If you’re moving into a new home or looking to spice up your property with some fresh renovations, flooring material is a great way to start.
The type of floor you have determines the entire outlook of the room it’s placed in. It can completely make or break the design flow of your home.
Laminate flooring is a popular choice among homeowners. It creates a sense of nature with its wood-like style and sturdy material. There are tons of companies you can choose from to purchase it, and they are available in almost every state. For instance, you can get laminate flooring in Melbourne.
If you’re looking to install laminate flooring in your room, here are some tips to ensure it looks perfect.
Determine the Functionality of Your Room
If you’re planning to install laminate flooring in an area that is regularly exposed to extreme temperatures, high or low humidity, and constant dampness, then you should know it’s probably not a good idea. In a below-grade or damp area, the floorboards might warp and deform.
Since laminate flooring expands and contracts with the variation of temperature, placing heavy furniture like a large bookshelf might cause it to push up or tear as it contracts. You’ll have to set the furniture in another room or pick another flooring entirely.
Prepare Your Subfloor
After you’ve already removed the old flooring material in your home or if it’s a brand new house, then after you’ve prepped the floor, it’s the perfect time to check your subfloor for squeaks and movement.
You should reattach or replace any spots that might leave an opening or get in the way. Remove nails and other debris to level the floor, and this will ensure a stress-free installation.
Calculate the Width Before Installing
It might be tempting to install the laminate flooring wherever you see fit, but your floor will look better if you plan them first. It’s important that your first and last rows be no less than a plank wide. The floor looks much more balanced if both rows are approximately the same width.
When setting up the first row of the flooring, ensure that the edge of the parallel side faces the wall and the grooved side faces the room.
Cut Laminate with a Flooring Cutter
Typically, a carpentry tool like a miter saw, circular saw or jigsaw is used to cut laminate planks to the right length. Though these tools create massive amounts of dust, they aren’t always perfect.
Ideally, a manual laminate flooring cutter is suggested since it minimizes dust and gives you the most accurate cuts.
Use the Right Tools
Though a bit of scrap lumber would work fine for most uses, it’s best to use professional tools, like a tapping block, to prevent damage to the groove and other critical pieces.
Occasionally you might want to use a sacrificial scrap alongside the tapping block to fit a plank into place and avoid damaging the new floor.
If you’re installing flooring that passes through a doorway, leaving a gap and treating them as separate projects is more suitable. You can use transition strips directly under the door.
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