DIY Laminate Flooring – An Affordable Home Improvement Project
The appeal of transforming your home virtually overnight by replacing old tattered carpeting with shining stylish floors has made do-it-yourself (DIY) laminate flooring installation extremely popular. If you have qualified for a home improvement loan, this project adds extra value to your home and is a good way of spending it wisely. Learn how to install laminate flooring in this video.
Laminate flooring installation is a flooring project implemented by installing interlocking “tongue and groove” laminate planks that click together. No nails or adhesives are required. Laminate flooring can have the texture and appearance of real wood or ceramic or stone tiles. It is not always necessary to rip out your existing floor prior to laminate flooring installation. You only need to make sure that the sub-floor is perfectly even and smooth and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Carpeting or real wood on concrete floors, however, will have to be removed prior to installation.
As laminate planks are not fastened to the sub-floor, a good quality padded underlayment is needed and usually consists of felt, foam or cork. This underlayment will add stability, dampen sound, give warmth and provide a more comfortable feeling underfoot. Some manufacturers will pre-attach the underlayment to the planks, although some experts view this as being slightly less effective than having a separate underlayment. If your sub-floor is not real wood, you will also need to place a plastic moisture or vapor barrier (typically a polyethylene material) between the planks and the underlayment to provide additional protection against moisture.
DIY laminate flooring installation is popular because it is an easy glueless operation that can be completed by any novice. This home remodeling project gives highly gratifying results in a few hours. If the installation is performed correctly using a high grade laminate, your flooring will retain its appearance for many years. Most products have 15-30 year warranties. Laminate flooring can be used in virtually any room, including kitchens and bathroom, as long as the installation instructions are followed carefully.
