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Flooring IdeasSUPPLIES
- Flooring
- Vapor barrier/underlayment
- Two-sided tape
- Saw
- Measuring tape
- Chalk line
- Rubber mallet
- Plastic sheeting
- Moisture resistant tape
- Baseboard or quarter round
- Finishing nails
- Utility knife
Overview
You can totally transform a room with new floating wood flooring. There are many types of engineered woods and laminates that can now be installed in the snap-together fashion. You will be amazed at the various woods and colors you can find. Laminates are even made to look like stone and brick. Floating wood floor is the easiest installation of all the flooring options. An entire room can be done in less than a day after preparation is completed.
Install a Floating Wood Floor
Step 1
Prepare the wood by bringing it into the room where it will be installed and opening the boxes for 48 to 72 hours before installation. This will allow the wood to acclimate to the temperature and humidity of the room.
Step 2
Test the cement slab. If the flooring is going to be installed over a cement slab, the slab must be tested for moisture. Tape a 15-by-15 inch piece of plastic down to the floor for 72 hours. If there is moisture under the plastic at the end of the test period, you cannot install wood flooring without further drying of the slab. If there is no moisture you may proceed.
Step 3
Lay the moisture barrier/underlayment down on the floor in strips. Use the type of underlayment that is suggested by the manufacturer of the wood flooring that you are using. This is important because you can void your warranty by using something different. Have the underlayment come up the wall a few inches. Have the strips overlap by several inches and use a two-sided tape to keep them from shifting while you are working on the floor.
Step 4
Measure 1/2 inch out from the wall and snap a chalk line. Do this for each wall within the installation area. This is an expansion gap for the flooring and no flooring can be installed over it.
Step 5
Begin installation. Start by placing a shim or small piece of wood again each wall in a corner to help you hold the flooring in place while you're working on it. Put down your first row and cut the last piece to fit the end. The second row pieces are placed onto the groove of the first row piece in an upward slant and pressed down lightly to snap into place. Then take a small piece of flooring and place over the outer groove and tap the second row piece in tight. The snapping alone will not get the pieces tightly enough against each other.
Step 6
Continue until the entire floor is completed. If you are using random length boards, make sure they are staggered so none of the joints come together.
Step 7
Pull out the shims you used to hold the flooring in place and trim over the gap with baseboard or quarter round. Nail into the sill of the floor or bottom wall plate, not the flooring. Using a utility knife, trim off the excess underlayment coming up the wall to the top of the trim.
