How to Install Laminate and Remove Old Flooring - Full Instructional | Builds by Maz, by Builds by Maz on YouTube. 21 min 7 s.
- Video length
- 21 min 7 s
- Time to do it
- 1 day
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Clear the room and remove the old flooring. Work the pry bar under the edge and lift the boards, then pull stubborn nails with nail pulling pliers.
Check the subfloor is flat, dry and clean. Sweep up debris and fix any loose boards or high spots before you lay anything.
Roll out the underlayment across the whole floor, butting the seams and taping them. Run it in the same direction you plan to lay the planks.
Start in a corner and lay the first row with the tongue facing the wall. Put spacers between the planks and the wall to leave an expansion gap.
Click the next plank into the long edge at an angle, then press it down until it locks. Use the tapping block and a mallet to close tight joints.
Stagger the joints by starting each new row with a cut-off piece. Measure with the speed square and cut planks with the floor cutter.
Work around stairs and doorways by cutting planks to fit. Use construction adhesive and the brad nailer to fix transition pieces and trim.
Fill nail holes with wood filler and run a bead of baseboard caulk along the wall trim. Pull out the spacers and refit the baseboards.
Tips and common mistakes
Leave a small expansion gap at every wall, or the floor can buckle as it moves with the seasons.
Acclimatise the boxes in the room for a couple of days so the planks settle before you install them.
Check each joint with your hand as you go, since a gap that looks closed can still click apart later.
Wear gloves and knee pads when pulling old flooring, and watch for hidden nails and staples.
Questions
Do I need glue to install laminate flooring?
No. Most laminate is a floating floor that clicks together, so no glue is needed on the planks. Construction adhesive is only used for transition pieces and trim.
Can I install laminate over old flooring?
Sometimes, if the old floor is flat and sound, but this guide removes it first. Pulling it up gives you a clean, level subfloor and avoids height problems at doors.
How long should I wait before walking on the new floor?
You can walk on it straight away once the planks are locked in. Wait until the caulk and wood filler are dry before moving furniture back in.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
