How to lay laminate flooring guide

Laminate flooring is one of the most popular types of flooring out there, and it’s easy to see why.

There are a huge range of benefits to laminate flooring, including impressive durability, scratch resistance, low maintenance and moisture resistance. Plus, not only is it highly affordable and available in a huge range of different styles, but it is also renowned for its ease of installation.

Laminate flooring can be installed as a floating floor. This means that this flooring type does not need to be nailed or glued to the subfloor, making laminate flooring installation significantly quicker and easier - even if you’re a complete DIY rookie.

To help you see how straightforward it is to lay laminate flooring, our flooring experts have shared their complete step by step guide to the process below.

A step by step guide to laying laminate flooring:

You will need the following equipment:

  • Laminate flooring planks
  • Underlay
  • Measuring tape
  • Saw (either a circular, mitre, or a hand saw)
  • Hammer
  • Spacers
  • Tapping block
  • Safety glasses
  • Dust mask

The process of laying laminate flooring:

1. Prepare the subfloor. To start, empty the room and make sure the subfloor is clean. Also, check that the flooring can be accommodated across the room. This means that you might also need to trim your door jambs.

2. Lay the underlay. The underlay will need to be spread over the entirety of your subfloor.

3. Plan your layout. When it comes to laying lamiante flooring, planning is key. So, you need to determine which wall you will be starting from, and in which direction you will be laying the planks. Then, arrange your planks so that they are all set at your chosen direction.

4. Start laying the planks. Beginning with the first row of planks, lay the laminate along the starting wall. As you go along, ensure all of the planks are straight, and are fixed tightly to the wall.

Then, secure them to the subfloor with adhesive and use a tapping block to fix the planks neatly and securely.

5. Cut the planks. As you go, cut the planks so that they fit around any obstacles. This could include pipes, radiators or beams, based on the layout of the room.

6. Continue laying the planks. Once the first row has been completed, keep working your way through the planks, moving through the rows. For the best result, use spacers to keep a consistent expansion gap between the walls and the flooring planks, and stagger the end joints of the planks by a minimum of 30 cm.

7. Lay the final row. Finally, cut the planks to fit the final row, ensuring you keep a small expansion gap between the wall and this final row.

8. Cover the expansion gap. Finish off the floor by installing either skirting or scotia.

Answering your most common questions about laying laminate flooring

Keep reading to find our experts’ answers to your most common laminate flooring questions.

How do you measure for laminate flooring?

We suggest starting by measuring the length and width of the room. Then, calculate the total square meterage of the room by multiplying these two figures together.

To ensure that you don’t under order your laminate flooring, you will need to account for any wastages, off cuts, or irregularities in the room’s layout. So, we recommend adding an additional 10% to the total square footage of the room.

Once you have calculated this figure, divide that by the box coverage of the flooring you are looking to purchase.

Do you need an underlay for laminate flooring?

Yes, it is highly recommended that you lay an underlay underneath your laminate flooring. In fact, some laminate flooring manufacturers will specify that you need to include an underlayment in your flooring, in order for the warranty to be valid.

An underlay is a thin layer of padded material. It is designed to provide a level surface for the flooring, allowing for easier installation and a seamless result.

Plus, by laying the underlay below the laminate flooring, you will add an extra layer of protection, extend the laminate’s lifespan, and improve the insulation of the flooring.

How to prepare and clean your floor

Firstly, you will need to remove any old flooring, so that the subfloor is left completely bare.

Then, sweep up the flooring area, and remove any dust, dirt and general debris. This is key to ensuring a smooth, even surface for the underlayment and laminate flooring.

Then, ensure that the subfloor is fully level and in good condition. For this, you might need to fix any cracks or holes with a floor levelling compound (ensuring that you allow it to dry completely, and sand down any raised areas before you start on the flooring).

What is the right direction to lay laminate flooring?

It is advised that the flooring planks are perpendicular to the room’s largest source of natural light. This creates an inherently pleasing design layout.
Can you have underfloor heating with laminate flooring?

Yes, you can have underfloor heating with laminate flooring.

But, it is important to note that not all types of laminate flooring are compatible with underfloor heating. This is because some types of laminate flooring will warp or buckle under heat.

So, if you know that you would like to install underfloor heating, you will need to make sure that you choose a product that is compatible with it.

What is the best way to cut laminate flooring?

The best cutting method to use depends on the type of the cut that you need to make, and the tools that you have available.

The most popular methods for cutting laminate flooring are:

  • A mitre saw - this is the best way to make angled cuts, or for cutting the ends of planks down to the right size
  • A jigsaw - ideal for cutting around obsticals like pipes, bath tubs and toilets
  • A flooring cutter - this specialised saw blade tool is ideally suited for making precise, clean cuts in the planks
  • A hand saw - although hand saws are more labour-intensive than a power saw, they can still be used to make clean and accurate cuts in laminate flooring

At Floor Giants, we offer a wide selection of luxury laminate flooring, in a huge variety of design styles. This premium laminate flooring is available to buy online or from one of our many UK stores.

So, if you have any further questions about laminate flooring, or you would like to purchase luxury laminate flooring from Floor Giants, contact our friendly team, we are on hand to help.