Article Views:
93
Ezine ready page
Ezine ready page
Posted on April 1, 2006 by Alphonso Sirtle. | Posted under Interior Decorating
Installing Glued Laminate Flooring Can be a Do-it-Yourself Project
|
Prepare1. First, measure the floor you intend to cover, allowing an extra 10% for mistakes.2. Second, remove any doors in the room and all the quarter round molding along the baseboards.3. Adjust the doorframes for the extra space that will be required by the laminate planks by putting a piece of underlayment and a plank up to the doorframe and cutting away any that would be in the way.4. Put spacers around the wall and lay the underlayment with pieces butting up to each other. You will want to tape the pieces together so they don't move as you work. If this is being installed over a concrete slab or a plywood subfloor that is near the ground, you will need to put a moisture barrier underneath the underlayment. Laying the planks1. Leave the flooring in the room, unpacked, for the prescribed time the manufacturer suggests to allow the laminate planks to acclimate to the temperature and humidity. Now, would be the time to check each piece for any damage. Also decide at this point which wall you want to start on. You should choose the wall that will be most visible once all the furniture is in place, since any mistakes will show up more on the ending wall that could be covered with the furniture. Also make sure that the planks on the ending wall will be at least 2 inches wide. 2. Lay the first three rows without any glue. If the wall has corners, trace a pattern so that you can cut the planks accordingly. You want to make sure your beginning allows you to keep the rest of the room square. 3. Once you have it dry fitted, you can start gluing the planks together. Do this by applying glue along all four edges of each plank. Carefully, slip each plank into place and tap it with a tapping block to tighten the joint. Allow these first three rows to dry for at least one hour before continuing. 4. As you come to the end of row, you may need to cut a plank to fit. First, see if a scrap piece can be used. If there is an angle, trace the pattern on the back of the plank and cut it with a saber saw. 5. On each new row, adjust the pattern so that the joints are at least 8 inches off from the joints on the previous row. 6. At the end of each row, tighten the joints with a pry bar or apply a strap clamp to hold the joints tight as they dry. Finishing touches1. Once the floor is installed and the glue has dried, replace the quarter round molding of the expansion gap around the edges. Make sure that the finishing nails used to secure the molding do not go into the laminate flooring. 2. Use the appropriate reducer strip to transition from the laminate flooring to other types of flooring that it meets up to. Again, this is a general guideline of how to install glued laminate flooring. More specific instructions will come with your particular product. Make sure to follow those exactly and to ask your retailer if there is any confusion as to what you should do. About The Author: Alphonso has been working in the home remodeling industry for last 5 years. Take advantage of his experience and written material on flooring ideas at his website at http://www.improve-home.com |
Tags:
