Laminate flooring is so quick and easy to install that you could even do it yourself. Alternately, let us do it for you. Either way, you’ll be able to walk on your floors right away – no waiting for anything to dry or settle and absolutely no breathing in fumes for weeks on end!
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1. Check whether the floor is level. Minor unevenness can be compensated with a suitable underlay or if it exceeds 2mm per 2metre length, sand it down or level it with a filler such as cement screed. Sweep subfloor for debris. |
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2. Lay suitable underlay. Check how many rows you need and how many panels will fit along the length of the wall. For optical reasons, floor panels should always be laid lengthways in relation to the principle light source. |
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3. Start laying panels from the left hand corner with the tongued side facing the wall and using spacers to leave an 8 -10mm expansion between the wall and the panel. *Areas of high humidity - 10 - 12mm. To lay the second panel (along the side of the wall), insert its end tongue into the first panel’s groove at a 15 degree angle. Move the plank down until it locks securely into position. |
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4. Knock in the panel using a tapping block with a hammer, that ensures that the joints are butted tightly together. |
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| 5. End pieces can be fitted by using the off-cuts rotating 180° and marking accordingly. Cut the last piece to fit and slot into position. Remember to leave an expansion gap of 12mm from the wall by utilising spacers during installation. |
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6. To start the second row, use the cut off from the first row. Measure the length the panel needs to be. Lay the second panel of the second row by inserting its top end’s tongue into the off cut’s groove. Slide the panel towards the previous row. Lift the panels slightly making an angle of approximately 15 degrees so that the tongue can enter the grooves of the previous row’s panels. Fit the panels by moving it down. |
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7. Remember to install intermediate expansion gaps for areas longer than 12 metres and wider than 8 metres. Expansion gaps must also be left at each doorway. For the last row, position the first plank of the last row exactly on top of the plank in the preceding row. Position one more plank with its groove facing the wall. Leave the 8-10mm gap using the spacers. For regions of high humidity a 10 - 12mm gap is advisable. Trace the contour of the wall onto the plank and saw along the line. |
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8. After installation, remove spacers and cover any expansion spaces with trims and skirting using silicone sealants. Floors Direct supplies matching and colour-coordinated trims. |
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9. Skirting and moldings should be firmly fixed to the wall and not to the floor. Make sure that you do not accidentally fasten down the flooring boards with the trim. That will prevent the floating laminate surface from moving freely. |
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10. For door mouldings, lay a board (with the decorative side down) against the door frame, mark the height and saw doorframe to marked height. This allows the plank to be easily pushed under the doorframes |