Installing Laminate Flooring
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Laminate flooring is a click-together system designed for DIY installation. The planks lock together without glue, float on an underlayment pad, and go down fast once you get the rhythm. The tools are simple and the cuts are mostly straight. The tricky part is transitions at doorways, undercutting door jambs, and getting the last row to fit.
Cost Breakdown
Prep & Layout
Measure the room for material calculation. Order 10% extra for waste and cuts.
Remove existing baseboards cleanly. A flat bar minimizes wall damage.
Cut underlayment to size and trim any backing material.
Cutting
Makes fast, clean crosscuts on laminate planks. A circular saw works but is slower for repetitive cuts.
Cuts curves around door jambs, pipes, and floor vents. The miter saw cannot do these.
Undercuts door jambs flush so laminate slides underneath instead of butting against them.
Installation
Protects the plank edge while you tap it into the adjacent plank. A scrap of laminate works too.
Hooks over the last plank in a row and lets you tap it tight against the wall where a tapping block cannot reach.
Taps planks together through the tapping block or pull bar without damaging the click joint.
1/4 inch spacers along the walls maintain the expansion gap. The floor needs room to move.
Consumables and Supplies
These get used up during the project. Always buy these new.
- Laminate flooring planks Calculate room square footage and add 10% for waste. Buy all boxes from the same lot.
- Underlayment pad Foam or cork. Some laminate has underlayment pre-attached. Check before buying separately.
- Transition strips T-molding between rooms, reducer at doorways, end caps at walls
- Painter's tape Tape underlayment seams
Safety Gear
- Safety glasses (cutting laminate throws chips)
- Hearing protection (miter saw)
- Knee pads (you are on the floor all day)
Before You Buy Anything
Check if your neighbors already have the tools you need. Borrowing saves money, saves storage space, and keeps tools in use instead of collecting dust.
See how FriendsWithTools worksCommon Questions
Do I need to remove the old flooring first?
Laminate can go over most existing hard surfaces (vinyl, tile, hardwood) as long as the surface is flat and clean. It cannot go over carpet. If the existing floor has bumps or dips greater than 3/16 inch over 10 feet, level them with floor leveling compound before installing.
Why do I need an expansion gap?
Laminate is a floating floor that expands and contracts with temperature and humidity. The 1/4 inch gap around all walls lets the floor move without buckling. Baseboards cover the gap. If you skip the gap, the floor will buckle in summer.