Build it Hermanus everything to make home building simple, providing building materials to build your home from the foundations to the finishes and fittings!Summer is upon us; the year is winding down and Michael Bublé is defrosting as we speak. It’s almost time to get your DYI on.
Nothing transforms a home like a new floor, from drab to fab, so we are going to give you step by step instructions on, how to fit locking laminate flooring. Laminate flooring is a great flooring option because you can have the beautiful look of a hardwood floor without all the maintenance.
Installing a laminate floor may see like a daunting task, but with some basic knowledge and a small array of tools, the average homeowner can install a floor in a relatively short amount of time.
What you will need:
Tools and Materials:
- Scissors or a Knife
- Set Square
- Pencil
- Ruler
- Dust Mask
- Hacksaw or Jigsaw (with laminate blade)
- Trim Cutters
- Fitting Wedges or Expansion Spacers
- Underlay to cover the size of your floor
- Laminate flooring of your choice
- Laminate flooring trim
Build it Hermanus stocks everything you will need for this project, you can order all these items online, from the comfort of your own home and delivered straight to your front door.
Check it out! www.buildit-store.co.za
Locking Laminate Flooring
Locking flooring boards have long and short tongues on the sides and the ends that lock together. It is easy to unlock the floor again if you want to move it.
Condition the boards before fitting, lay them horizontally in their packing in the room where they are to be used for at least 48 Hours.
Let’s Get Started!
Laminate flooring expands and contracts naturally, so you need to leave a gap of 10mm between the boards and the skirting board when fitting, using fitting wedges or expansion spacers.
Lay the first board length ways in a left-hand corner over your underlay, the end with the short tongue against the wall.
Fit wedges at intervals between the board and the skirting following the manufacturer’s instructions, and check that the board is square with the wall.
Viola! Look at you, all fancy and stuff, that was the hard part! 😉
Place the short end of the next board at an angle against the previous board and fold down, making sure the board is on the locking strip in the previous row.
Angle boards by 30 Degrees and push against the row in front, when boards are tightly together push them down.
For the last row, place a board at a time over the previous row. Place a third board on top with the tongue touching the skirting and use the edge to mark the cutting line on the board beneath.
Cut the board and ease into position. See, Easy Peasy! Now for the trim…
Floor Trim
Once the flooring is laid, you can remove the fitting wedges and cover the gap around the edge of the room with laminate flooring trim, chosen to match the colour of the floor. The trim should be fixed with adhesive to the skirting, not the floor!
Measure and cut lengths of laminate floor trim, apply trim adhesive to the back of the length of flooring trim so that it will stick to the skirting board and not the floor.
Press the trim into place and if necessary secure them with some heavy weights while the adhesive dries.
All done!
Please send us a photo of your new floor, we would love to see it, you can upload your images in the comments section!
Plan your next DIY project with Build it Hermanus and get the job done right, first time.
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Build it Hermanus offers local delivery, supplying the greater Overberg area with building materials, do-it-yourself home improvement tools, and expert advice.
Build it Hermanus offers added value services in respect of hardware retailing; embracing all activity within the building materials industry, focusing specifically on the building of; urban, township, rural housing as well as all home improvements and do it yourself.