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Installing a Laminate Floor

From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-712

The vinyl sample on the left looks like ceramic tile; the one on the right, wood flooring.

This isn't really stone -- it's ceramic tile. It adds all the beauty of stone but requires none of the careful upkeep.

Laminate flooring can mimic the look of fine hardwood.

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

Figure D

Figure E

Figure F

Figure G

Q: We've lived with a horrible vinyl floor in our bathroom for long enough. I'm looking for advice on choosing a durable floor. Also, I'd like to do the installation myself. Am I crazy?

A: (Sharon Hanby-Robie, DIY Remodeling expert) No, you're perfectly sane! Installing a replacement floor covering is a good do-it-yourself project. But keep in mind that there are a number of types of flooring you should consider, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Here's a little information to help you get started.

Vinyl is soft and easy to install. It's particularly good if you have younger children, as it's soft underfoot, and the finish very easy to maintain. And it's very easy to install -- just peel and stick.
Ceramic is durable and cleans easily. Be warned, though: it's very hard and unforgiving, so if you fall or drop something on it, it will break.
Laminate is available in designs that imitate wood, stone and ceramic tile. It's just like the material on countertops, only harder. This covering is great for bathrooms because it doesn't require the upkeep that a wood floor would in a damp area such as a bathroom.

Our homeowner chose a slate-looking laminate (figure ). One of the beauties of this type of flooring is that it's a floating floor; that is, it can be laid right over an existing floor.

Measure the floor and take that measurement to the home store to determine how much flooring you'll need. You want the new flooring to be centered, so measure from the starting wall to the finish wall; divide that number by the laminate board width. If you're lucky, you'll end up with an even number. If not, you'll have to trim the first and last boards to keep the pattern centered, as in our project.
You must remove the toilet to install a new floor, but the vanity can stay.
Roll out the foam underlayment along the starting wall and cut to length. Roll out additional foam underlayment as needed during installation.
Lay out the first laminate board with the small tongue side facing the wall ( figure B).
Tip: Use 1/4" spacers between the laminate and the vertical surfaces such as walls, vanity, shower or tub to allow for expansion (figure C). Don't worry about this space, as you'll be covering it later with the molding.
Tip: Because this floor is in a bathroom, the manufacturer recommends strengthening the joints with a thin bead of glue on top of the tongue only (figure D).
Install the next piece by aligning the short ends of the boards and clicking them in place (figure E). Use a tapping block and hammer to tap on the short end (figure F) and lock the rows into place. Remember to glue each joint.
After 24 hours, remove the spacers and install the molding pieces (figure G). Since this is a bathroom, use a silicone caulk to seal around the walls and the toilet, and use caulk and molding to seal around the bathtub. Remember, although many of these products advertise that they just click in place, you must use glue on the seams to ensure a watertight seal.
Tip: When you're using large laminate boards like those shown in this project, having a helper makes the job a whole lot easier!

RESOURCES :

The Wood Finisher: How to Finish Everything, From Decks to Floors to Doors
Author: Bruce Johnson
ISBN: 0345372972
Ballantine Books

The Guide to Easy Wood Floor Care and Maintenance: A Complete Owners Manual for Hardwood Floors
Model: 1880759004
Author: Grant Aslett
(1993)