Choose a Laminate Wood Floor

Redecorating your home with a new laminate wood floor is a great idea! These floors have become very popular because their fairly inexpensive, easy to install, long lasting and caring for them is simple.

Choosing the Flooring

The flooring in a room is going to set the tone for the entire room including any furniture or appliances that maybe nearby. Dark colors will produce a formal atmosphere in a large room or a cozy effect in smaller rooms. Install lighter colored flooring in rooms that are too dark, bringing out a lighthearted fresh look to the room.

Artificial flooring looks its best when it is not used up against natural materials such as stone fireplaces or real wood paneled walls. Lighter colored floors with variegated patterns in the grain will show less dirt than solid colored flooring in light colors. Good quality laminate floors can last for years; choose a style that meets your needs even as your furniture decor changes.

All the old flooring or carpeting must be removed to begin with a clean surface for installing your new flooring. If you have old carpeting remove it and the padding along with the tack strips on the surrounding edges. The floor needs to be spotlessly clean so removing any sticky tape or padding residue is a must. Vacuum to remove all traces of dirt and if the remaining floor has any surface defects (holes or un-level surfaces), those will need to be patched as well.

Determine the square footage of the room for buying the proper amount of flooring and padding. Buying a thicker underlayment pad will save measurable wear on the laminate flooring in the future. Add an estimated 5% of materials for discards and trimming.

Lay out and trim the underlayment pad adhering the pieces together with tape. Snap the laminate wood flooring planks together, staggering the joints for a stronger surface. After laying down the padding place the laminate flooring over it, leaving a 1/4” air space between the wall and the floor to be filled with a scrap plywood spacer temporarily. Spacers should be placed against all four walls of the room. Use a laminate flooring pull bar and a rubber mallet to fit the flooring into position. Remove the plywood spacers and re-install the baseboards.

To clean a laminate floor, use a vacuum cleaner or a good dust mop. Regular sweeping prevents scratches to the surface, removing dirt particles. A damp mop removes any stains and additional dirt. If needed use a laminate wood floor cleaner.

When it is time to remove the old worn out carpet or flooring, choosing to install a new laminate wood floor is the way to go! Installation is simple and you will have a nice looking, low maintenance floor for years to come.