Laying Laminate Around Doors

Loosen and remove the screws that secure the door hinges to the door frame, using a screwdriver. Carefully take the door down, with a helper if required, and place it outside the room. Put the screws in a bag or container, and set it next to the door.

Measure the width of a laminate plank, and cut a small length of underlayment identical to its width. Underlayment, an essential requirement of a laminate floor, is installed between the laminate planks and the subfloor. Lay the underlayment flush against a door jamb, with the plank right-side down on it. Adjust the plank so its edge is flush with the jamb.

Hold the underlayment and plank with one hand to keep them from shifting while you draw a straight line along the jamb that marks their height. Extend the line to the corresponding wall molding so you know how far you need to cut. Move this assembly to the opposite jamb, and repeat the process of marking its height.

Cut along each marked line on the door jamb, using a handsaw. Slide a pry bar into the cut to release the loose section of wood at each door jamb. Brush the exposed section with a hard-bristled brush to remove debris.

Spread a roll of underlayment flush against the full planks in the room, through the doorway and into the room it opens into. For wider doorways, use two or more rolls of underlayment to cover the opening, but extend corresponding edges of adjacent edges by 3 inches.

Measure the space between the two door jambs. Cut a laminate plank to this distance, minus a quarter inch to allow for expansion. Dry fit the plank in the doorway, and eyeball roughly how many planks you need to cover the span. Cut the remaining planks the same way so they fit under the door.

Spread glue over the lower surface of a plank before sliding it under the prepared jambs. Glue the remaining planks, and slide them next to the previous one, so the flooring under the doorway looks like a continuation of the room. Continue to install full-size laminate planks in the room this door opens into.