The first thing to remember about installation of laminate floors is to take adequate safety measures. Particle-containing chemicals can be harmful to health upon inhalation, and dangerous if they come in contact with eyes and skin. One needs to follow the guidelines of the manufacturer while installing laminate floors. Once safety is taken into account, it is time for inspection. First of all, large-format laminate flooring must be inspected for any defects. Material that has been damaged should not be installed, as the warranty provided by the manufacturer may not be applicable then. A level, no-bounce sub floor is the prime requirement for installation. If the sub floor is made of wood then it must be ensured that the moisture content there is not more than 12%. Moisture barrier is also not to be used over a wood sub floor or sub floor of wood product. Sub floors of other material should be necessarily dry before installation. While cutting planks, sawdust is created. This contains aluminum oxide that can scratch the floor. So, the planks should preferably be cut at a place away from the installation site. Though essentially the installation guidelines of most manufacturers are the same, some fine differences exist regarding aspects such as gluing. One needs to be careful while following instructions. The tapping block can be used to get the planks together. The planks will go together easily if glued properly. In no case should the boards be banged together. Chipping or raising of edges may crop up in such cases. A gap along the perimeter of the installation of a quarter inch should be accounted for. The floor should not be touching a wall, nor should it be too close to it. If the planks are installed parallel to incoming light it imparts greater aesthetic value. In narrow rooms, however, planks look better if installed parallel to longer walls, whatever direction the incoming light might happen to fall. |
