How to Lay Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring is a popular alternative to carpet, linoleum, vinyl, and wood flooring. It’s low-maintenance, easy to clean, and highly resistant to scratches and stains. Plus, it’s often straightforward to install, with click-lock or tongue-and-groove fitting systems available.

For all these reasons and more, laminate flooring is a great option for homeowners and tradespeople alike. But knowing how to lay laminate flooring properly, from preparation to finishing touches, is essential.

Where to place laminate flooring

Laminate flooring can be used throughout buildings, but it works particularly well in high-traffic areas, such as living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and hallways. Its high scratch and stain-resistant properties mean you don’t have to worry when moving furniture around (such as pulling out dining chairs) and sweeping up any dirt.

It’s also great for high footfall areas in businesses such as shops, showrooms, and offices. However, avoid laying laminate flooring in areas with high moisture levels, like bathrooms or kitchens, unless using highly water-resistant products. This is because laminate flooring is made with high-density fibreboard (HDF), which can absorb moisture and warp as a result.

You also need to consider the windows in the room and look at how much sunlight shines on the floor, as UV damage may cause fading or peeling.

Preparing laminate flooring

Remove any furniture and rugs and inspect the subfloor to ensure it’s level, clean, and dry. Look for and remove or fix any loose parts so you can ensure you have a smooth, stable subfloor.

Measure the length and width of the room in metres and multiply these numbers together to determine how much laminate flooring you’ll need in square metres.

For odd-shaped rooms, break the space up into squares or rectangles. Then divide the total square metres by the coverage of each pack of laminate floor tiles to work out how many you need. It can also be worth adding an extra 10% to account for errors and wastage.

Before you start, stack the packs of laminate floor tiles in the room they’re going to be fitted in and leave them to acclimatise to the temperature and humidity for 48 hours. This prevents them from shrinking or expanding after being fitted, avoiding the risk of gaps appearing between floorboards.

What do you need to lay laminate flooring?

There are several tools and materials you’ll need for your laminate flooring installation. Let’s take a look at the essentials.

Materials

Laminate flooring planks
Flooring underlay
Underlay tape
Scotia trim
Skirting boards.

Tools

Hammer and mallet
Circular saw
Chisel
Tapping block
Measuring tools – tape measure, pencil, square, and ruler
Protective gear – dust mask, safety goggles, ear defenders, and knee pads
Spacers
Pulling bar
Power drill and drill bit (if fixing trims).

Laminate floor installation

Knowing where to start when laying laminate flooring ensures you install it properly, so it lasts and looks great for many years. Follow these steps to lay a laminate floor correctly in any room.

Hands measuring and cutting laminate flooring during installation, aligning boards over an underlay on a subfloor.

Install the underlay
Underlay provides cushioning, insulation, and noise reduction between the subfloor and the laminate surface, and needs to be installed correctly to guarantee success for the rest of the installation process.
- For a concrete subfloor, use an underlay with a damp-proof membrane.
- With a wood subfloor, you can use a foam underlay.
- Measure, roll out, and fit the underlay at a 90° angle to the direction of the laminate planks to avoid lining up joints.
- Tape the underlay together and down, and ensure the edges extend at least 5cm up the wall.

Person measuring and marking laminate flooring planks on a subfloor, preparing boards for accurate cutting and installation.

Plan the layout
Decide which way you want to lay laminate flooring. There are a few options with different benefits to consider:
- Following the line of light from a window creates a natural effect.
- Laying laminate planks horizontally can make small rooms look larger.
- Staggering joints with 15 to 30cm between adjacent end joints can form an aesthetically pleasing pattern.

Close-up of hands using a utility knife and square to trim a laminate plank over underlay during flooring installation.

Fit the boards
Put your planning into action and lay the laminate flooring.
1. Start with the first board in the corner of the room next to the longest wall.
2. Install an expansion spacer to leave a 5cm gap between the board and the wall.
3. Place the first board with the tongue side against the wall and the groove side facing outwards.
4. Lay the next board with its tongue aligned with the groove of the first one, dropping it down from a 30° angle to lock in.
5. Use a tapping block and pull bar to create tight joins and secure the laminate boards in place.
6. Repeat this process until you reach the other wall.
7. Put an expansion spacer in place at the other wall, then measure and cut the last board to fit the remaining space and finish the first row.
8. Move on to the next row and repeat the process, measuring and cutting any boards to fit around objects such as radiators and door frames, until the entire floor is covered.

Finishing touches for laminate flooring

Complete the room with a few finishing touches by installing scotia trims to cover the expansion gap between the new laminate floor and existing skirting boards. If no skirting boards were in place before, now’s the time to install them around the edge of the room in a style that matches the new laminate flooring.

Sweep and vacuum the surface to remove any wood shavings and debris. Then check the floor for any defects, such as gaps, uneven boards, or marks. It’s best to fix these now before they cause a bigger problem later.

To maintain the flooring, regularly brush it to prevent scratches and use a slightly damp microfibre mop. Don’t use steam cleaners or a regular mop and bucket, as excess water could cause the laminate floor to warp or damage the surface.

Easy mistakes to avoid when laying laminate flooring

There are many common mistakes to avoid with laminate flooring that could damage the surface or mean it doesn’t last as long as it should. Proper planning, installation, and maintenance help laminate flooring look and perform at its best in high-traffic areas for years to come.

Avoid mistakes such as:

Skipping subfloor preparation
Not using a damp-proof membrane with a concrete subfloor
Applying the wrong type of underlay
Forgetting to acclimatise laminate boards
Ignoring expansion gaps
Poorly planning the layout
Forcing boards together
Measuring and cutting inaccurately
Neglecting scotia trims
Installing in high-moisture areas (without precautions).

The best way to prevent such mistakes is to lay high-quality laminate flooring and use suitable tools and accessories for the job. Find products in the colours, finishes, and styles that are perfect for your home or project at your local Jewson branch or online.