How to Install a Walnut Laminate Flooring

When installing new flooring in your house, there is no denying that wood has a beautiful look to it that is hard to beat. Walnut is an especially nice looking wood. However, a wood such as walnut can be surprisingly expensive, and installation of it is not at all easy. It also can be a very time-consuming and messy task. When you consider these problems, the idea of a walnut floor does not seem so appealing. It is recommended to use much less expensive, easily installed genuine-looking walnut laminate flooring instead.

It is really very simple to install laminate walnut flooring. It is easy enough that someone with no experience can do it. You do not need any glue, and there is no waiting for anything to dry. This means your floors are ready to walk on in no time, and there is very little mess to clean up. The different pieces have grooves on the ends that make them it a snap to fit them together as you lay down your floor.

1. First you install a thin layer of plywood where your old floor used to be, using a nail gun. This is called the subfloor.
2. Then you install some padding that prevents the pieces from sliding around. This padding, also called an underlayment, is put down on top of the subfloor, also with the use of a nail gun.
3. If you are not confident you can install an underlayment correctly, you can choose to buy a laminate that has a built-in underlayment. The only aspect of installation that presents some difficulty is cutting the edges of the pieces to fit snugly along your walls. However, the laminate material is easy to cut.
   
4. You should buy a little more flooring than you think you need to allow for mistakes with the cutting. You also should consider buying moldings and end caps so as to make your floor look more like real wood.
5. Once you have installed your beautiful walnut laminate flooring, maintaining it is also very easy. Just use a damp rag or mop to clean it. You do not have to be concerned about the flooring getting warped as with hardwood floors. You can also use dishwashing liquid mixed with water if you desire. You do not need to do any polishing or waxing. Your floors should look great for many years!

There are many brands and styles to choose from for walnut laminate floors. Westhollow, for example, has a style called Swiss Chocololate Walnut, which has a quite dark shade, with the underlayment included. Another of their styles is American Walnut, which is a lighter shade, also with the underlayment. Shaw is another good brand. They have a style called Classic Walnut. A third brand you may want to look in to is Quickstep. Their Walnut Double Plank style is medium-toned and has a 25-year guarantee, but the underlayment is not included. Research brands and prices online, and purchase your laminate flooring at a store like Home Depot.