Laying Laminate Flooring Over Multiple Surface Types

Laminate flooring consists of a small percentage of wood and synthetic materials and is designed to resemble hardwood flooring. It's considered a floating floor because it's not attached to the subfloor during installation. This, and the relative low cost, makes laminate flooring a viable option for homeowners that want to replace or upgrade old floors with minimal work and expense. Because laminate flooring floats, it can be installed over various types of surfaces, including concrete and wood floors. The surface of the preexisting floor must be flat, however, to keep the laminate flooring stable and prevent damage. For this reason, laminate flooring cannot be laid over most carpeting. The process of installation is the same, regardless of the type of subfloor.

Foam underlayment
Polyethylene vapor barrier (optional)
Flat saw
Spacers
Scrap wood or tapping block
Hammer
Pull bar

Instructions

- 1
  Prepare the room. Remove doors, trims and any covering on the floor, such as carpeting. Clean the floor and examine it to ensure it's sound. If sections of the floor require repairs, complete the work before you begin the installation.
- 2
  Stack the packages of laminate flooring in the room at least two days before installation. This allows the pieces to adjust to room temperature.
- 3
  Cover the floor with strips of foam underlayment. You may abut the edges of adjoining strips or have them overlap, but this will depend on the recommendation of the laminate-flooring manufacturer. If the subfloor is a concrete slab, cover it with a polyethylene vapor barrier before placing the foam underlayment. The polyethylene prevents moisture from seeping in or out through the flooring.
- 4
  Place a laminate board on the floor, beside the door jamb. Mark the height of the board on the jamb. Cut this section of the jamb with a flat saw. This cut allows for expansion of the flooring.
- 5
  Lay the first plank, with the groove facing the longest wall. Place spacers against the wall at 12-inch intervals, and push the plank against them. The spacers create a gap for the flooring to expand. Also, place spacers along the edges of the remaining walls to create an expansion gap on all sides of the laminate flooring.
- 6
  Place the next plank on the floor and match the tongue to the groove of the first plank. Place a tapping block or a piece of scrap wood against the edge of the second plank. Tap it with a hammer to fit both planks together. Repeat this process to install subsequent planks, until you arrive at the opposite wall.
- 7
  Place a plank on the last row of laminate you installed. Push a second plank against the wall, and draw a line where it rests on the first plank. Cut the first plank along this line. Repeat this step to cut as many planks as necessary for the last row.
- 8
  Fit the planks to the previous row. Use a pull bar to push the tongues and grooves together.
- 9
  Replace the trims and doors to complete the job.

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