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Install and Clean Different Flooring Types
How to Install Laminate Flooring
There's nothing like the look of a beautiful hardwood floor, but they take a lot of time and effort to maintain. Laminate flooring is a great alternative; it provides the same look as hardwood, but is much easier to keep up. What's more, you can install this type of flooring yourself over the course of a weekend. This step-by-step guide will show you how to install laminate flooring.
1. Measure the room where the flooring is to be installed, so you will know how much to buy. Don't forget to include closets and other areas in those measurements.
2. Buy the flooring; at least twenty percent more than your measurement. It's important to buy extra in case there are defective pieces or if you make a mistake, or if after installation a piece gets damaged.
3. Open the flooring bodes and let them "air out" for a couple of days before you install- skipping this step may cause the floor to warp or buckle.
4. Take all the furniture out of the room, and remove any baseboards or shoe molding.
5. Lay out the flooring; this will give you a chance to see how the floor will look and to ensure that you have enough.
6. Get all your materials such as a jigsaw, measuring tape, blocks, spacers, miter saw, rubber mallet, T-square and caulk.
7. Ready the subfloor by laying down a moisture barrier. This is usually a foam; remove all the wrinkles and stretch it all the way to the walls. Don't overlap pieces, but several can be taped together at the edges.
8. Lay boards along the largest wall, leaving just over one-quarter inch between wall and board (use the spacers mentioned above. Ensure that the grooved side of the board is facing the wall.
9. Continue in the same manner, attaching the next board according to the manufacturer's instructions. A rubber mallet is handy for snapping boards into place.
10. If needed, cut the last board in the row with a jig, miter or table saw. Use the leftover piece to begin the next row, and continue until floor is covered.
Then, simply replace the shoe molding to hide the gap between wall and board. Fill in any cracks with caulk that is of a similar color to your flooring. Your work is done!