Top Ten Tips to Install A Laminate Floor

1) Measure the room to know how much flooring you will need. Multiply the length times the width of the room, add 10% to the order for off cuts and mistakes.

2) Prep the subfloor well before laying down the laminate. Level any dips, remove all debris. If the floor is uneven, lay down a plywood subfloor.

3) Have all the proper tools before you start, rubber mallet, pull bar, tape measure, saw, knife and underlay pad.

4) Gently remove the baseboards and door casings. They will be reattached to the walls to hide the small gap between the floor and the wall.

5) Roll out the underlay pad and connect the pieces with clear tape. Most come with an adhesive strip down the side to connect it.

6) Determine which way you want to lay the floor, vertical or horizontal. Start on the longest wall.

7) Use spacers that can be removed before the baseboard is reattached. This will ensure you are laying an even floor.

8) Most planks easily snap together and can be manipulated with a gentle tap with the rubber mallet. Never hit the laminate with a regular hammer, this will damage the plank.

9) Around hard corners or doorways that make it close to impossible to snap the laminate together, use the knife to cut off the connector and use wood glue to lay it in place.

10) Reattach the baseboard; if you find you can still see the edge of the floor, simply install quarter-round at the floor line. Cut the door casing down the thickness of the floor so it slides right back into place.