Lovely Laminate…everything you need to know
September 4, 2008 – 11:29 am
Laminate is great. It’s cost effective, it looks great, it comes in a wide variety of colors and style and you can clean it without worrying about it too much. It’s perfect if you’ve got a full household with pets and kids running around as it’s more durable.
Oak Plank Laminate from only £ 8.29 per m2 inc VAT
Hard Maple 3 Strip from only £ 7.10 per m2 inc VAT.
Laminate is a manufactured product that stimulates the look of real wood and stone well.
With today’s technology you’ll be amazed at what you can find on the market. It’s hard to distinguish between the real deal and genuine premium flooring.
If you want the beauty of natural stone or real wood flooring but without any of the hassle or the hefty price tag, then laminate is for you.
Floorell’s range of laminate comes in many styles. We have the “plank” look or even stone and tile patterns that will give you the elegant look of tile, but without the concerns of grout cleaning or cracking tiles. Something you might want to consider.
And if you’ve always hated cleaning, the good news is that laminate flooring is stain resistant, it also doesn’t need to be varnished or waxed. And it’s unlikely to fade in direct sunlight, not that we have to worry about that too much in the UK!
Laminate floors offer many benefits to you and your home, including:
- Exceptional durability
- Easy to clean surface
- Superior stain resistance
- Superior fade resistance
- Install over many different types of subfloors
- Exceptional realism at affordable costs
- Easy to replace later on, if desired
How to install laminate flooring
Preparing for installation
At Floorell we like to be as helpful as possible, that’s why we’ve put together this useful guide to help you to install your laminate floor. Before your laminate floor even arrives it will help if you can get ready. Being prepared is always good.
First if all, you’re going to need some help. We strongly recommend get a professional to install your laminate floor. That is unless you really, really want to do it yourself.
General Info….
All our laminate flooring actually comes with their own set of instructions, but just in case you lose them or want to have a go yourself, here’s some general information that will work with many types of laminate.
Laminate floors use what is known as a ‘floating floor’ installation; which means, the planks simply lay on top of the floor without being adhered to the subfloor and are only adhered to each other on the edges.
Side seams are either glued together or joined using a “glueless” installation where the planks tightly interlock together. Both installations are considered floating floors.
First things first…
Get on your hands and knees and have a good look around the subfloor. Look out for any imperfections - meaning any flaws or ridges that may cause problems. Clean your floor and then leave your laminate to acclimatize to the room you intend to install it in.
Underlayment…
The installers now put down an underlayment directly over your subfloor.
Sometimes two underlayment layers are fitted first. The first layer is installed to specifically act as a moisture barrier while the second layer provides a sound barrier and enhances your flooring’s performance. The underlayment is typically rolled out and taped together at the seams.
Installers will cut the pieces of underlayment where needed with a precision utility knife to make a perfect fit.
Now you can begin…
Begin in the left corner of the area and leave a minimum ¼” space between the flooring and the perimeter walls. It’s important to leave that gap because the laminate requires space around the edges of the room to expand or contract. Give your laminate the space it needs to breathe. If you don’t or if the floor is touching or too close to a wall, it can buckle in the middle.
Check that your installer is using spacers as they work, to ensure the accuracy of this perimeter space.
They should be using one spacer for each square foot. Once your floor is fully installed they remove the spacers and cover the perimeter gap with quarter round trim or a wall base.
Glue less?
Many laminates today don’t require glue for the installation. The glueless laminates are so easy to install. You simply put down an underlayemt and the planks of laminate interlock to each other one at a time. If something goes wrong during installation, your floor can be dismantled plank by plank and re-built. Perfect for people having a go at it themselves.
If one of the panels gets damaged after installation, your entire floor can be removed, the damaged plank replaced, and the floor can be put back together again plank by plank.
Most of Floorell’s range of laminate requires no tools at all for installation, but our ‘Dimension’ range will require a tapping block. Most of Floorell’s range of laminate requires no tools at all for installation, but our ‘Dimension’ range will require a tapping
block.
If you would like to see an example of how to fit your flooring we recommend you watch the installation video on: http://www.gruendorf.de/
It will take you through the whol process including:
1)Installation and accessories
2)Installation tips
3)Parquet floor avantgarde (for the engineered floors installation video)
Or
Laminate floor(for the laminate floors installation video)
The last bit…
To finish your floor, you can then add mouldings to cover the perimeter gap and install any additional transition trim pieces needed in doorways or where the laminate meets a different type of flooring.
Custom finished moldings and trim will give your laminate flooring a beautiful, finished look. They are all coordinated to match or accentuate the design of your floor. It’s all part of a professional installation.
FLOORELL’S TOP TIPS
The day before installation:
- Remove all your furniture and other objects from the areas where the installation will take place
- Regarding the disconnection and removal of appliances. Some installers may disconnect and move your electrical appliances and furniture for an additional charge
- Arrange people to help you with the removal of heavy items such as pianos etc
- Be aware that the area of installation must be climate controlled (heated or air conditioned). Indoor humidity should be maintained between 45-65%
We recommend that the gas company or appliance company disconnect and reconnect all gas appliances, if your laminates going to be installed in the same room
Out with the old…
Check with the person installing your laminate first, they may be able to remove and dispose of your current flooring for you. If you prefer to remove your present floor covering, do it at least one day before the arrival of your laminate product to allow for cleanup and floor preparation. If removing old carpet, please remove all materials, the tackless and the pad, including staples.
Don’t forget the trim…
In many cases, moldings and baseboards need to be removed for laminate installation. Your installer may do this but at an additional charge and they will probably not be responsible for damage or breakage due to dry or brittle wood. Painted baseboards, woodwork and paint may need retouching after the installation is complete.
Get your sub-floor right…
To make sure you get a perfect end result, your existing subfloor may need to be prepared to receive the laminate flooring, or a new subfloor may be required. You may need to get someone in to help you prepare the floor if it isn’t level. It’s your responsibility to make sure the subfloor is as clean and level as possible.
Doors…
Don’t forget your doors. When laminate flooring is installed, there’s always the possibility that the doors may not clear the new laminate and swing free. Some installers will remove doors in order to install the laminate and re-hang them if possible. They probably won’t shave or cut down doors to insure clearance. You may need to arrange for a qualified carpenter to provide this service after the installation of your new laminate floor.
Keep it clean…
Of course, installing new laminate flooring will produce waste. Often these materials are collected by your installer and disposed of for a fee. It’s up to you to discuss what you’re going to do with the left over laminate- please dispose of it in a sensible way.
During Installation
Make sure you’re there…
We recommend that you’re at home on the day your laminates being installed. That way you can make sure the right laminates being installed exactly how you want. Plus, a friendly cup of tea always goes down well and ensures a good job.
Keep it safe…
Please make sure that your children and pets are kept out of the work area on installation day. There will be many tools lying around so make sure everyone keeps their eyes wide open. Always think safety first.
The final step…
Once it has all been installed we recommend you take a good look around and make sure you’re happy with the job. Ask about the underlayment, the temperature in the room and how they recommend you care for the product. It’s a good way to make sure you’re fully satisfied with the job.
After installation
Fresh air…
We recommend you give your home a good airing for at least 48 to 72 hours after installation. It will help get rid of the dust.
Enjoy…
Now sit back and enjoy your new flooring- follow our cleaning advice as well. Then you can rest assured that you will be able to enjoy your laminate floor for a long, long time.
