Here are some of the most important tips for installing laminate flooring. (For more details, check out our three-part article series at http://blog.zenithindustries.net/tips-for-installing-laminate-flooring-part-1.)

1. TIPS FOR INSTALLING
LAMINATE FLOORING

2. What
Is
Laminate
Flooring?
TIPS
FOR
INSTALLING
LAMINATE
FLOORING
blog.zenithindustries.net

3. How
Much
Does
It
Cost?
TIPS
FOR
INSTALLING
LAMINATE
FLOORING
blog.zenithindustries.net
• High-­‐quality
laminate
flooring:
$1.25
-­‐
$3.00
per
square
foot
• Underlayment:
$0.60
-­‐
$2.25
per
square
foot
• Other
materials
(vapor
barrier,
tape,
specialty
tools):
~$150
Total
Cost
EsBmate:
$1,500
-­‐
$3,000
for
an
average
room
Looking
for
more
detail?
Visit
Tips
For
Installing
Laminate
Flooring
(Part
I)
on
the
blog.

4. Where
Do
You
Put
It?
Where
To
Put
Laminate
Flooring
• Hard,
clean,
dry,
flat
surface
TIPS
FOR
INSTALLING
LAMINATE
FLOORING
blog.zenithindustries.net
• Over
smooth
or
rough
concrete,
linoleum,
exisng
plywood,
parcleboard,
hardwood,
or
ceramic
le
Where
Not
To
Put
Laminate
Flooring
• Carpet
or
irregularly
finished
stone
• Rooms
that
are
prone
to
water/moisture
(kitchen/bathroom)

5. What
Do
You
Need
To
Get
Started?
TIPS
FOR
INSTALLING
LAMINATE
FLOORING
blog.zenithindustries.net
Tools
• Tape
measure
• Straight
edge
• Marker
• Hammer
• Scissors
• Safety
glasses
• Combinaon
square
• Speed
square
• Pliers
• Pry
bar
• Box
cuaer
• Oscillang
saw
and
bench

6. How
Long
Should
You
Let
It
Acclimate?
TIPS
FOR
INSTALLING
LAMINATE
FLOORING
blog.zenithindustries.net
• You
need
to
let
the
flooring
acclimate
to
the
room’s
temperature
• Leave
the
flooring
for
at
least
2-­‐3
days
• Make
sure
the
temperature
is
at
least
65
degrees
Fahrenheit
Source:
Flickr
Creave
Commons

7. What
Should
You
Do
With
Low
Spots?
TIPS
FOR
INSTALLING
LAMINATE
FLOORING
blog.zenithindustries.net
• Low
spots
will
cause
the
floang
floor
to
flex
when
walked
on
• Low
spots
should
be
leveled
before
installing
the
flooring
• Make
sure
to
check
your
subfloor
for
low
spots
and
consult
a
flooring
expert
for
repair
advice
Source:
One
Project
Closer

8. How
Do
You
Install
The
Moisture
Barrier?
TIPS
FOR
INSTALLING
LAMINATE
FLOORING
blog.zenithindustries.net
• A
moisture
barrier
keeps
subfloor
water
from
damaging
the
laminate
floor
• Thoroughly
clean
the
floor
before
installing
the
moisture
barrier
• Cover
the
enre
surface
and
tape
all
seams
so
it
is
airght
Source:
Flickr
Creave
Commons

9. How
Do
You
Install
The
Underlayment?
TIPS
FOR
INSTALLING
LAMINATE
FLOORING
blog.zenithindustries.net
• The
underlayment
layer
is
applied
above
the
moisture
barrier
and
below
the
laminate
• Underlayment
helps
to
deaden
foot
traffic
sound
(we
recommend
premium
grade)
• Lay
the
roll
along
the
longest
wall,
cut
with
scissors,
and
make
sure
each
seam
touches
Looking
for
more
detail?
Visit
Tips
For
Installing
Laminate
Flooring
(Part
II)
on
the
blog.

10. How
Do
You
Install
The
First
Row?
TIPS
FOR
INSTALLING
LAMINATE
FLOORING
blog.zenithindustries.net
• Loosely
lay
down
your
first
row
with
the
tongue
of
the
planks
facing
your
starng
wall
• Cut
off
the
tongue
of
those
planks
and
run
them
along
your
expansion
spacers
• Install
each
plank
by
inserng
one
end
into
the
other
at
an
angle
and
press
down
• Cut
the
last
board
to
fit
(but
make
sure
it
is
longer
than
8
inches)

11. How
Do
You
Install
The
Final
Row?
TIPS
FOR
INSTALLING
LAMINATE
FLOORING
blog.zenithindustries.net
• Cut
the
last
row
to
fit
against
those
expansion
spacers
• Cut
the
rest
of
the
excess
underlayment
around
the
outside
• Follow
your
manufacturer’s
guidelines
for
installing
transion
strips
• Add
the
quarter
rounds
and
baseboards
back
around
the
walls
of
the
room
by
aaaching
them
back
to
the
wall
Looking
for
more
detail?
Visit
Tips
For
Installing
Laminate
Flooring
(Part
III)
on
the
blog

12. Get
The
Tools
You
Need
At
ZenithIndustries.Net