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How to install laminate flooring?

Last updated on June 25th, 2025

What is Laminate Flooring?

Laminate flooring is a practical, stylish, and cost-effective option that continues to gain popularity among homeowners and renovators.It gives the impression of real hardwood or stone without such an expensive tag, combining beauty along with the convenience of being carefree. Referred to as laminate to have multiple layers, depending upon construction mostly consist of a core layer of fiberboard, followed by the photographic aspects of imagery, giving it a realistic image, having access to a durable top layer, preventing scratches, stains, and wear. If you improve a single room or remodel an entire home, laminate flooring makes easier to change the whole feeling of your space without the budget-breaking costs.

Where can you install laminate flooring?

Laminate flooring is used almost in every area of a house such as living rooms, entry areas, bedrooms, hallways, and yes-even in home offices. Now with the finally introduced water-resistant or waterproof variants, laminate can also be installed in the kitchen, mudroom, or laundry at home. You wouldn’t put ordinary laminate in the bathroom, as moisture is constantly there, but newer high-performance-and-perhaps-high-end-options do much better than most others at these humid environments. Most importantly, the surface underneath the laminate should be flat, dry, and clean to create a perfect finish that hardwears.

Steps to install laminate flooring

From prepping the base to securing the final row, every step plays a role in creating a smooth, durable, and attractive floor.

Prepare the Sub floor

If you want to have a successful installation, a clean and leveled subfloor is the prerequisite. Whether you are putting it on concrete, plywood, or some existing floor, the state of the surface must be carefully examined. Old carpet or flooring need to be pulled out, concrete repairs carried out, and most importantly, any moisture that could jeopardize the laminate in the future must be cleared. Flat sub-p flooring is crucial so that the planks lock and hold together in due course of flooring installation.

Trim Door Jambs

Dogors can often prevent sleek installation of laminate flooring. In order to achieve a professional finish, lower edges of door jambs must be trimmed to allow planks sliding underneath. This gives a good finish, helping the flooring to look like a natural part of the room rather than an afterthought. Using a flush-cut saw or even a simple hand saw will achieve this with little extra work.

Plan the Layout

One should spend a good amount of time preparing before laying the first plank in the floor. Decide which direction the planks must be laid, ideally parallel to the longest wall or the main light source, to allow the space to appear larger and more coherent. Measure the room width and divide it by the plank width; calculate how wide the last row will be. If it turns out to be too narrow, consider shortening the first row slightly to create a more balanced aesthetic across the floor.

Install Underlayment

Underlayment is a soft layer that minimizes sound, absorbs minor imperfections in the subfloor, and protects against moisture. Unroll the underlayment in rows across the floor, making sure not to allow seams to overlap. Some laminate products come with pre-attached underlayment, which would be time-saving, but where it is not provided, this step is critical for comfort and durability.

Install the First Row

Installing the first row of laminate flooring is a crucial step that sets the tone for the rest of the installation. This phase involves a few important steps that help ensure a clean, precise start and they are as follows.

Start in a Corner

Starting from the left-hand corner of the room, the first plank is placed tongue side against the wall. This allows any subsequent rows to easily lock into place as you move across the room.

Connect the Planks

As per manufacturer recommendations, click ends of planks together. A tapping block and a rubber mallet might be needed for a good fit while avoiding damage to the edges.

Trim the Last Plank

From the last piece of the row, measure and cut according to the fit, making sure to account for the expansion gap at the wall. If the leftover sapwood piece is at least six inches long, it can be applied to the joint of the next row for staggering.

Continue Laying the Flooring

Proceed with laying row by row, clicking the long side and short side of each plank into place. For stability and aesthetics, stagger the joints between rows. Make sure to regularly inspect for gaps and roughness, and readjust as needed to maintain everything in alignment and tight. Maintaining spacers against all walls will ensure uniform expansion gaps.

Install the Final Row

The last row of flooring usually requires trimming the planks lengthwise to fit. Be precise in your measurements and cuts because these are the pieces that complete your floor. If you cannot fit a tapping block, you may need to use a pull bar to tighten the planks in cramped spaces.

Finish the Installation

Remove Spacers

Once the planks are in position, retrieve those expansion spacers you had placed around the room; this step permits the baseboards to sit flush against the wall.

Install Baseboards and Transitions

Install baseboards to cover the expansion gaps, and then install transition strips between rooms or different flooring materials to present a clean-finished look. This last step gives a neat appearance and also helps the flooring stay put over the years.

Clean the Floor

Vacuum or sweep thoroughly to remove any dust and small debris. A dry or damp microfiber cloth will bring out the beauty of your new laminate floor.

Required Tools and Materials for Installing Laminate floor

Being well-prepared with the right tools and materials can make the installation process faster, easier, and much more efficient. Planning ahead ensures that you won’t have to stop mid-project to make a trip to the store.

Tools Required

Measuring tape will be required for precise cuts; a level will ascertain subfloor flatness; and a utility knife will be useful for trimming underlay material. A laminate cutter or jigsaw will help cut the planks, while a tapping block and pull bar will assist in locking them tightly into place. A rubber mallet can be used for some slight adjustments, and spacers will help to keep expansion gaps around the perimeter.

Material Required

Besides laminate planks, you will need underlayment (if it is not factory-attached), spacers, baseboards, transition strips, and adhesive, if required. You should also save some leftover planks for any potential cutting mistakes or repairs that may be needed later on. Proper preparation will eliminate wastage and render the job smoother and more effortless.

FAQs

1) What is Laminate Flooring?

Laminate flooring is engineered to artificially produce the appearance and features of natural wood or stone surfaces. It consists of several layers fused into a single sheet because of which it has a very good durability combined with very low maintenance cost and is much cheaper compared to traditional hardwood flooring.

2) How to install laminate flooring?

For the installation of laminate flooring, the subfloor is prepared, underlayment is installed, and the planks are brought together in a staggered fashion. Finally, all finishing touches such as baseboards and transitions complete the whole image.

3) Where can you install laminate flooring?

Laminate flooring can be installed in almost all dry indoor environments. For instance, it does great within the entire surface of living rooms, bedrooms, and even hallways. The types of laminate resistant to water may also be installed in kitchens, entryways, and laundry spaces with proper sealing.

4) How long does it take to install laminate flooring?

Usually, with an example of size and personal experience, the floor will be installed in one day or two. Planning, preparing, and having the right tools speed things up.