Flooring

Laminate Installation

What to Expect

Laminate flooring is a versatile material designed and engineered for easy installation. You can install laminate floors in almost every room in your home, above or below ground, and over wood or concrete. Laminate flooring installation is 30 to 50 percent faster to finish over other flooring installation because there’s no need for adhesives or special tools. It’s a great weekend project for DIYers with intermediate experience.

Laminate flooring is designed for a “floating floor” installation method that doesn’t require glue, nails, or staples. Instead, laminate boards have a unique tongue-and-groove profile that connects by simply locking edges into place for a firmly fastened surface. Once complete, the entire floor “floats” above the subfloor, expanding and contracting with the temperature and humidity changes in your home.

During Installation

The versatility of floating floor installation allows it to be installed directly over various existing floors, including wood, concrete, vinyl tile, and vinyl sheet, even carpet. That means you don’t have to pull up old flooring or deal with the mess of repairing damaged flooring before installing your new laminate floor. Just make sure the subfloor is structurally sound, dry, clean, and flat. An underlayment is recommended for laminate installation. Underlayment serves as a moisture barrier and will help quiet floors in areas with heavy foot traffic. It also makes your laminate floor sound and feel more like a real hardwood floor.

After Installation

After installation, you'll want to establish good ventilation for up to 72 hours—especially if you are sensitive to dust and odors. If you have questions about laminate flooring maintenance, we would be happy to answer them for you. Feel free to contact us at Gregory’s Paint & Flooring.