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Laminate Flooring
Ready to give your home or property a complete flooring makeover? No doubt, installing new flooring has the power to transform the entire aesthetic of your property. In recent years, laminate has become one of the most popular flooring options for homeowners. This flooring material is a small slice of genius because it’s durable and affordable. Here at Lacey Handyman we can help you determine whether laminate flooring is right for your home.
Laminate Installation
If you’ve been checking those online laminate floor photos, you acknowledge they are stunning. For that space to look that great, there must have been a combination of the right flooring installation instructions and expertise. Lacey Handyman offers you expert laminate flooring installation services at a reasonable price.
Do you want to learn more about laminate installation? Let’s delve in.
Common Mistakes When Laying Laminate Flooring
Getting a professional who knows the right laminate flooring installation instructions will help you avoid common mistakes when laying laminate flooring, which may cost you more. You will get a service that will serve you for a long time and keep your space looking great all the way.
Here are some of the common mistakes when laying laminate flooring
1. Forgetting to seal joints in water-sensitive spaces
While experts recommend laminate flooring in residential spaces such as dining rooms, living rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms, you must be cautious. You have to follow proper laminate flooring installation instructions in wet areas.
It is vital to prevent water or moisture from penetrating under your floor. You should seal all wet areas using 100% mildew resistant silicon or laminate flooring sealant. It will protect your laminate floor from buckling or damage. If you find this too hectic to do alone, Lacey Handyman experts are here to help you at a friendly laminate installation cost.
2. Wrong Underlayment Option
Before laying the floor covering installation, you have to set up an underlayment. This underlayment eliminates noise as you walk, and it also helps to ‘float’ the floor. While there are several underlayment choices in the market, you have to get one that suits your space.
If you are wondering how to install laminate flooring on concrete, install a vapor barrier underlayment first. When installing it, overlap every row of vapor barrier laminate. Ensure that you complement it with an 8″ overlap at the joints. The installation should reach the edge of the wall.
3. Absence of Thermal Acclimatization
Ever seen a big ‘bump’ in a friend’s living room when on a visit? If yes, this was just a small mistake that can cost you much if you neglect the significance of thermal acclimatization. Perhaps you’ve heard that friend say they are thinking of reinstalling the floor.
Quite pricey, you think?
To avoid the high cost, you have to allow your laminate floor to expand and contract like any other wood floor. If you bring a laminate floor from a cold room to a hot room and install it immediately, you will leave an insufficient expansion gap.
Maintain the humidity and temperature of your working space for 48 hours. Experts recommend a minimum of 65 degrees Fahrenheit and a maximum of 65% humidity.
Laminate Flooring Installation Tips
1. Taper the two sides of the room
When figuring out where to start laying laminate flooring in a room, check whether the walls are parallel. Otherwise, you might find yourself installing the floor in a room whose one wall is 6 inches narrower on one side than the other. This difference will mean ripping an extremely dwindled last row, which will look ugly. You can avoid this by tapering the two rows such that none is noticeable.
2. Use the Right Tape
When installing your laminate floor, you may get a temptation to grab any tape for underlayment seems. Do not fall into this enticement since you might have to live with ‘crinkling sounds’ any time you step on the space. Use the right tape as per the manufacturer’s recommendation. If you are not definite about this, you can talk to Lacey Handyman experts.
3. Smooth Subfloor
The laminate floor does not function fine on an uneven surface. Before you start to install your laminate floor, inspect the subfloor. If you get areas with 1/8 inches highs or lows, you will need to work on them. You can use a coarse-grit belt or a commercial floor sander to bring the peaks down for a leveled subfloor.
For the lows, you need to use a trowel and vinyl floor patch. This process may be a bit challenging. So don’t be reluctant to call Lacey Handyman for help.
4. Where to Start Laying Laminate Flooring in a Room
Laying laminate floor near the doorways can be overwhelming. To make it easy, begin flooring on the wall that holds the most exits. While you will need to undercut trims and jambs, it is simpler to start there than meet a doorway at the final row.
5. Use the Right Knee Pad When Flooring
A laminate floor can be hard on your knees. That’s why you need to use protective knee pads. While it may sound good to grab any knee pads to keep your knees safe, you may end up ruining your brand new floor.
After spending a fair amount of cash and time purchasing it, you wouldn’t want that. Hence, it is vital to use a floor-friendly knee pad that gives you comfort and preserves your floor’s quality.
6. How to Start First Row of Laminate Flooring
After learning where to start laying laminate flooring in a room, you are probably wondering how to begin the first row. To begin flooring the first row, lay the planks beside the wall, ensuring all the ends are evenly connected. You can put in place a second row to keep the first row straight. Check the baseboard thickness to determine the amount of space you should leave between the wall and the laminate.
7. Laminate Installation near Me
When you decide to get laminate flooring installation help, look for an established company, one with a team of experts who can come up with exclusive solutions if challenges arise. Get a service provider with a reasonable laminate installation cost. If you live in Lacey or its environs, Lacey Handyman can offer you excellent service at an affordable price.
Conclusion
Lacey Handyman brings you outstanding laminate flooring installation services at an affordable price. We help you avoid common mistakes when laying laminate flooring that will cost you in the future by following the right laminate flooring installation instructions.
If you opt to install the floor yourself, you can utilize tips such as using the right tape, tapering the walls, and wearing the appropriate protective gear. For more information about laminate flooring, contact Lacey Handyman.
What Exactly is Laminate Flooring?
Laminate flooring was originally manufactured by a Swedish company in 1977. It emerged on the scene as a budget-friendly, easy to install yet attractive flooring option. This floor covering is made up of multi-layers of synthetic materials that are sealed together through an intense lamination process. This type of flooring uses a photographic imaging pattern that is applied to a supportive base to create a stunning visual effect. This is how laminate floors can simulate any type of flooring including, hardwood, brick, and stone. In recent years, the technology used to create different types of laminate floors has greatly advanced resulting in higher definition imaging, high-quality seaming mechanisms, and deeper embossing for ultra-realistic patterns and textures. This has made laminate flooring a great alternative to expensive flooring materials.
Types of Laminate Floors
One of the main reasons laminate flooring has become so popular is because it offers great versatility. It can mimic the look of wood, tile, stone, and even brick flooring. The professionals here at Lacey Handyman have years of experience in installing laminate floors in a wide variety of styles, colors, and textures.
- Wood
- Laminate floors that are made to look like real hardwood can mimic all types of wood species. Laminate wood flooring uses a wood veneer on the upper layer that’s been finished with acrylic for durability.
- Stone or Tile
- Laminate flooring is also available with a stone and tile appearance. Thanks to modern technology laminate floor coverings that imitate genuine slate, stone, and ceramic look so similar to the real thing. It can be purchased in a variety of rich hues, textures, and dimensional depths.
When you are searching for laminate flooring to install in your home you’ll find that they are categorized based on the type of installation it requires.
- Laminate flooring is also available with a stone and tile appearance. Thanks to modern technology laminate floor coverings that imitate genuine slate, stone, and ceramic look so similar to the real thing. It can be purchased in a variety of rich hues, textures, and dimensional depths.
- Clueless Laminate Floor
- This type of laminate flooring is the most popular option because it uses tiles or planks that don’t use an adhesive during the installation process. Although they need to be affixed to the floor correctly, this type of laminate flooring is relatively easy to install.
- Glued Laminate Floors
- If you decide to invest in glued laminate floors the joints will need to be glued together. While this type of installation requires more labor glued laminate flooring makes for stronger and more durable flooring.
- Pre Glued Laminate
- Pre-glued laminate flooring can cost the installation time in half since the adhesive doesn’t have to be applied separately. In fact, these planks come with the glue already applied so the planks can simply be snapped into place.
- Underlayment
- These laminate glueless planks are attached to individual boards which can all be easily snapped into place. The underlayment reduces noise, provides insulation, and helps reduce wear and tear.
Best Places to Install Laminate Flooring
The great thing about this durable flooring material is that you can install it anywhere in your home whether it’s above or below ground. Manufacturers have even made this hybrid floor covering easy to install over preexisting wood and concrete flooring. Laminate flooring is an ideal option for high-traffic areas in the home such as the foyer, the living room. It’s also recommended for rooms that are frequented by children and pets.
Most laminate flooring products have water-resistant properties which means you can install them in areas that are prone to moisture like the bathroom, kitchen, and laundry rooms. However, to experience the waterproofing benefits of laminate flooring, it’s important to carefully follow the installation instructions. In addition, you’ll need to use a silicone sealant and install a foam backer around the perimeter of the room for the best results.
Pros and Cons of Installing Laminate Flooring
Whether you’re in the process of renovating your kitchen or re-flooring your entire home sorting through the abundance of options can be overwhelming. Most homeowners tend to gravitate towards laminate flooring because it offers numerous benefits. However, before you invest in this flooring material it’s important to weigh the pros and cons. Here are the main advantages and disadvantages of laminate flooring:
PRO
Most Affordable Flooring Option
Perhaps one of the most appealing features of laminate flooring is its affordable price, especially when compared to other flooring options like hardwood, natural stone, and ceramic. The average cost of laminate is about $3-$4 per square foot. Laminate flooring is generally inexpensive install since the process is very simple. In some cases, homeowners can complete such a project on their own without the help of a professional which eliminates thousands of dollars in labor costs.
CON
Laminate Floors Can’t Be Refinished.
Laminate floors must be replaced once they are completely worn. One major downside of this floor covering is that it can be refinished like other flooring types. Since it is assembled with tiles or planks that snap together your best bet is to purchase extra planks that you can insert in specific areas that start to show signs of wear.
Easy Maintenance and Super Durable
Laminate flooring can last between 15-25 years before they’ll need to be replaced. Laminate flooring products are made with pressed wood which makes them more durable and scratch-resistant. Laminate products with higher AC ratings have a higher level of resilience. Laminate can be cleaned using a mild cleaning solution and gently vacuumed. Of course, you can’t go wrong when you follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Not Eco-Friendly
If you’re committed to using products in your home that are environmentally friendly then laminate flooring may not be right for you. Laminate is made from synthetic materials that are derived from chemicals like formaldehyde which can release volatile organic compounds that can be harmful to the environment and have adverse health effects.
Lacey Handyman for Laminate Floor Installation Projects
Yes, laminate flooring is an excellent choice for homeowners who are searching for flooring that is competitively priced, easy to maintain, and durable. This flooring material can add to the beauty of the home since it’s crafted to take on the look of traditional wood species as well as other types of classic flooring. Installation is fast, easy and you can expect great results without breaking the bank when you hire the professionals at Lacey Handyman to get the job done.