Complement any kitchen or bath surface with Wilsonart. With over 500 designs to choose from, Wilsonart offers Quartz, Laminate, Solid Surfaces and more. Wilsonart® High Pressure Laminate (HPL) brings long-lasting style, on-trend designs, and outstanding performance to residential and commercial interiors. With 2X more post-consumer recycled content than any other brand, it’s one of the most innovative and environmentally friendly decorative surface materials available on the market today.

You’ve searched through the numerous flooring options out there today and you’ve settled on laminate. Great choice! Laminate is known for its impressive durability and easy maintenance. At the same time, it’s one of the more affordable flooring options, making it easy on your wallet as well. In fact, many people go with laminate largely because of its budget-friendly price, so it’s no surprise homeowners often hope they’ll be able to save even more by installing their new laminate floors on their own.

However, is DIY installation really the best option when it comes to laminate? Be sure to keep the following considerations in mind when deciding whether to do it yourself or to hire professionals to get the job done.

Consider the Space

Perhaps the first question you need to ask yourself when considering DIY laminate flooring installation is, “How good am I with a tape measure?” The layout of your space will be critical for correct installation. Therefore, if you struggle with measuring the space, it could lead to some big hiccups in the installation process. Homeowners who don’t feel confident figuring out the square footage of a particular room might want to opt for a professional installation.

If you are handy with a tape measure, however, you should follow these steps to measure for DIY flooring installation:

1. Measure the dimensions of the space where you plan to install your laminate floors. Multiply the length by the width to get the square footage.
2. Add at least 10 percent to the square footage total. This will give you a little extra to work with based on the cuts you need to make to fit the space or a potential mistake along the way.
3. Place your order with the manufacturer based on the number you received in Step 2.

Consider the Costs

Can you afford to have professionals install your new floors? In addition to the labor costs, you’ll also be billed for materials, cleanup, and disposal. And don’t forget about other add-ons such as furniture-moving costs and delivery fees. It can add up quickly, which is why many people prefer to save money by installing their own laminate floors.

DIY installation is significantly cheaper, but remember that it’s not free. In addition to the personal time and effort you’ll spend on the project, you’ll have to invest in materials to prep the subfloor and supplies such as grout, nails, screws, sealer, adhesives, stain, or baseboards. You may also need to purchase or to rent equipment to complete the installation.

What Tools and Materials Do You Need?

For first-time DIYers, the prospect of putting in laminate floors on your own may be a little daunting. Use this list of laminate flooring installation tools and materials to make sure you have everything you need to get the job done:

• Wall spacer blocks
• Tapping block
• Rubber mallet
• Pry bar
• Straight edge
• Carpenter’s square
• Tape measure
• Utility knife
• Saw (miter saw, power saw, circular saw, power jigsaw, or handsaw)
• Clamps
• Pencil
• Bucket
• Broom and dustpan
• Protective gear (dust mask, safety glasses, and kneepads).

How About the Underlayment?

Make sure you find out whether you need to install underlayment with your laminate flooring. In most cases, manufacturers recommend you include underlayment to prolong the life of your floors. Laminate flooring is actually quite thin, so underlayment helps to make it feel less hollow underfoot. In addition, the underlayment helps to act as a sound barrier, since otherwise, it can be relatively loud when walked on. In fact, some homeowners (like those who live in a condo building) may be required to include underlayment with their laminate flooring for soundproofing purposes.

Underlayment can also be used to address subfloor imperfections. If the subfloor isn’t perfectly flat, it can slowly cause damage to your laminate floors if there’s no support underneath. In the case of a subfloor that’s in particularly bad shape, you may want to hire professionals to make sure your underlayment and laminate are installed correctly.

Will you be installing your laminate on concrete slab, tile, or cement board? Will the flooring be located directly above a crawlspace or other nonclimate-controlled area? If so, you will probably need moisture-proof underlayment to protect your floors from damage.

If your laminate needs underlayment, it will add a bit of time to the DIY installation process. The good news is that if your subfloors aren’t terribly uneven, this is something homeowners can typically do as a DIY project. Some types of laminate flooring even come with preattached underlayment for easier installation. If you decide to go with professional installers instead, keep in mind that the cost will likely be higher to accommodate for including the underlayment.

Are You Installing Around Stairs?

After considering the potential challenges mentioned above, many homeowners decide to save some cash and tackle a DIY installation for their new laminate flooring. However, there’s one last obstacle that could make you change your mind — installing laminate on stairs.

Due to the tricky nature of cutting the laminate for each stair to just the right size, this can make a DIY project much more difficult to complete. If your stairs have spindles attached to the risers, it can complicate matters further by requiring you to trace and cut out openings for each spindle.

There are two options for homeowners intimidated by the thought of DIY laminate flooring installation on stairs. First, you can hire a professional for your entire laminate installation. If that sounds a bit too pricey, you can also hire the pros just to complete the stairs. That way, you save money by installing the rest of the flooring yourself, but you get a flawless application on the tricky stairs.

Laminate flooring is one of the best choices for budget-minded homeowners. It allows you to give your home a makeover without breaking the bank, and most individuals can complete the installation on their own with a little help from online tutorials. If there are tricky aspects to your installation, however, such as a winding staircase or a wildly uneven subfloor, don’t hesitate to call in the pros to make sure your new flooring is installed just right.

Resources:

https://www.builddirect.com/learning-center/flooring/how-install-laminate-flooring/

https://www.builddirect.com/learning-center/flooring/where-install-laminate-flooring/

https://swisskronousa.com/installation/how-to-measure-for-laminate-flooring-in-three-easy-steps/

https://www.thespruce.com/professional-versus-diy-installation-1314971

https://www.floorstoyourhome.com/resource-center/laminate-flooring/installation-basics/what-tools-and-materials-will-you-need-to-install-laminate-flooring/

https://www.bestlaminate.com/help/tools-and-supplies-needed-for-installing-laminate-flooring/

https://www.thespruce.com/underlayment-for-laminate-flooring-1822245

https://homeguides.sfgate.com/cut-laminate-flooring-around-stair-spindles-96575.html

WE OFFER TWO WORDS OF ADVICE: BE PREPARED.

Being prepared and involved will help ensure that the process is done smoothly and efficiently. Knowing what to expect will also be a lot less stressful on you, your family, and your home. Get ready for the day that your new laminate flooring will arrive. Your understanding of the basics of installation will increase your knowledge of the process and enhance your confidence in the professionals working in your home.

LET THE PROS DO THE JOB.

We recommend that a reliable professional is called to install your laminate flooring. That way you can be assured of a beautiful, efficient, and correct installation. Installing laminate floors is a skill that is developed through years of experience.

FIRST, YOUR SUBFLOOR IS INSPECTED.

The first step an installer will take is to closely inspect your subfloor for any imperfections. While no floor is perfectly level, the subfloor should be checked for any gaps or ridges that could cause problems. Your floor will then be cleaned. The installers will also make sure that the laminate planks or tiles have had sufficient time to acclimate to their new surroundings. Your planks will probably be delivered days ahead of installation.

UNDERLAYMENT IS THE NEXT STEP.

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The installers will then put down an underlayment directly over your subfloor. This underlayment allows the floor to expand and contract with changes in temperature and acts as a sound and moisture barrier. 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.

LAYING THE LAMINATE PLANKS.

Installers will typically begin in the left corner of the area and leave a minimum ¼” space between the flooring and the perimeter walls. This is done because the laminate requires space around the edges of the room to expand. If the floor is touching or too close to a wall, it can buckle in the middle. Along the wall, the installers use spacers as they work. This ensures the accuracy of this perimeter space. They will use one spacer for each square foot. Once your floor is fully installed, they remove the spacers and cover the perimeter gap with a trim or wall base. As the installers lay the planks or tiles in the desired pattern, they will carefully measure and precisely cut them to fit.

As previously mentioned, many laminates today don’t require glue for installation. These glueless products are easy to install. The installer simply puts down an underlayment and the laminate interlock to each other one at a time. For floors that require glue on the sides of the planks, the installers begin by gluing the first two panels in the first row together. As they glue each plank, they apply clamps to hold the pieces together. Once the floor is completed and the glue is dry, the installers will remove the spacers.

To finish the floor, the installers add molding to cover the perimeter gap and install any additional trim pieces needed in doorways or where the laminate meets a different type of flooring.

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WHAT TO EXPECT BEFORE INSTALLATION DAY.

Remove all furniture and other objects from the areas where the installation will take place. If you are removing your current floor covering, do it at least one day prior to the arrival of your hardwood product to allow for cleanup and floor preparation. If removing old carpet, please leave tack strips in place and pull out the staples from the floor. In many cases, moldings and baseboards need to be removed for the laminate installation.

Your existing subfloor may need to be prepared to receive the laminate flooring or a new subfloor may be required. It is important that the subfloor be as clean and level as possible. All laminate products need to be acclimated to the new environment for at least four to five days prior to installation. The area of installation must be climate controlled and indoor humidity should be maintained between 45-65%.

WHAT TO EXPECT DURING INSTALLATION.

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Plan to be home on installation day. Be prepared to be available in case the installers have questions. Your installers will use a variety of tools that can make the work area hazardous. Please be sure that children and pets are kept out of the area on installation day.

When laminate flooring is installed, there is always the possibility that the doors may not clear the new floor and swing freely. Some installers will remove doors in order to install the laminate and rehang them. You may need to arrange for a carpenter to shave or cut down doors to ensure clearance.

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Prior to the completion of the installation, do a walk-through with the chief installer. This will give you the opportunity to ask questions and to be clear on any final details.

How To Install Click Lock Laminate Flooring

WHAT TO DO AFTER INSTALLATION DAY.

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Good ventilation should be established for 48-72 hours after installation. Usually, the waste materials are collected by your installer and left at your trash collections site but check with us, so you are clear about the cleanup. Painted baseboards, woodwork, and paint may need retouching after the installation is complete. If necessary, this is your responsibility.