Flooring is the foundation of any room, which is why it’s important to choose the right laminate flooring for your home. Since you can’t see under your flooring once it’s installed, you have to make sure that you have a proper subfloor and vapor barrier in place before installing your new laminate floors. Follow these tips for a seamless installation process and beautiful new floor.
Choose the Right Flooring
When choosing laminate floors, make sure you select the right type of flooring for each room in your home. If you’ll be installing laminate flooring in your kitchen, it’s important to choose a water-resistant laminate, such as an embossed or handscraped product. You’ll also want to pay attention to the AC rating when choosing laminate floors. The AC rating system was designed to help consumers compare durability and quality among different types of laminate products. For example, an AC3-rated product offers better resistance to wear than an AC2-rated product and is therefore more suitable for living rooms and family rooms than an AC2-rated product would be.
Laminate flooring is the ideal solution for people who are fond of wood flooring but have a limited budget. It is also the best option for those that don’t like the idea of having a real wooden floor, because laminate flooring is easier to clean and maintain than hardwood. If you want to buy this type of flooring, here are some tips to keep in mind:
Survey the area before purchasing laminate flooring. The size and shape of your room will affect the price of your purchase, so make sure that you know exactly how much laminate flooring you need.
Be prepared to pay more if you choose any type of textured laminate. This is because these types of laminates take more time to produce.
Make sure that you understand the return policy before buying laminate flooring. Some stores may not allow returns or exchanges, especially if it has already been installed in your home.
Buy extra laminate planks, so that you can use them as replacements should damage occur. Any damages in the future can easily be replaced with these extra pieces, so there’s no need for repair work.
Keep your laminate planks in the room where they’ll be installed for three to five days to allow them to adjust to the temperature and humidity of the room.
Undercut any doorjambs in the room where you’ll be laying the flooring.
Leave at least a 3/8-inch expansion gap around the perimeter of the room, but don’t block any heat registers.
Never install laminate flooring in rooms with a sump pump or floor drains.
Don’t install laminate flooring in rooms that are below grade (below ground level).
Wear protective eyewear when cutting laminate planks with a power saw so that you don’t injure your eyes with wood chips or dust.
