Laminate floors are a great choice for budget-conscious homeowners. Laminate floor comes in a variety of patterns, many of which resemble real wood floors, but it’s a snap (literally) to install and doesn’t require any expensive maintenance. And it’s much cheaper than many other types of floor. Laminate floors can be installed over a concrete slab or subfloor, but they can also be installed over an existing floor. Always check the instructions that come with your laminate floors before beginning the installation.

Before Installing Your Laminate Floor

After you buy laminate floors, take the planks out of the packaging and let them rest inside your house for at least 48 hours. Temperature and humidity can affect laminate floors and cause them to swell. It’s better if this happens before the floor is installed.

Meanwhile, check your subfloor. The floor needs to be clean, dry and completely flat. If it’s not flat, use a self-leveling compound to correct the problem. Remove any base molding before beginning your laminate floor installation.

Next, install the underlay. When you purchase your laminate floors, be sure to tell the seller whether you’re installing over a concrete slab or an existing floor. This will determine the type of necessary underlay. If you’re installing laminate floor over a concrete slab, run the underlay the same way the floor will run, and tape the seams together with packaging tape. The underlay should extend at least two inches up the wall. If you’re installing over an existing floor, you don’t need to tape the seams together, nor do they have to extend up the wall.

Laminate Floor: Install the Planks

Laminates are considered “floating” floors. This means that the planks attach to each other, but not to the subfloor itself. Don’t know how to install laminate flooring? Most laminate floors are designed as planks with a tongue-and-groove construction that makes it easy for the planks to snap into each other.

Place one-half inch spacers along the wall (one every 12 inches) so that the floor planks have room to expand. Work from left to right, installing laminate floor planks parallel to the room’s longest wall. Fit each new plank into the previously laid plank and tap it to make sure it fits snugly. Check to make sure there are no gaps in between the laminate floor’s planks. You will probably have to trim the last plank in each row to make it fit.

When you’re finished installing all of the floor planks, install thresholds between the floor and any open doors. Finally, take out the spacers and install base molding to cover the gaps along the edge of the room.