)
- · Spacers (to maintain a consistent gap between laminate boards and walls)
- · Measuring tape (to determine the length of the boards)
- · Pencil (for marking cutting lines and taking notes)
- · Stanley knife (for any small adjustments)
Additional Tools we Recommend
- · A pull bar (to help lay planks together at the end of rows and near walls for a neat finish)
- · Spirit level (for making sure planks are even)
- · Combination square (for measuring and marking angles and lengths)
- · Workbench or sawhorse
- · Rubber mallet
- · Drill (for covering pipework)
- · Chisel (if fitting around an architrave)
- · Moisture meter (the correct type for your subfloor)
- · Beading or skirting boards (to finish the look)
- · Safety equipment (including safety gloves, goggles, knee pads, dust masks, and ear defenders)
Materials
- · Laminate flooring planks/boards
- · Underlay and underlay tape (if needed)
- · Damp-proof membrane (strongly recommended when installing on concrete or other moisture-prone surfaces).
Once you’ve acquired everything you’ll need, it’s time to lay your laminate flooring.
Step 1. Measure Your Room
It’s vital that you take accurate measurements of your room before you start. This will avoid costly or time-consuming mishaps later.
Start by using a tape measure (as they’re more accurate than their digital counterparts) to measure the length and width of your room. Then, multiply the length by the width to determine the square footage of your room.
Tip: Always add 10% to your square footage measurement to account for any wastage during cutting and installation. If using herringbone, this goes up to 15% wastage.
Step 2. Checking the Planks
It may seem obvious, but before laying your floor, inspecting your flooring delivery is important. Check the planks to ensure you’re satisfied with the colour, detailing, and style.
Our laminate flooring options offer natural colour variation between planks. These variations help create colour contrasts and deliver a more natural look, but they also mean variation between packs—especially in our wood-effect laminate range. If you find any planks that you’re not happy with, set them aside to use for cutting or filling any hidden spots on your floor.
Before you begin laying your laminate, it’s also worthwhile to inspect the boards and pick out any with natural grains, knots, and shades.
Why?
Style, of course. You can use boards with natural detail as focal points, mixing the planks to achieve a unique look. To cultivate a bespoke look, consider which direction you want your planks to go. As a rule, it’s best to run them along the longest wall.
If your room is square, spend some time assessing how the natural light glows in the room, or start from the entrance.
Step 3. Acclimatise Your Laminate Flooring
This isn’t as difficult as it sounds, but it’s perhaps the most important factor of laminate flooring installation. And that’s not an exaggeration—skipping or rushing this step could result in poorly fitting laminate, and you don’t want that.
So, for at least 24 hours before you lay your laminate flooring, leave it in the room where it’ll be installed, in the boxes it arrived in. For best results, keep the packs horizontal, with even weight distribution.
It’s also worth noting that environmental factors such as temperature and humidity play key roles here, so it’s important to maintain a consistent temperature in the room before, during and for three days after you install your laminate flooring.
The ideal room temperature for acclimatising your floor should be between 18 °C – 27°C, ensuring there’s no exposure to extreme elements (i.e. water, heat).
Why?
To help stabilise moisture levels, laminate flooring can expand slightly with fluctuations in temperature and humidity, leading to peaks and gaps that will ruin the smooth look of your floor.
If you have underfloor heating, you should gradually increase the temperature following the manufacturer’s instructions to familiarise the floor with the heat.
Once your flooring is properly acclimated, the real work can begin.
Step 4. Prepare the Subfloor
It’s crucial that your subfloor is thoroughly prepared for laminate floor installation—skipping this step may undo your hard work before it begins.
It may sound like an exaggeration, but it’s true. So, before laying your new floor, fully remove any existing flooring, clean, dry, and level your subfloor. We’ll break these steps down in more detail below.
Start by clearing the floor of any dirt or debris (including old flooring materials). Then, double-check that the area is dry. You should also ensure that the floor is clear of any adhesive materials from the previous floor, as well as securing any subfloor screws or nails below the surface to avoid piercing the underlay.
Next, level the floor. Use a spirit level to check for unevenness. If you find any, use a self-levelling compound or shims to address the issue.
After that, install a moisture barrier to protect the laminate flooring from moisture damage. A polyethene sheet called a damp-proof membrane will do the trick. It’s also wise to use a moisture meter to ensure your subfloor is completely dry as even trace amounts of moisture can damage your laminate.
Finally, install your underlay. This step will differ, depending on which subfloor you have.
Laying Underlay on Concrete Subfloor
If you’re installing over concrete, you’ll need to use an underlay with a built-in damp-proof membrane. Tape the underlay down using packaging tape to ensure it extends up the wall at least 5 cm.
Laying Underlay on Wooden Subfloor
If it's a wooden subfloor, you won’t have to use an underlay with a damp-proof membrane, tape the underlay together, or run it up the wall at least 5cm.
Laying Underlay over Underfloor Heating
For installation over underfloor heating ensure you have an underlay that distributes heat evenly across its surface. These are recommendations, but you should always follow manufacturers' guidelines when choosing an underlay.
The subfloor has been prepped and the underlay laid. Now it’s time to start installing your laminate floor
Step 5. Laying the First Row
You’ll want to start in the corner of the room with the longest wall. From there, place the first plank tongue-side against the wall, groove side facing outwards.
Remember to leave an expansion gap of approximately ¼ inch to allow for natural expansion and contraction of the planks, which are influenced by fluctuating temperature and humidity.
Next, align the tongue of the second plank with the groove of the first and gently tap into place using a block and mallet.
Finally, repeat this process until you’ve reached the opposite wall.
Step 6. Lay Subsequent Rows
Now your first row is laid, you’re ready to get stuck into laying subsequent rows of laminate flooring.
You’ll want to start the second row with a short piece cut from the first. This will create a staggered pattern, which will enhance the floor’s appearance and stability.
Next, begin connecting the rows by aligning the tongue of the second row’s plank with the groove of the first. Use a mallet and block to tap the planks together.
From there, continue laying the planks in this pattern, making sure to offset the rows between adjacent planks by at least six inches.
Step 7. Handling Obstacles
While straightforward, laying laminate flooring isn’t 100% obstacle-free. As with any DIY task, your environment will present challenges—often in the form of literal obstructions such as pipes, radiators, sinks, and door frames.
Fortunately, with a little patience and creativity, these obstacles can be minor disruptions, rather than major headaches. Door Frames
If an awkwardly located doorframe impedes your progress, simply use a jigsaw to cut beneath it to make space for the thickness of your laminate flooring.
Fitting Laminate Around Pipes & Vents
Fitting laminate around pipes and vents can be tricky, but you can achieve a professional-quality look with a little patience.
If your room has exposed pipes, mark their position on the board and drill a hole to match the size accordingly. Once you’ve done that, make angled cuts to form a wedge from the edge of the board to the hole.
After fitting the board around the pipe, reattach the wedge with glue behind the pipe or fill it with caulk or an appropriate decorative trim to create a seamless look.
Sidenote: Keep spare planks or off-cuts for any repairs that may be needed in the future.
Irregularly Shaped Rooms
If the room you’re installing laminate flooring in is irregularly shaped (such as an L-shaped or circular room), diligence is key to avoiding uneven flooring.
Your first task should be to measure the space, making cutting marks as you go. Then, use an electric jigsaw to cut the irregular shapes to size, allowing for smooth laying of your laminate.
Tip: Be sure to test the fit before you fasten the laminate. Re-cut as needed.
Additional Tips for Laying Laminate Flooring
Be Patient
Complex shapes may be tricky to cut, but the last thing you want is to rush and damage your flooring.
Plan Ahead
Before you begin installing your laminate flooring, take time to assess the layout of the room, noting down any potential obstacles and deciding how you’ll approach them.
Have the Right Tools
Before you begin, it’s crucial that you have the right tools for laying laminate flooring. This will save time and prevent damage.
Chop saws are good for repetitive cuts, especially on the short end of laminate boards. That said, chop saws kick up a lot of dust, so it’s wise to use them outside, and wear a mask to prevent breathing in any dust, as well as goggles to protect your eyes.
Circular saws are best for cutting long, straight lines. Jigsaws are ideal for cutting around pipes, toilets, and other curved objects.
If you’re using a power saw, remember that laminate chips easily. To avoid this, use a saw with fine teeth, and cut downwards into the laminate, not upwards as you would with a typical saw blade.
If you’re going old-school with a hand saw, cut your laminate with the good side up, but only apply pressure in downward strokes. Don't let the saw encounter the uncut section of the line when pulling back up.
Consult a Pro
Pride is all well and fine, but don’t be afraid to contact a professional to help you navigate any awkward shapes or obstacles.
Step 8. Install the Last Row
Once you reach the last row, you’ll need to use a pull bar to (gently) pull the planks into place and ensure a snug fit.
Finally, measure and cut the planks for the last row (as you did the first) to fit neatly into the space, leaving the same expansion gap of ¼ inches to allow for the boards' natural expansion and contraction.
And that should do it. If you’ve followed the above steps, you’ll have neatly laid laminate flooring, ready for furniture to be installed and arranged.
Additional Information on Laying Laminate Flooring
Be sparing with glue
Most laminate floors are click-system types, allowing for easy installation. The pieces snap together like jigsaw pieces without the frustration of missing parts. The key is to be sparing with the glue, as too much will form barriers between the edges.
Account for Expansion
Even if your new floor has been properly acclimatised before and after fitting (for 48 hours!) it will still experience normal expansion and contraction as temperature and humidity levels fluctuate, so remember to leave a small gap (10mm) between the laminate boards and the edge of the room.
Spacers (purchased separately) are provided in the installation kits to maintain this gap during installation. After you have installed the floor, you can cover this expansion gap with scotia/beading or new skirting boards.
The 10mm expansion gap also needs to be left in doorways where the floor follows through from one room to another; we have a full range of door profiles available to match your floor.
Final Things to Consider
Laying laminate flooring is a time-consuming task, with several moving parts so it’s important to have a clear plan in place before you make with the hammers, saws, and spirit levels.
With that in mind, we figured we’d leave you with some final tips to ensure the smoothest process. For example:
- · Make sure that installing your floor is the last thing you do. It’s a cliché, but diligent preparation will save you time (and potentially) money down the line.
- · It’s wise to work from the top to the bottom of your room to allow you a clear view of your progress and minimise the risk of damage as you work.
- · Securing furniture is important but avoid screwing heavy items directly into the floor as this well cause irreversible damage, which will be visible should you redesign your room.
- · If your floor feels unstable, it might be worth using extra adhesive.
- · If you’re installing laminate in a kitchen that has (or will have) a kitchen island, you can install the island directly on top of the subfloor, providing the subfloor is level. As with furniture, don’t screw the kitchen island directly into the floor.
And there you have it. An entry-level guide to laying laminate flooring. Remember, if you’re undertaking any DIY task, it’s crucial to spend time as much time planning as you can. The more you’ve got figured out in advance, the lower the likelihood you’ll encounter obstacles.
Need more tips and tricks for revitalising your home? Check out our advice centre. Yet to decide on your next project? Visit our inspiration centre.