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Laminate Flooring Installation Guide


Looking for a budget-friendly alternative to real wood flooring? Laminate flooring is your answer. With advancements in technology, laminate flooring now convincingly mimics the look of real wood floorboards. Not only does it offer an authentic appearance, but it's also highly resistant to moisture damage, making it an ideal choice for areas prone to humidity and temperature fluctuations like kitchens, bathrooms, and basements. Whether you're planning a laminate flooring installation or considering your options, our comprehensive guide by industry experts will help you make the right choice.

Laminate Flooring Installation: Essential Tools

Laminate flooring installation - necessary toolsLaminate flooring installation is an easier and faster process when compared to the fitting of real wood flooring. Therefore, laminate flooring installation is often practised as a DIY project. You can get involved in the laminate installation process as far as you feel confident enough that you understand how laminate installation works or you have any previous experience. In case you are considering a DIY laminate flooring installation, or you are simply interested in the topic, let’s discuss and list all the tools you are going to need for proper laminate flooring installation and achieving flawless results:

  • Hand saw or electric chop saw
  • Pencil
  • Underlay
  • Measuring tape
  • Knee pads
  • Moisture metre
  • Spacers
  • Pull bar
  • Jigsaw
  • 2m long spirit level

Laminate Flooring Installation: Preparation

Before you begin the installation process, it's crucial to inspect the floorboards for any defects. If you come across any issues, contact the seller for a replacement. Assuming the floorboards are in good condition, proper preparation is key to ensuring a lasting and high-quality floor.

Start by assessing the site conditions, paying close attention to the subfloor's moisture level and overall moisture on-site. Although laminate flooring is less susceptible to moisture damage than real wood floors, it's still affected by humidity and temperature fluctuations. Therefore, maintain humidity levels between 45% and 65% during laminate flooring installation. For the subfloor, whether concrete or timber, ensure a relative moisture content not exceeding 12%MC on a surface prong test, and ensure that subfloor levels do not exceed 3mm over a 1m distance in any direction. Always make sure the subfloor is dry, clean, and level before proceeding with the installation.

Laminate Flooring Installation: Acclimatisation

Similar to real wood flooring, laminate floorboards require an acclimatization period before installation. Allow the floorboards to acclimatise by storing them out of their packaging on-site for 48 hours. This enables the floorboards to adjust to the conditions in the room where the installation will take place, minimizing the risk of damages caused by moisture-related expansion and contraction. Prioritize checking the manufacturer's instructions and requirements for acclimatization to ensure optimal results and a durable, long-lasting floor.

Laminate Flooring Installation: Underlay

Laminate flooring installation - underlayInstalling a layer of underlay before laminate flooring installation is very important, and essential for the process and for the durability and functionality of the laminate floor once it is fitted.

Before laminate flooring installation, always make sure you are choosing the right type of underlay according to the specifics of the project and the floor as well as your requirements and needs. There are different types of underlayment that serve different purposes.

In general, the main purposes of most underlays is working as a moisture barrier between the floor and the subfloor, improving the insulation of the floor, working as a sound-proofing barrier, and overall ensuring comfort with a cushioning effect.

Laminate Flooring Installation: The Process

Once you've completed site preparation and gathered the necessary materials, it's time to delve into the laminate flooring installation process. Always refer to the manufacturer's instructions and follow their recommendations.

Laminate flooring installation - the processDuring laminate flooring installation, you need to leave an expansion gap between the floorboards and the walls along the perimeter of the room. The expansion gap is a few millimetres of room left for a specific purpose – allowing the laminate floorboards to expand when affected by high moisture levels without getting damaged or breaking. Expansion gaps are not visible as it is covered with skirting boards or other sorts of flooring accessories. Laminate flooring installation is a quick and easy process.

The most popular and common type of laminate flooring installation is a click-system fitting, which means the laminate floorboards come with a specific design and the click-system as part of it, so all boards click together to create the flooring structure. You always start the installation of the laminate floorboards from the furthest from the door entrance corner of the room and you are moving your way towards the door entrance. Generally, thanks to their click-in system, laminate floorboards are pretty easy to install, which makes them a great choice for DIY projects.




FlooringFirst! Services
158 Coles Green Road
London, NW2 7HW
T: 020 88309782