How To Lay Laminate Flooring: A Step-By-Step Guide

Laminate flooring has become an increasingly popular choice amongst homeowners due to its affordability, durability and low maintenance. With the nature of its design, laminate flooring is manufactured with a protective top layer to prevent wear and tear, making it ideal for high-traffic areas and homes with pets or children. However, one of the most attractive features of laminate flooring is the possibility of installing it yourself.

In this article, we will equip you with a comprehensive step-by-step guide to teach you how to lay laminate flooring, with expert tips and advice to help you along the way. Let's embark on this DIY journey together.

Related article: Laminate vs Engineered Wood Flooring: Which Option Is Best For You?

Before we begin, it's important to ensure you have all the necessary materials and tools at hand. Here's what you'll need:

• Tape Measure: For precise measurements of your floor area.
• Laminate Flooring Panels: Multiply the length and width of the room, plus a little extra in case of any errors.
• Underlayment: This goes underneath your laminate flooring to provide cushioning, sound absorption and in some cases, a barrier against moisture.
• Laminate Cutter/Saw: A must-have tool for clean, easy cuts on your laminate boards.
• Rubber Mallet/Tapping Block: To fit the laminate pieces together.
• Crowbar: Handy for fitting pieces near the walls.
• Spacers: To maintain a consistent gap between your flooring and the walls.
• Utility Knife: Useful for cutting the underlayment.
• Pencil: To mark your laminate boards before cutting.
• Level: To ensure your flooring is perfectly flat and even.
• Safety Glasses and Gloves: For your personal safety during installation.
• Self-levelling Compound - optional: Ideal if the sub-flooring is uneven.

Now that you’ve got all of the necessary tools and materials, it's time to make a start with the installation process to ensure that you have a smooth and successful DIY project.

• Step 1: Prepare the Subfloor
• Step 2: Measure How Much Laminate Flooring You’ll Need
• Step 3: Install the Underlayment
• Step 4: Cut & Lay the Laminate Flooring
• Step 5: Finishing Touches

Before installing the laminate flooring, it's important to prepare the subfloor to ensure that you have a stable and level surface. This step is critical as an uneven subfloor can lead to squeaking and instability in your laminate flooring. It's worth taking your time to get this right. 

Start by removing the existing flooring if any. Then, clean the sub-floor thoroughly, making sure it's free of dust, dirt and debris. If your subfloor is concrete, check for any cracks or damages and repair them prior to installation. For wooden subfloors, ensure that all planks are firmly in place and level. If you find any uneven areas, consider using a self-levelling compound to even it out, ensuring that it is completely dry before proceeding with the underlayment. 

Tip: If you come across asbestos when removing the old flooring, consider hiring a professional, as it requires specialised handling.

Once the sub-flooring is prepared, you can now calculate how many flooring panels you need for the space. Start by measuring the length and width of your room using a tape measure, multiplying the two measurements to calculate the total square footage. For example, if the room is 2.5m wide and 3m long, the total metres squared would be:

2.5 x 3 = 7.5

Remember: Always add 5% to the total metres squared needed to account for wastage and errors in cutting.

The underlayment is an important part of your laminate flooring. It acts as a barrier against moisture (assuming an underlay with DPM has been purchased), adds a level of comfort underfoot and helps to reduce noise. 

Note: If your laminate flooring comes with pre-attached underlayment, you can skip this step.

To install the underlayment, start at the longest wall of your room and roll out the underlayment in the same direction you will be laying the laminate boards. Ensure that the entire floor is covered, but does not ride up the walls. Trim any excess with your utility knife.

If your underlayment comes in sections, simply lay the sections up against each other without overlapping.

• Smooth out any wrinkles or folds in the underlayment as you go. The smoother and more accurate the underlayment installation, the better your final laminate floor will look and feel.
• Use a waterproof underlayment if you're laying laminate flooring in a damp area.
• Make sure the underlayment is compatible with your specific type of laminate flooring.

Now we've reached the most rewarding part of the process: laying the flooring. 

Start by laying the first board in the corner of the room, leaving an expansion gap between the wall and the board as per the manufacturer's instructions. The ‘tongue’ side of the boards should be facing the wall. 

Using your rubber mallet and tapping block, firmly tap the boards to fit them together. Working from left to right and repeating the process for each row. 

As it can be difficult to install the boards near to the wall with the mallet alone, a crowbar can be used to help fit the boards into place. 

• Always remember to stagger the joints on each row for a more cohesive and attractive look.
• Use spacers to maintain the expansion gap along the walls. This will allow for the natural expansion and contraction of the laminate.
• Ensure that all boards are perfectly flat and that there are no gaps. If a piece doesn’t fit well, it's better to rectify it immediately rather than having to fix an entire row later.

When installing laminate flooring, you should always fit one board at a time, cutting each board as you go. This way, you can ensure that each board is cut precisely to provide a better fit, reduce waste and ensure a more professional-looking finish.

Before you start, remember to wear your safety glasses and gloves to prevent any injuries. Using a pencil, mark the cutting line on the laminate board, making sure the line is straight and precise. 

Next, use your laminate cutter to cut the board along the marked line. When cutting the laminate board, we advise that you cut from the back of the board to prevent any chipping on the visible side. 

Once the board has been cut to size, it can be laid and fitted. Repeat the cutting and installation process as you go.

Remember: Do not rush the cutting process to avoid any mistakes. A faulty cut could waste an entire board.

• Always cut the boards in a well-ventilated area to avoid inhaling dust.
• Cut the boards as you go to ensure they fit correctly.
• If you need to cut a board lengthwise, consider using a table saw or circular saw. Be sure to follow all safety precautions if using these tools.

The final step of the process is to add the finishing touches to your newly installed laminate floor. This involves installing skirting boards or scotia along the edges of your room to cover the expansion gaps and provide a finished look. 

Start by measuring the perimeter of your room, then cut your moulding to size using a mitre saw. Remember to cut the ends of your moulding at a 45-degree angle where they will meet at corners. Secure the moulding to the walls using finishing nails and use wood putty to cover the nail holes for a seamless finish. 

• Always measure twice before cutting the moulding to ensure accuracy.
• Never attach the moulding to the laminate flooring itself as this can prevent the floor from expanding and contracting.

There are several advantages and considerations when choosing between a DIY installation of laminate flooring vs professional installation. 

• You have the freedom to work at your own pace and schedule.
• Savings on labour costs.

• Time-consuming and physically demanding.
• Requires careful planning and precise execution.
• Mistakes can lead to a waste of materials and additional costs.

• Quicker and more efficient process.
• Expertise in handling unexpected issues.

• Additional cost of labour.
• You will need to hire a reputable and experienced professional to guarantee a quality finish.

Laying laminate flooring is a process that involves careful preparation, precise installation and thoughtful finishing touches. Whether you’ve hired a professional or you’ve decided to put your handiwork to the test, we hope our laminate flooring installation guide has provided you with the insights you need for a professional-looking finish.

As you embark on your flooring journey, remember that quality materials are the foundation of a stunning laminate floor. We encourage you to explore our selection of quality laminate and accessories for all of your flooring needs. For more help and advice, take a look at our wood flooring blogs or contact our team of experts today, we’re always happy to help.