DIY Laminate Flooring Free Help and AdviceWelcome to DIY Laminate Flooring, here's a 'do it yourself' laminate flooring guide, offering some hints and tips and general information on fitting your own laminate floor. We look at the benefits, range of colours, types of underlay, laying guide and maintenance and repair. This guide is not intended to replace the fitting instructions found in each pack you buy, always read the instructions carefully before you start laying the laminate flooring. |
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Benefits of Laminate Flooring
Laminate Flooring has became very popular over the recent years, it gives a modern look to any room, it's readily available, cheap, easy to get home in the car (unlike a carpet) and best of all easy to fit yourself if you have a few DIY skills.
There are many colours and designs to choose from to compliment your existing furniture and decor, you can even get a tile effect if you want a change from the strip wood effect that is so popular.
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The hardwearing laminate requires little maintenance other than a sweep with a soft broom but if any accidents do happen then there's plenty of repair kits in a number of colours to cover up any scratches or chips.
What is Laminate Flooring
Laminate is a high density fibreboard (HDF) in a variety of thicknesses for different uses ie domestic/light commercial. The wood design is a print which is covered with a heavy duty, hardwearing laminate to protect it.
Laminate should not be installed in rooms with excessive moisture such as bathrooms, if the new laminate floor is expected to require frequent washing with a damp mop, then applying a thin line of glue to the joins when fitting should be considered. Always read the instructions on the packs before fitting.
Colours and Design
The most popular design of laminate flooring is the strip wood effect, available in many colours including beech, oak, maple, birch and cherry to name but a few.
Because the design or pattern is simply a print the manufacturers are now offering more pattern options, the most popular being a floor tile effect in a variety of colours. This can give your kitchen or dining room a nice farmhouse feel that ceramic floor tiles offer but with the ease of fitting that comes with laminate flooring.
Fitting Laminate Flooring
Fitting Laminate flooring yourself shouldn't be a problem if you have a few simple DIY skills. You'll need to prepare the floor, lay the appropriate underlay (or damp proof backing if you're laying over a concrete floor). The lay the laminate strips and finally any trims you require.
The first step is to work out how many packs you need.
Check out the great range of flooring Wickes has to offer right here!
How many Packs?
Before you go and buy the flooring and underlay you'll need to calculate how many packs you'll need. To work it out all you will need is a simple measure of the room plus the amount you get in each pack.
So measure the length of the room and multiply it by the width of the room to give you the area for your room, then you will divide the area of your room by the area each pack covers.
In the example below a 3mx4m room is 12m. Divide 12m by the area of the pack eg 2.48 gives you 4.8 packs, so you will have to buy 5 packs. I recommend you buy an extra pack too, this will cover any extra cutting you may need.
Different laminate flooring types will cover different areas per pack, be sure to double check the pack sizes before buying.
Tools Required, Laminate Fitting Kits
You'll need Laminate floor fitting kit, a hammer, fine toothed saw, tape measure and some string, wood glue (if the floor will require frequent washing).
Floor Preparation and Underlay options
The floor should be flat, free from dust and dirt. Uneven floorboards should be leveled and any loose boards will need to be screwed down firmly before hand.
Concrete floors should be level, if not a floor leveling compound powder should be used to get a level smooth surface. A damp proof membrane will definitely need to be laid onto the concrete first before laying the underlay.
Two main types of insulation are a 2mm think foam sold on a roll 1m wide by 15m and thicker 7mm fibre underlay boards which provide better sound insulation and heat insulation.
Please see individual guidelines on the insulation packs you intend to buy.
Note. Before you lay the packs they should be opened and laid out in the room where they will be fitted for 48hrs. This will help prevent any warping due to changes in the moisture content of the room.
Check out the great range of flooring Wickes has to offer right here!
Fitting the Boards
Full instructions on fitting the particular type of laminate boards you buy can be found in every pack and should read before starting the job to be sure you know exactly what you're doing.
- Remove all the furniture from the room
- Lay a suitable underlay depending on the floor type. Use a floor leveling compound if required
- Using spacers begin laying the boards along one wall furthest from the door.
- Check the row of boards using the string to be sure they are laid in a straight line
- Start the second row with the cut off section from the first row as long as it it longer than 30cm, if you have an off cut less than 30cm use a new board cut in half to start the second row.
- After 3 rows are laid and you're happy you can remove the last two rows and refit them using glue if necessary
- The final row may need to be cut length ways to ensure a tight fit between spacers and the wall
This brief guide is for information purchases only and should not be used as a set of instructions for fitting laminate flooring. Consult the instructions carefully in your laminate packs for detailed fitting instructions.
Finally fit the skirting boards above the laminate, do not fill the expansion gaps with any material unless it specifically states in the instructions.
Maintenance of your new Floor
Your new laminate floor is very hardwearing, scratches can typically occur form grit and stones being brought in from outside on the bottom of peoples shoes. Using a mat at the front and back door can help to minimise this.
Clean your floor when necessary with a damp cloth, don't pour cleaning liquids directly onto the laminate. Never use abrasive products on the laminate. DIY Laminate Flooring recommends using a Laminate Floor Cleaner for best results. Be sure to use castor cups for small diameter furniture legs and always lift your furniture, never slide it over the laminate.
Scratch and Chip Repairs of Laminate Flooring
No doubt as some point the odd scratch will appear here and there over time despite your best efforts to keep the floor looking good. There are a number of scratch repair kits available and it's probably a good idea to buy and keep it safe when you buy the laminate so if you do decide to repair the floor then you have the right kit ready to match the colouring on the floor.
Thanks for visiting DIY Laminate Floor
We hope this little guide has gave you some insight to laying your own floors, remember to follow the specific instructions supplied with all packs of laminate flooring and pay close attention to your own health and safety when doing any type of DIY work around the home.