Installing laminate flooring

Installing laminate flooring is a versatile residential and commercial flooring that is very popular. It is resistant to moisture and mechanical damage. But its most significant advantage is its low price.

As with most repairs, the process of laying laminate flooring begins with surface preparation.

Laying laminate on the floor begins with cleaning the floor from various contaminants and dust. For this process, experts recommend using a special construction vacuum cleaner. This is due to the fact that this tool provides the highest quality removal of small debris.

The next stage of preparation is the leveling and repair of the surface. During its implementation, potholes and cracks should be eliminated, and also ensure that the maximum height difference on an area of 3 square meters does not exceed 2 millimeters. If these recommendations are not followed, the likelihood of damage to the coating when placing heavy furniture increases significantly.

The process of repairing the coating before laying the laminate correctly will directly depend on the type of substrate. Most often, a wooden or concrete floor is used as the basis for laying this flooring. Repair and alignment of the first is carried out using an ordinary planer. In the second case, it is recommended to use self-leveling compounds to eliminate cracks and a screed to level the surface.

Installing laminate flooring

Considering the process of how to properly lay a laminate, special attention should be paid to such a functional element as the substrate. It comes in several types, each of which differs in quality, price and performance characteristics:

• cork backing (natural) – made mainly from natural materials and is the best solution for bedrooms and children’s rooms, but has a relatively low resistance to moisture;
• foamed polypropylene – allows you to hide any unevenness of the floor, but is not able to withstand high loads;
• expanded polystyrene – a universal substrate with high performance, capable of withstanding moisture and high loads;
• foil substrate – provides high-quality thermal insulation;
• polyethylene – designed for rooms with a high level of humidity, such as a bathroom and kitchen.

Another important parameter to consider when laying laminate flooring is the thickness of the substrate. It can be from 2 to 10 millimeters, depending on the operational features of the room. To select the desired thickness of this material, the following nuances must be taken into account:

• the optimal thickness of the substrate is from 2 to 5 millimeters, but this parameter can increase if there are significant irregularities in the base;
• the substrate sags over time to a certain thickness (cork – from 1 to 2 millimeters, polyethylene – from 2 to 3 millimeters), which is why it is necessary to make a purchase with a margin;
• a substrate with a thickness of 5 to 10 millimeters is recommended for installation if it is necessary to improve the quality of sound and heat insulation.

Today, the process of proper laying, which ensures a long service life of the coating, comfort of use and an impeccable appearance, also depends on such a parameter as the type of connection. More recently, the adhesive method was used for installation. However, today manufacturers have replaced it with other, better methods:

• locking system Lock – the crest of one plate is inserted into the groove of the other and additionally fixed with the help of a finisher (in some cases, for reliability, the joints are smeared with glue);
• Click locking system – the system is similar to the previous one, but does not require the use of auxiliary tools, since the lock snaps into place with light pressure.

The latter system is considered more reliable and convenient to use. It was developed relatively recently, but despite this, many specialists have already fallen in love with it. Cost to install laminate flooring is determined individually.