Laying Laminate Through Doorways

Laminated floors are inexpensive, durable and easy to clean. They also provide an alternative to hardwood floors. Available in a variety of widths, the planks snap together with tongue-and-groove joints, making them easy to install. Installing the laminated planks under a doorway requires some preparation, however. You want the planks to fit smoothly under the door jambs so the door does not get caught or drag on the floor every time it's opened or closed. With a little undercutting, though, you can easily fit the planks to go under the jambs.

Screwdriver
Zipper bag
Measuring tape
Underlayment (optional)
Utility knife
Newspaper (optional)
Pencil
Handsaw
Pry bar
Hard-bristled brush, 2-inch
Moisture barrier, 6-mil
Wood adhesive

Instructions

- 1
  Remove the hinge screws that hold the door to the frame, using a screwdriver. Lower the door and set it aside against a wall or on the floor. Place the screws and hinges in a zipper bag for later use.
- 2
  Turn the laminate plank upside down and inspect its base to determine whether it has a sheet of preattached underlayment. The underlayment feels like soft foam. If it doesn’t, cut a 4-inch long piece of scrap underlayment from the roll with a utility knife, in the same width as the plank.
- 3
  Set the scrap underlayment against the jamb on one side of the doorway. Center and lower the plank face down over it. Alternatively, lower the laminate plank face down on newspaper if it has underlayment preattached over its base.
- 4
  Mark the height of the plank and underlayment/newspaper combination on the doorjamb and wall molding with pencil. Move the piece to the other side of the doorway, and mark its height along the second doorjamb. Set the plank and underlayment/newspaper aside.
- 5
  Cut the bottom of each door jamb along the marked line, using a handsaw. Work slowly to avoid cutting above or below the pencil marks. Stop cutting when you reach the wall surface against the door jamb.
- 6
  Remove the cut wood on each side of the doorway with a pry bar. Insert a 2-inch hard-bristled brush into each cut jamb to remove loose wood and debris.
- 7
  Cover the area under the doorway with underlayment. Extend the underlayment roll to the next room. However, for laminate planks with preattached underlayment, spread a 6-mil moisture barrier on the subfloor.
- 8
  Measure the width of the doorway, or the distance between the two door jambs, minus 1/4 inch for the expansion gap between the floor and wall. Cut a laminate plank to this measurement with a circular saw.
- 9
  Apply adhesive over the back of this plank and slide it beneath the door jambs. Use as many planks as needed to work your way under the doorway, and continue installing full-sized planks in the next room, forming tongue-and-groove joints.
- 10
  Stand the door in place and install it to the frame with hinges and screws.

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