How To Install Laminate Flooring Without Underlayment
In fact laminate flooring can be installed in almost every room in your home including kitchens since it doesn t have to be glued down and doesn t involve grout or mortar.
How to install laminate flooring without underlayment. No nails screws bumps or dips. Laminate flooring is engineered to perform as part of a system. All laminate flooring requires an underlayment which can range from inch thick sheets of cork to rolls of 6mm or 8mm thick felt or foam. Laminate flooring underlayment is essential for installation as it allows to laminate flooring to expand and contract properly on top of the subfloor.
How to properly lay laminate floor underlayment. These step by step instructions will show you how to install underlayment and flooring to get beautiful laminate flooring in any room. A laminate floor is a floating floor meaning it is not fastened directly to the subfloor. The underlayment is as important to the success of an installation as is the flooring itself.
Planks can be cut with a hand saw circular saw or flooring cutter and most laminate flooring comes in planks that simply snap together with a tongue. It also works as a noise damper since laminate flooring underlayment fills the gap between floor and laminate planks therefore producing effective sound reduction. Laminate flooring is usually laid over a plastic foam underlayment that has to be installed on the subfloor before you start. Installing laminate flooring is a snap literally.
Eliminating one step from the process of installing laminate flooring may reduce overall time spent on the project. However because of the way laminate floors are constructed this isn t always necessary. Installing laminate flooring installing a snap together floating laminate floor will give a room a beautiful new look. Saves time but not much.
If you are installing the laminate flooring in an area that receives little attention such as a mudroom or laundry room and you simply need to quickly install cheap flooring laminate flooring can be installed without underlayment. It can be installed over any other tightly bonded flooring making it ideal for retrofits. Note that it usually takes little time to lay out and tape separate underlayment. Laminate is a wood product and will expand according to the climate of the room.
If you are installing your floating laminate floor on the ground floor of your home. The subfloor must be perfectly flat and featureless. Budget about thirty minutes to install underlayment in a 400 square foot room. Most diyers can complete laminate floor installation in one day.