Floating Laminate Flooring: Important Factors To Consider Before The Install Begins - By: Chris Harmen

Replacing worn out, grime-ridden, allergen-infested carpets is one of the fastest, easiest, and most cost effective ways of improving the look, feel, durability, and ambience of any home or office. Buy Pergo laminate flooring to replace stained, worn, or curling linoleum, or chipped and stained tile or stone. Laminate flooring offers many advantages that traditional materials simply cannot provide. Laminate flooring is maintenance free, easy to clean, and beautiful to look at, as well as moisture, heat, and chemical resistant.

Installing laminate flooring in a home or office requires some simple preparations before the planks are actually locked into place. Unlike traditional materials, such as carpet, tile, or stone, which require professional installation, laminate flooring can be installed by the homeowner, without any special skills or tools. The planks 'float' on top of any existing floor covering besides carpet, which must be removed, making installation especially fast and easy.

The 20% Rule

When shopping for laminate flooring planks, the first step is to select the wood grain of your choice. Planks can feature oak, pine, walnut, beech, ash, hickory, pecan, or one of several other styles. Select the hue, wood grain, and finish that best suits each room. Next, measure each room carefully. There are online interactive tools that can help in this process. The 20% rule is an industry practice that takes into account measurement errors, omitted spaces, corners, odd angles, and commonly made mistakes. Buy Pergo or some other laminate planks by calculating the total square footage required and then multiply that amount by 1.2 to get the 20% more. For example, if the room to be renovated is 12-foot long and 20-foot wide, the home owner would first multiply 12 by 20 to reach a total square footage value of 240. That number is then multiplied by 1.2 for a total purchase amount of 288 square feet.

Undercover Rubber

In addition to buying the planks, a foam underlayment should also be purchased in the same quantity. This underlayment acts as a cushion, sound barrier, and stabilizer. If the planks are to be installed directly on concrete, six millimeter plastic sheeting will also be needed to provide a vapor barrier. In this case, the foam underlayment should also be of the vapor barrier variety to prevent moisture damage to the bottom of the planks. In addition to providing a moisture barrier, the foam underlayment helps the planks rest more securely and provides a better floor for a longer period of time.

Tally The Tools

When you buy Pergo or some other brand of laminate flooring, plus the foam underlayment, you will also want to be sure you have the tools you will need already on hand. Most suppliers also offer installation kits that include tools that homeowners generally do not already have on hand. These installation kits include a pull bar, tapping block, and spacers. Tools that are probably already in the garage or toolbox include duct tape, a rubber mallet, a hand saw or a power saw with a carbide-tipped blade, a flush-cut saw, and waterproof glue. The glue is only used when the laminate flooring is being installed in a room, such as a kitchen or bathroom, that may be exposed to higher levels of moisture. The flush-cut saw is used when undercutting door jams. You will also need a new threshold strip. Finally, kneepads are very handy and your body will thank you for using them.

Clear The Decks

Preparing the room itself begins by carefully removing the baseboards and setting them aside, if you plan to reuse or repaint them. Next, old carpeting must be removed. Other flooring materials can be left in place, providing an extra measure of insulation. Next, the floor should be carefully and thoroughly swept clean and checked for areas that are uneven. Extreme dips should be filled and high spots flattened to ensure that the laminate flooring will be stable and firm underfoot.

Prepare the doorjambs by laying a piece of the underlayment and a plank next to the jamb and drawing a line showing the height of the new floor. This is where the doorjamb must be cut to make room for the new laminate flooring.

Following these simple preparations will ensure that the planks will slip into place smoothly and easily, with minimal stress or effort. To install your own planks, simply measure the rooms carefully, order an additional 20%, be sure to order the foam underlayment, plus plastic sheeting if necessary, gather all of the tools, put on your favorite music, and watch the magic happen as you transform a room with your own two hands!

About the Author

Chris Harmen enjoys transforming her home with affordable, DIY laminate flooring from Best Laminate. Buy Pergo laminate flooring, prepare the subfloor, collect the tools, and watch everything fall into place. It's a snap!

Article Directory Source: http://www.articlerich.com/profile/Chris-Harmen/89665

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