Laminate Straight Plank Fitting

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Materials

Flooring

Underlay

Tape measure

Pencil

Rubber Mallet

Hammer

Spacers (7-10mm)

Tapping block (or another spare plank)

Saw or laminate cutter

Ruler

Pull Bar

Knee pads

Step 1: Prepare the Room 

• Remove all furniture from the room, brush and vacuum the subfloor.
• Prepare the area: Ensure the subfloor is clean, dry, and level. If there are any high spots, gently sand them down. If there are any lower spots, fill them in with a suitable filler and leave to dry. 
• If you are laying onto a new concrete subfloor, check that it is fully dried which can take anywhere from 2 - 4 months. This reading should be below 4%. 

Step 2: Underlay

• Most underlays are suitable to use with laminate flooring. When choosing your underlay, you may decide to go for a noise-reducing underlay, typical foam underlay or one suitable for underfloor heating.
• Roll the underlay out across the entire area. Make sure it's snug against the edges and there are no gaps. There should be no overlap - just butt the edges together.
• The excess can be trimmed with a knife or blade. 

 Step 3: Start Installation

• Choose a starting wall: It's usually best to begin against the longest wall in the room. Make sure the groove side of the plank is facing the wall.
• Use spacers: Place spacers between the wall and the plank to create a small gap for expansion. 
• Install the first plank: Angle the long side of the first plank into the groove of the second plank at about a 20-degree angle. Gently lower the plank while pressing the joint down. It should click into place.
• Continue the row: Click the next plank to the previous one, short end first. Keep clicking planks together until you reach the end of the first row. Remember to use spacers at each end. 
• You may need to cut the last plank of first row to fit to the exact area size. Use a saw or laminate cutter to do so and a pencil to mark where to cut. 

Step 4: Tapping and Locking

• Second Row Start: Use the cut-off piece from the last plank of the first row if applicable. A staggered pattern provides a more authentic look while also giving more stability to your floor. 
• Tap and Lock: Angle the plank at about 20 degrees and insert the long side of into the groove of the previous row. Gently tap along the edge using a tapping block or a spare piece of plank and a hammer. This helps to snugly lock the planks together. 
• Continue the Rows: Repeat the tapping and locking process for each subsequent row. Always start each new row with a cut-off plank from the previous row to stagger the seams. Alternatively, you may uniformly measure the distance from the end of a board on the first row to the end of its adjacent plank on the second row and maintain this distance throughout the installation process. The typical design for laying wooden floors is to keep the ends of the boards approximately 30 cm apart. 
• Interlock Planks: As you lay each plank, make sure it interlocks with the previous row's planks. gently tap along the long side and the short end to secure the joints. 

Step 5: Finishing Touches

• Door Frames: Measure and mark the plank where it needs to fit around door frames or obstacles such as kitchen islands or divisions between rooms. 
• Expansion Gaps: Remember to leave expansion gaps at all edges. This includes at the room's perimeter, doorways, and any fixed objects as well as in between 2 different floor types. 

Step 6: The Last Row

• Measure the Last Row: Measure the width needed for the last row. It's often necessary to trim the planks to fit. Make sure to account for the expansion gap. 
• Use Pull Bar: To fit the last row, you might need to use a pull bar along the side of the planks. This will help you tap the planks tightly together since there might not be enough space to use the tapping block.  

Step 7: Final Checks

• Check for Gaps: After completing the installation, double-check for any. visible gaps between the planks. If you find any, you can gently tap the planks with the rubber mallet and a tapping block to close these gaps. 
• Remove Spacers: Once the entire floor is laid, remove all the spacers from around the perimeter of the room. 

Step 8: Admire Your Finished Floor

Congrats on finishing your laminate floor! Take a step back and admire your work. Your new floor is now ready to enhance the beauty of your space. 

It is important to take your time during the installation, and if you encounter any challenges, refer to the manufacturer's instructions or seek help from professionals. 

Enjoy your beautiful new floor!