One of the best things about the era we live in is that pretty much anything can be found on the internet. All of this access has dramatically increased the amount of projects the average person is capable of doing. Like installing your new laminate flooring, for example.
What to Know About Laminate Floor Installation
Common Mistakes When Planning Your New Laminate Floor
While installing your new laminate flooring is one of the easier projects you can take on, it’s not as simple as snapping a couple of boards, like you can with some hardwood flooring, into place. One of the areas where DIYers tend to mess up is in the planning stage. Laminate flooring is a wonderful product, one of the best flooring materials on the market these days, but that doesn’t mean it is perfect for every room. You can install it in your master bedroom if you want, although traditionally that’s an area usually reserved for residential carpeting. What we mean by planning is doing the necessary pre-installation work– like making sure the floor is level before you begin. Not having a level floor will lead to soft spots, which can go a long way in breaking the illusion of walking on actual hardwood flooring or stone.
As Always, Moisture is the Main Enemy
Once you’ve begun to install your new laminate flooring, the most important thing is to be sure you’ve properly and effectively sealed it against moisture. As many of you know, moisture is the main enemy of flooring, including laminate flooring. Laminate flooring is one of the best flooring options when it comes to dealing with moisture, since if it is properly sealed and installed correctly, it is very impervious to water. But, if it is not installed correctly, or there is a gap, it will allow moisture to seep into the boards used for padding underneath the laminate surface. This is a very, very bad thing. In a place like Nashville, with it’s humid climate, a little bit of water can turn into mold and ruin someone’s day very quickly.
Make Sure To Use an Underlayment
Laminate flooring is thin. Alone, it’s not the most fun thing in the world to walk on, which is why it’s usually installed over either a layer of particle board-like material or underlayment, which is a foaming substance. The reason underlayment is used, beyond the additional level of comfort it adds, is because it too can help level out the flooring. Having a level floor is so, so very important because it helps with other problematic areas. An uneven floor will have gaps and bubbles, space for moisture to seep in and what not. If moisture gets into the underlayment, it eats away at the foaming too, before moving onto more destructive practices.
Installing laminate flooring is a rewarding and relatively easy thing to do alone. Just make sure to really plan out where you’re going to install the flooring material, and that you’ve taken all the necessary steps to ensure a smooth installation. If you don’t think you’re ready for such a task, then be sure to call the professionals here at Ozburn-Hessey to finish the job!
