laminate flooring?

Question

i want to put my laminate flooring down, but not a 100% sure on what tools i need and where to get them from and how to put the flooring down, is there a web site that can give me step by step instructions on how to do it?

Answer 1

If you are putting it down on a concrete floor, you will need a waterproof pvc liner - then flooring boards (b&Q do square green cardboard ones - a bit like an underlay for a carpet - to keep the surface level and insulated. At DIY stores you can also buy a block with grooves in it - to fit over the laminate edges - which helps you to gently tap each board into place next to each other. Some boards slide together, others "click" - the click ones can be more troublesome as you have to align three sides at once, but even though technically you are not supposed to need a block with the click types, i find it useful to get everything in place. Be careful in going around corners - measure them carefully - you can get a tool which looks a bit like a comb - but a comb where the teeth move in and out - so you can put it around, for example, a door corner, and it will make a perfect imprint of that corner for you to transfer to the laminate plank and cut out - to minimise bad cuts. Take your time and you;ll find it quite straightforward - good luck!

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Its dead easy to lay laminate flooring . You are best going to b and q and chatting to one of the guys or girls on flooring section . I have found them to be the best to get free advice from. It is best to catch them mid week not a weekend as they are so busy during the weekend they will not have time to spend with you .
I took off my skirting boards and layed the flooring under them i find it is neater that way but if you dont want to do this you can buy trims.
you only really need basic hand tools a saw and tape measure .The new laminate is usually interlocking so you dont even need to glu thrm.

Answer 4

How to Install Laminate Flooring | DoItYourself.com
A step-by-step guide to the basic installation procedure of a floating laminate floor. ... How to Install Laminate Flooring. Transform Your Kitchen With New Cabinets. ...www.doityourself.com/stry/laminatefloorinstall - 23k - Cached - More from this site

Answer 5

Wickes have infomation leaflets that tell you all you need to know and sell the tools you need, basically spacers, and drifts to tap boards into place.
You will need underlay and I suggest you get the boards rather than the roll stuff it's a bit more expensive but the result makes even a cheap laminate feel better and last longer, experience.

Answer 6

It is as easy as the others have indicated, a sharp saw (buy a new one), a tape measure, pencil and a rubber mallet. Get the particle board underlay because it helps to even out the floor surface and something upon which you can saw your boards (you can get cheap workmate alike benches).

Like some of the other respondents I too have removed my skirting board, put the flooring down and re-fitted the skirting. It's a pain in the **** and you might as well get the quadrant instead.

Answer 7

If you go into a B&Q they have a good leaflet that explains in depth how it works. Depending on the type flooring you use you will need wedges to create an expansion gap at the edges, a tapping block to knock the planks sideways and a pulling bar for doing the opposite at the other end.

Its much easier than you think if you've never done it before.

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/templates/content_lookup.jsp?content=/bq_advice/common/buyersguides/10.2.05/main_flooring.jsp

is a basic guide thats online as well.

Answer 8

I went to B&Q and got all the tools I needed plus a video explaining how to do it. Basically you will need spacing blocks, a pulling bar, tapping block and a rubber hammer. Spacing blocks go around the edge to give the expansion gap (if you do not do this the flooring will rise!). The tapping block and hammer are to ensure planks slot together properly and the pulling bar is for fitting the last plank. Its easy I did th whole ground floor to my house on my own - and did a better job than my ex (his floor moved, mine is still perfect 3 yrs on!)

Answer 9

try b&q they sell packs with all the tools you need for laying laminate flooring. most packs contain step by step instructions on how to do the job

Answer 10

Probably the big store have them on-line. Failing that, visit a few big diy shops, they always have leaflets that tell you what you need to know.
Just a quick tip, if you see a problem with a join after you've put two boards together, never EVER, leave it and sort it later. Always fix it before laying another board.
Good luck.