Today Laminate flooring is extremely popular, with the many varied wood finishes and even tile effect, Laminate flooring has Major advantages over traditional floor surfaces such as carpet or vinyl. Moisture resistant laminate is available for areas likely to be damp such as Bathrooms and Kitchens. There are even different types of laminate underlay, some of which offer excellent sound proofing qualities.

Here we are going to look at measuring the amount of laminate flooring that you will need and also we are going to find the best direction to lay the boards in. Correct planning at this stage can make laying the floor a whole lot easier!

Firstly it is a good idea to find the laminate flooring that you intend using and seeing what units it is sold in ( is it sold in square yards or square meters?). Once you know what units it is sold in then it is a good idea to measure the room in the same units, this saves lots of work converting from metric to imperial or vice versa. Most flooring these days is in Metres!

The first thing you need to do is to fit knock in glides into the bottom of your furniture.

This is to prevent the wood from marking the laminate flooring. Knock in glides cost pence!

Skirting boards and beadings

Before fitting the laminate you need to decide what to do with the edges. An expansion gap as specified by the manufacturer must be left around the whole area. If there are no skirting boards fitted then you can cover the expansion gap with the skirting board.

If you have the skirting board already fitted, but still wish the laminate to go underneath the skirting it is possible, but it is hard work and will cost a small fortune in blades.

The fein multi master is a tool that is capable of cutting the bottom off the skirting boards, but the machine is not cheap and the blades are expensive and a few would be required to do a full room.

Skirting board on top of laminate.

Beading covering the expansion gap.

Laminate flooring is nearly always laid so that the long joints between the planks are facing the window, this makes the long joints more difficult to see. Landings and long thin rooms normally look better if the long joint is installed along the length of a room, regardless of where the window is!

Laminate flooring should be fitted so that the boards are inline with the window, this is so that the long joints of the boards will be more difficult to see.

The boards should also be staggered so that none of the short joints are inline.

If you are laying laminate flooring in a narrow room then it is best if the long lengths are laid in the direction of the length of the room, regardless of where the window is.

Never fit laminate like this!

The boards should always have staggered joints for strength.

You may think that people would never try and lay laminate like this, but I am afraid I have seen it with my own eyes and so thought I would mention it.

Laying laminate flooring is not at all difficult and even the DIY novice will not find it too difficult! There are only two different types of Laminate, click together and glue together. I have used both and really there is little difference. The main selling point of click type laminate is that it can be dismantled and re-laid a few times, in reality I don’t believe the laminate would separate without damaging at least some of the planks.

Firstly you need to measure up how much to obtain, this is relatively easy as you just measure the length and width of the room and then multiply the two, this will give you roughly the amount you need! When purchasing Laminate it is better to have too much rather than not enough, so ask the seller if you can return any full packs, if not I suggest you shop elsewhere. You are the customer and the customer is always right!

Lets say that your room measures 4 metres by 3 metres 4*3=12, so you would require 12m2

Before laying laminate flooring you must ensure that the floor is level, if it is not it will need leveling first, You must also follow manufacturers instructions as planks normally need storing horizontally for 2 days in the room where they are to be laid.

Be sure to leave an expansion gap all the way around the room, if you do not the floor will lift considerably in warm weather and could break!