Learn the Laminate and Engineered Woodfloor Installation Secrets

The Son of a Swiss Master Carpenter Reveals His Knowledge to Teach You All You Need to Know before Starting Your Laminate or Engineered Floor Installation.

• Did you know that your flooring project is more then just buying the material and install it on your existing floor?


• Did you thought about possible health and smell affects after you installed your nice floor?


• Did you thought using your new floor as a design element in your room?

You see your flooring project needs more paying attention to then just buying and installing the flooring material. The single steps from start to finish are

1. Design your room with your new floor
2. Define the kind of material and it's usage level
3. Find your floor
4. Prepare the subfloor and define the necessary underlayment
5. May be hire a professional contractor
6. Purchase the material and check the quality
7. Start the installation and pay attention to the do's and don'ts
8. Give the floor the finishing touch
9. Do the initial cleaning, move the furniture in place and start enjoying Your new floor.

Having together a brief glimpse to the most important points will give you a small idea what professional flooring contractors should know if they not just installing the floor, but also give you a competent service and advice.

Grab your free mini-course about how to install laminate flooring

 

Decorating with your floor

Select the hardwood or laminate floor that compliments your room decor and size. Flooring can set the tone for the look and feel of a room. If you are completely free (no furniture yet, wall color is renewed, etc) you may first define what color you prefer, what style of furniture you will use and where your focus point should be (floor, wall-decorations, furniture, etc). Based on this you then can choose the various texture as rustic, nature, exclusive or whatever they called by the different manufacturer.

An other point is changing the impression of your room with the direction of the boards. You can make your narrow room look much wider if you lay the floor panels the correct direction. Or you even can guide the visitors eye to a certain point in the room.

It's you and your fantasy which is giving the limits.

 

Find your floor

How to find your personal floor, which floor is best for your needs? Do you like thin long planks of wood? Then you should choose strip flooring. If you prefer the aesthetic of very wide planks of wood, then plank flooring is the best choice. If you want a more decorative look, select a geometric design, parquet floors or laminate tile design will be perfect for your taste. Or do you like to have a stone floor with all it's structure variation then tiles would be the right material.

With the popularity of laminate flooring, many people ask which one they should choose for them, hardwood or laminate? Many have used laminate flooring with no problems. Others prefer the ease of dealing with scratches and dents on wood floors. But it is not only the optical impression to decide on, also the cool or warm feeling when walking barefoot is important.

Most of the people finally decide according to money and common sense. Never get a floor because of quality reasons if you don't like the look. And don't worry, most people can't see the difference between quality laminate and wood if you don't have the nature surface, but YOU will be the one looking at the floor the most.

As a small checklist for finding your floor pay attention to

• design and flooring material according personal preferences
• usage of the floor (slow to high traffic)
• emissions to the room air (formaldehyde, chlor, etc) which could affect your health and smell comfort
• suitable for floor heating if you have one
• sound emissions to you and neighbors

With all this different influences and personal preferences it is not easy to find your personal floor. In special if you are not alone deciding it. Also the lot of different labels and wording for the same task is confusing a lot of people.

The best is, make a checklist each participant of the decision team can fill in and then find a compromise.

Based on this list you then can start looking around for products and get drafts, without forgetting one of your important points.

Purchase the material

Now is the time to invest your hard-earned money in a new floor and it's also the last chance to think it over again if you want to do the installation yourself or hire a professional.

Prices can vary a lot, especially for hardwood flooring. Wood quality (heartwood, skinwood, etc), types of wood (oak, walnut, mahogany, etc), surface treatment, as well as brand name, can have a part of the final price. But always remember: "Price is just one thing."; Flooring usually needs to last a very long time, so the cheapest is not always the best bargain. On the other hand, a hardwood floor adds more value to your home than laminate flooring, especially if the floor you do is the living room or the bedroom.

What ever you purchase remember an old company rule: "The money is earned at the purchase, not with the work"

What does this mean for you?

Compare the product quality, price and service of the two to three suppliers from whom you received a quote, then get down to bargaining. This doesn’t necessarily have to mean a discounted price, but perhaps free home delivery or a free moisture sheet. Though if you feel the discounted price is better, then by all means approach the supplier about one.

Try to get some references if possible. This is definitively a good thing if you have the floor installed by a professional.

Quite often your decision is defining the brands and is seldom the other way round. This is because not all companies produce floors with each type of wood or tile.

Now that your order is placed, you can start to prepare the room for installation.

 

Start installation on your well prepared subfloor

All laminate and engineered hardwood flooring is installed as floating floor; it is laid on top of your existing floor without being glued down or attached. The only type of flooring you have to remove is "soft" carpet. The others you need to check if they are even, and if not, need to level them out. Usually the tolerance of unevenness is up to 5mm per meter (1/4"; per 4') but how much Your floor allows is said in the installation instructions you receive when purchasing your floor. When laying over a wood floor, check if there is some moister emission from underneath, then if so, it can cause damages to your new floor, doesn't matter if you use a moister barrier or not. If you use one your new floor is protected but the old wood can buckle and transfer it to the new one. If you don't use one the just laid floor get damages. In this case either prevent the moister comes up or remove the old wood to place the moister barrier directly to the basement.

When you fit together your planks, you must remember to leave a wall gap and not make a perfect wall-to-wall floor. The small gap is for expansion from humidity or heat, and it will be covered with molding. Laminate and manufactured hardwood flooring comes with locking tongue and groove designs for precise fits. Prior to beginning the job, you will need to put down underlayment of foam, cork or similar product to absorb sound and cushion the floor. Mostly it's also recommended to use a moister protection. All manufacturers provide some instructions with their product, make sure you follow these instructions closely, or you may void your warranty.

The room is emptied, the underfloor leveled, the material bought, delivered and acclimatized and you’re ready to start. Don't rush, take your time, and the result will definitely be better.

As required tools you need:

• hand saw with small teeth
• hammer
• tape measure or folding rule
• pencil
• installation kit consisting of tapping block and spacers
• last board puller
• drilling machine and drills for wood and/or concrete
• cutter or scissors to cut the moisture and acoustic pad
• towel to wipe the glue away if you seal the board’s connection or have a groove and tongue system
• chisel for cutting the locks when going around obstacles

The installation steps are:

• clean the floor
• put down your moisture barrier
• lay your sound protection
• lay the first three rows and don't forget the wall gap to each wall or possible obstacles. Don't forget to start the next row always with a shorter or longer board then in the previous row. This will give your floor additional strength.
• check the proper installation of the first three rows
• continue installing your laminate or engineered hardwood floor
• do the finishing touch by installing the molding

Remember: Your floor is just as good as the subfloor and installation

 

    

Choos the floor....      and transitions.

           

   Mark bords...         check the markings,     cut and install it.

      

    deside the molding      and finish your flooring.

 

Clean and maintain your floor

Before using the room and install the furnitures, clean up the installation dust and seal the joints if you have not sealed them with glue already.

• Dust from board cutting and drilling the dowels holes is best removed with a vacuum cleaner equipped with a soft brush for hard floors. This will avoid possible scratches in the new floor if you use a broom.


• Check if there is glue sitting on the surface of the floor. To clean this you will need a special laminate or parquet floor glue remover or floor cleaner.


• If you didn't "sealed" the joints of the boards with glue or a special sealant during installation, then we recommend you use a special wax or oil polish to seal the joints now.


• When you install oiled, waxed or even pre-finished surface treated parquet/engineered hardwood floor, we recommend you do an initial maintenance.

Tips:    Work carefully and use the cleaner first in a hidden area to see if it will damage the surface protection, change color, affect the glue in the joints, or any other damages that might occur. Don't forget to read the safety instructions on the cleaner bottle before using it.

Remember when cleaning:       Water and Wood don't mix

Cleaning is usually a snap and does normally not require expensive cleaning products, but keep your floor in a good shape by maintaining it some and then.

Keep the following points in mind to ensure your laminate floor stays in good condition for years.

1. For major cleaning, mop with plain water or a mixture of water and vinegar.
2. Never flood your floor while cleaning.
3. Don’t use conventional soap cleaners; use a citrus based cleaners.
4. Never use scouring powder, steel wool or wax strippers.
5. Never wax, sand or apply lacquer to a laminate surface.
6. Always test an inconspicuous area first.

 

Now you have a rough idea what your laminate or engineered hardwood flooring needs to consider. You can start directly and meet the little details during your project execution or learn more by applying for the free 5-part mini-course where you will find more details. Then everybody knows

The devil lies in the detail

And all this details are revealed in the "Your guide to installing laminate flooring".  

It is as if you get taken by the hand to get you started immediately on your laminate flooring project.

The son of a Swiss flooring expert will show you exactly, through step by step instructions, how to install your laminate flooring as his Swiss Master Carpenter Father did with him.

By reading his guide, not only will you save money installing your own laminate flooring, you’ll be saving time in not having to do the research for your project. - All the knowledge you need can be found within this guide. Information the professionals would rather you didn’t get your hands on.

With this guide, you CAN install a laminate floor on your own, professionally.

Not only will you learn how to save money by doing the installation of yourself, you'll be privileged to:

1. Learning how to save hundreds if not even thousands on installation fees and materials
2. Learn how to choose the best laminate flooring solution for your project
3. Tips & tricks that will help you with planning, optical impression, furniture style, lighting, and prevent you from bad future repairs such as humidity damages
4. Learn what the difference is between laminate, parquet and hardwood floors and where best to use them
5. Expert tips on underlayment and underground, preventing you from damaging your floor with humidity and overstress
6. Learn how to improve your room’s acoustics and at the same time avoiding complaints from your neighbors
7. Learn which tools you need for your project to make it easier and how to use them safely
8. Learn how to install laminate flooring in rooms that are not square, around obstacles (pipes, roof supports, etc), on stairs and their vertical surface, including moldings and expansion gaps
9. Learn how to lay modern structures with different colored laminate or parquet
10. Learn how to find your product from the various manufacturers (Mohawk, Pergo, DuPont, etc), and get an overview so you can decided which is the best for your project
11. Learn how to find a laminate flooring retailer or installer in your area

The “How to Install Laminate Flooring Guide” covers every subject for your laminate or manufactured hardwood flooring project - from the planning to buying and installation, as well as the finishing molds and future care of your new floor. It’s your roadmap to successfully installing your laminate flooring. With easy to follow, step by step clearly explained instructions, even an inexperienced person can do it.

Grab your guide today to take the first step to your successful project with a professional result, including the additional in bonuses worth over $200.00.

                

Grab your free mini-course about                     Grab your laminate and
            how to install laminate flooring             engineered hardwood installation guide.

    

    

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