The advantages of laminate flooring have long been widely knownare known and do not require description, but the advertising ploy, attributing to it the glory of a material, the installation of which is easier than a children's construction set, can be discussed separately. The ease of installation of this floor covering does not raise doubts, but without familiarization with the requirements for the preparation of the rough base and the basic rules for assembling the finished floor, its performance properties may be at risk. Having familiarized yourself with the recommendations on the issue of how to properly lay laminate, you can significantly reduce the time and physical costs of its installation and ultimately get that same famous durable, long-lasting and wear-resistant floor for your home.
Layout of the laminate.
Requirements for the basis for laying the laminate cover
Preparation for work should begin with inspection andcareful examination of the subfloor base. If we are talking about a new building, then it will most likely be concrete. First of all, the condition of the horizontal plane is checked in order to identify its deviations from the norm. Using a laser or regular building level will help with this. Measurements are taken in the longitudinal and transverse directions, every 1.5-2 m of area. The ideal indicator is considered to be one in which the values do not exceed 2-3 mm. Significant differences in height will require leveling the base by applying a cement screed. This is a rather troublesome process, but only these actions will create conditions for the normal stability of the self-laid floor.
Water-resistant laminate diagram.If the horizontal plane measurements meet the requirements, all that remains is to eliminate visible defects: fill in the depressions, cracks and crevices with cement-sand mortar, paying particular attention to damage at the joints of the walls and the foundation caused by the natural shrinkage of the building. Bulges are removed with a grinding machine and the room is cleaned of debris and dust, using a vacuum cleaner if necessary. Laminate can be laid on an old floor covering, and all types are suitable for this, except for soft carpet. But for each type of subfloor, there are separate requirements for the condition and preparation measures:
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Substrate and a set of necessary tools
Scheme of transverse laying of laminate.Recommendations on how to lay laminate flooring cannot ignore the important point of using a backing when laying. This material solves several problems at once, and trying to do without it usually leads to disastrous consequences. The insulating layer between the base and the laminate floor serves to eliminate unevenness, provides cushioning under physical pressure, and also works as a heat insulator, absorbs excess moisture and protects the home from most of the noise when walking. There are different types of backing, from a cheap and popular product made of polystyrene foam to an expensive one, but with excellent characteristics, made of cork. Its choice depends on the budget and the characteristics of the room, and a consultation with a seller in a specialized store will help determine the most suitable type of material. There is a special set for laying laminate on sale, but most of its contents are usually in the home tools of any craftsman, so it is better to buy the missing parts separately or borrow from friends for a while:
- electric jigsaw or saw with a small tooth;
- a hammer;
- clamp;
- chisel;
- roulette;
- marker;
- Rubber hammer;
- wooden wedges.
In addition to the necessary tool and substrateAt the same time as purchasing laminate, you should not forget about additional elements - thresholds, baseboards and corners for them. You should also take into account that before starting work, the laminated boards should spend several days in the prepared room. This is necessary for their adaptation to the climatic conditions of future use. Return to contents</a>
The ways of laying laminated panels
Laying underlay under laminate.You can lay the flooring in different ways and according to different patterns. The adhesive method of laying is rarely used anymore, and this happens for two reasons. Firstly, it deprives the laminate of one of its main advantages - easy dismantling if it is necessary to move it to another room, and secondly, the appearance of locking joints at the ends of the boards allows you to easily assemble them into a single plane, without a long fuss with glue. You can lay the laminate yourself according to three different patterns: classic, checkerboard and diagonal arrangement of the boards. The last method is not recommended for the first experience of installing a laminate floor, since it is quite labor-intensive, and its use generates a lot of waste. It is better to opt for a simple and virtually waste-free classic pattern or lay the laminate in a checkerboard pattern, reminiscent of the principle of laying bricks. In this case, each new row is shifted exactly half a panel of the previous one. A floor laid in this way is durable and stable, and the resulting waste (about 15%) can be used in places hidden from view by furniture. Return to Contents</a>
Laying of laminate flooring
</a>Laminate floor installation options.How to lay laminate flooring in terms of the arrangement of the boards is usually decided based on the direction of sunlight. It is believed that the joints between the panels become less noticeable if the rays fall parallel to the length of the boards. But much also depends on the interior features, furniture placement, or simply personal preferences. Before starting work, you should calculate the number of rows of material. If it shows that the last strip is too narrow, then the first will need to be cut to width to achieve their proportional correspondence. The underlay is laid on the prepared floor surface, while the overlap of the sheets on each other should be at least 10 cm. This is necessary so that they do not get knocked down when laying the lamellas. Additionally, you can fix the edges with strips of tape. Laying begins from the far corner and be sure to leave a small distance to the wall, which is necessary to compensate for the size of the boards changing with changes in temperature and humidity. Laminate panels equipped with a Click lock at the ends are assembled as follows: the first board should be turned with the groove towards the installer, and the second one is brought to it at an angle, and the ridge on its end is inserted into the groove. A characteristic click will indicate that the connection was successful. Installation is carried out until the first row is fully installed, and the last panel is brought to the desired size by sawing off the excess with a jigsaw. With the classic layout scheme, this remainder will become the beginning of the second row. This ensures the absence of joints between the boards and a minimum amount of waste during installation. This technology is used to install the entire plane, and to achieve greater joint density, light tapping with a rubber hammer and wooden wedges are used. Near the heating pipes, holes of a slightly larger diameter are cut out to allow the laminate to expand freely. To install the last row, you will need a clamp, it will protect the edges of the panels from damage and ensure an even load when hammering. Return to the table of contents</a>
Installation of skirting boards and flaps
The installation of additional equipment is completing the workelements - baseboards and thresholds. Baseboards can be fastened with screws or dowel nails. It is especially important to make the places of their connection precise so that the resulting gaps are no more than 1 mm. Laying the flooring in the doorway may not be entirely simple. From the very beginning, you need to ensure that there is a space of at least 1 cm under the door, allowing it to move freely. You can carefully arrange the location of the laminate in the opening in two ways: saw the door frame in the right places or adjust the material by sawing it to the exact size. A paper template made for checking before cutting will help to avoid mistakes. Installing a threshold will not only secure the panels near the door, but will also help create a finished design of the flooring.
