Laminated Wood Is Not Clicking Together

Correct Process

• To correctly connect two pieces of laminate flooring, line up the groove of one plank with the tongue of the other. Place the tongue flat on the floor and hold the piece you are installing at a 90-degree angle to the plank on the floor. Slowly lower the piece you are holding until it is flat to the floor as well and it snaps into place with the original piece.

Debris

• When you are installing a floor, there can be debris such as packaging from the flooring materials or leftover debris from a rug or old flooring. For a laminate floor to snap into place, the groove side of each panel needs to be cleared of debris. If you cannot get the flooring planks to click, check the groove to see if it is being blocked by debris.

Damaged Tongue

• The back of a laminate floor is compressed cardboard coated in a protective coating. This coating does not extend out to the tongue of the plank, which means the tongue is only cardboard. If you mishandle the laminate or try to force the plank into place, you will damage the tongue and the pieces do not click together. Damage to the laminate tongue also can occur if the tongue comes into contact with moisture of any kind.

Uneven Floor

• Two pieces of laminate need a completely level surface to join properly. A bump or wave in the subfloor underneath the laminate prevents you from being able to line the planks up and click them into place. Prior to investing in laminate flooring, have a flooring expert look over the subfloor to make certain a laminate floor can be correctly installed over the subfloor.