How To Install Laminate Floor On Wood Subfloor

Laminate is a budget friendly attractive alternative to hardwood flooring.

How to install laminate floor on wood subfloor.

Laminate flooring is ready to install as long as the base floor is clean and smooth. Remove any carpet or other flooring. Materials not suitable for a laminate installation. Do this by multiplying the room s length by its width.

A subfloor is meant to be flat and level. If you have a vinyl floor you may be able to install your flooring directly on top of it. To level a subfloor for installing laminate follow the directions above to remove high and low spots. Laminate planks snap together and float above a subfloor which means tiny subfloor imperfections are okay although again a level subfloor will help prevent damage.

Before you install your plywood subfloor first calculate the room s square footage to find out how much flooring you ll need to buy. The key to a beautiful long lasting hardwood or laminate floor is a well prepared subfloor. Wood and concrete are the idea subfloors. Fix concrete subfloors with a patching compound and for wood subfloors remove protruding nails and replace any damaged boards.

The minimum subfloor thickness is approximately 3 4 inches so the minimum thickness of osb board you will need for laminate flooring is 23 32 inches or 18 mm. Determine how much flooring and materials will be needed. If not your floor covering which is the solid hardwood laminate tile or other exposed flooring that goes on top of the subfloor will never be flat and level this problem can be fixed but it all depends on exactly what kind of uneven subfloor you have. Laminate flooring cannot ever be installed on a subfloor made of carpet or padding.

In some instances you might be able to install your flooring over an existing floor but it is important to check prior to installation if it is a suitable material. Tweet installing vinyl flooring over the existing floor in your room isn t especially difficult and can usually be done as a diy project however if you re working with existing wood flooring then you ll have to follow a slightly different method than you would with existing vinyl flooring or laminate flooring. Add about 10 to that number to account for any possible mistakes and warped boards. Multiply length times width of the room.

Be sure to properly prep the leveled subfloor for whatever flooring material you ve chosen.