DIY Network

Engineered Wood Floor Installation New flooring changes the whole feel of this bathroom. From "Bathroom Renovations" episode DBTR-513

A bathroom doesn't have much floor space — but the flooring makes a big difference in the overall feel of the room. Host Amy Matthews shows how to install a floating floor made of engineered wood.

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	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C

Materials:

underlayment
scissors
miter saw
shims
pull bar
mallet
jigsaw
marker

Installing Engineered Wood Flooring

• Roll out a layer of underlayment material and cut it to the correct width (figure A). Spread the underlayment over the floor, trimming as needed to fit around corners and fixtures. Since the underlayment tends to roll up and/or move around, Amy decided to lay down one row of underlayment material and cover it with floorboards before laying down the next row.

• Decide which direction the floorboards should go. Chris and Erin decided to align the boards to match the direction of the floorboards in the rest of the house.

• Position the first board with the tongue edge toward the wall. Snap the second piece into the first, tapping with a rubber using a pull bar and rubber mallet to ensure the pieces fit snugly together (figure B). Place shims at the edge of the flooring to keep it from moving closer to the wall.

• Cut pieces to length as needed using a miter saw (figure C). For notched or curved cuts, use a jigsaw. For circular cuts, such as around a toilet flange, try to find a household item about the same size and the needed cut. Trace it onto the board (figure D) and make the cut with a jigsaw (figure E).
  

  Figure D

  Figure E

  
  

  Safety Alert: Always wear safety glasses and use caution when using a miter saw, jigsaw or any power saw.

• Lay down the second row of boards, making sure to stagger the seams for a sturdier floor structure.