Arranging laminate flooring involves strategic placement for optimal appearance and stability, typically beginning with proper subfloor preparation and underlayment.
How to Arrange Laminate Flooring?
To arrange laminate flooring effectively, once your underlay is laid, you generally start in a corner and orient the boards so they run parallel with the longest wall in the room.
Initial Considerations for Layout
Before you even begin laying boards, think about the overall layout and direction. This early planning significantly impacts the final look and performance of your laminate floor.
- Underlayment is Key: As the first step in preparation, ensure your underlay is properly laid. This provides a crucial barrier against moisture, helps with sound dampening, and offers a smooth surface for the laminate.
- Aesthetic Direction: While you can arrange your laminate flooring to your liking, it generally looks best for the boards to run parallel with the longest wall in the room. This often creates a sense of depth, makes the room appear larger, and minimizes the visual impact of any slight irregularities in the walls.
- Optimal Starting Point: The best way to lay laminate flooring is to start in a corner and lay the first row of boards tongue side facing the nearest wall. This method provides a stable base and allows you to easily expand across the room.
Step-by-Step Arrangement Process
Laying laminate flooring is a methodical process that, when followed correctly, ensures a durable and attractive finish.
- Prepare the Room and Underlay:
- Ensure the subfloor is clean, dry, and level.
- Roll out and secure your underlayment according to the manufacturer's instructions. Overlap or tape seams as directed.
- Establish Your Starting Corner:
- Choose a corner in the room, ideally near a doorway or the longest wall, to begin. This will be your anchor point.
- Lay the First Row:
- Following the best practice, start in a corner and lay the first row of boards tongue side facing the nearest wall. This means the groove side will be facing into the room, ready to accept the next row of boards.
- Place spacers between the boards and the wall to maintain the necessary expansion gap (typically 1/4 to 3/8 inch). This gap is crucial for allowing the flooring to expand and contract with temperature and humidity changes without buckling.
- Connect the short ends of the boards in the first row. You may need to cut the last board in the row to fit, ensuring the cut piece is at least 12 inches long for stability.
- Continue with Subsequent Rows:
- Stagger Joints: For strength and a natural look, ensure the end joints of adjacent rows are staggered by at least 8-12 inches (or as recommended by the manufacturer). Use the cut-off piece from the end of the previous row to start the next, provided it's long enough.
- Click-and-Lock System: Most modern laminate flooring uses a click-and-lock system. Angle the tongue of the new board into the groove of the previously laid board and press down until it clicks into place. You may need a tapping block and a mallet to gently tap boards into a tight fit.
- Dealing with Obstacles:
- Doorways and Irregularities: For areas like doorways or around pipes, measure and cut the laminate boards precisely using a jigsaw or laminate cutter. Always maintain the expansion gap around fixed objects.
- Last Row: The last row often needs to be cut lengthwise to fit. Measure the remaining gap, subtract the expansion gap, and rip the boards accordingly.
By carefully planning your layout and adhering to the recommended starting techniques, you can achieve a professional and visually appealing laminate floor installation.
