Flooring how to install

Depending on how hard the laminate is, you may be able to cut the tongues off with a utility knife. Use pieces of scrap wood to ensure you have the proper spacing between the wall and the first row of planks. As you lay additional planks out, use a rubber mallet and a tapping block to lock each plank into its neighboring piece. The grooves of the first row must be perfectly straight to ensure an easy installation. If you find any areas where wall imperfections prevent the planks from sitting perfectly straight, adjust that plank towards or away from the wall and remeasure to ensure the first row is straight.

Once everything lines up, use a rubber mallet and tapping block to lock each full plank into its neighboring plank until you reach the wall. Measure the distance between your last full plank and the end of the wall. Be sure to account for the manufacturer-specified gap between the wall and the final plank.

Be sure to measure from right to left so that your cut piece will have a tongue end to attach to its neighboring plank. Related: How to tackle water spill on floor. When you are done installing your plywood, you might be interested in looking for great ways to spice up your flooring.

Below are some options to consider:. This involves applying irregular-shaped pieces of brown kraft paper to existing plywood for a marble-like appeal. Firstly, once the torn pieces of brown kraft paper are soaked in a mixture of watered-down glue, allow the paper to dry up completely before adding a stain and a protective finish.

Wallpaper can serve as the perfect finish you need for your plywood. All you need to do is fill and smooth gaps in the plywood subfloor with a fast-setting drywall compound and a trowel. Then put down wallpaper in your pattern of choice, followed by three or four coats of polyurethane or other clear hard floor finish. You can create a myriad of designs and patterns on your plywood using few coats of polyurethane. Remember to apply a coat of primer before painting, as this will ensure the paint will adhere and help seal down any loose plywood chips.

Read: Painted wood floor pros and cons. This might be a bit costly as hardwood planks are expensive. However, it will give your home that natural woodsy appeal. All you need to do is cut plywood sheets into planks, squares, and other shapes, then glue or nail the pieces to the subfloor. Related: How to install linoleum flooring. As mentioned earlier, the steps and instructions given in this post will be best appreciated when you start with smaller spaces like the kitchen storage or closet.

Good Luck. Know What You Need 1. From liquid nails to adhesive caulk, there is no shortage of options when it comes to adhesive for vinyl flooring. Roberts mixture. Gorilla Glue const r uction adhesive. Products like Gorilla Glue construction adhesive will work, and there are a number of colored and clear caulks to fill in any gaps.

You can cut the extra overhang off the tread which will require a jigsaw or oscillating multi-tool. You can also cut and glue a thin sheet of plywood over the riser to give you a flush finish. While more expensive, it can be easier than cutting the nose off a long flight of stairs. You also need to ensure the steps are completely free of debris before you start the installation and any major damage or humps have been addressed. With a tape measure or stair tread template, measure the distance across the front of the existing riser and then measure the height.

At your workstation, take the carpenter square and mark a straight line across the back of the plank — not the front. Use the saw or flooring cutter to cut the plank, get your adhesive and head back to the stair where it will be installed. Depending on the stairs and the thickness of vinyl used, you may have to use small nails or screws to hold the plank in place until the adhesive dries.

In this case, place them near the edges where they can be covered by nosing, stringer fascia, or caulk. Repeat his process for each stair to ensure the measurements are correct from top to bottom. The process behind installing vinyl treads on stairs is also straightforward.

Again, you will need to start at the top and work your way down, measuring each tread individually as you go. The key with treads lies with the outer edge, which has to be exact. Our humble flooring suggestion: find a flooring installer to do it for you. Both solid and engineered wood flooring can also be stapled to a subfloor rather than being nailed. The process is much the same as the nail-down method, but… it uses staples.

What are the pros and cons of using nails vs. Well, staples have a firmer grip on your wood planks—meaning the boards are more secure. But , nails are more forgiving with movement. But do your research. Some flooring adhesives contain VOCs volatile organic compounds , which can emit toxins in your home.

Just as the name implies, click-together or snap-together flooring locks into place using special grooves in each plank. Rather, they stay in place thanks to the pressure of the planks and surrounding walls. Floating floors. Most engineered hardwood options can be purchased as click-together flooring, while solid wood click-together products are a bit less common.

But if you prefer a more rustic look, you can find that too. Kahrs , for instance, manufactures some of the best engineered wood flooring for people who want features like beveled edges and saw marks. Good question! The biggest complaints are a squishy or hollow feeling in the floors. Additionally: a lot of hardwood floor alternatives come as click-together floating floors.