Preparation
Prior to installing your new laminate flooring a little planning should take place.
The base floor in which the laminated floor panels are going to be installed must be dry, clean, even and stable.
Place the laminated floor panels in the room they are going to be laid into so they aclimatize.
plan out the room size, and when installing the panels they should run length wise along the longest wall.
Always remember to leave a 10mm gap between the laminate panels and the wall, this will allow for any expansion.
When laying laminate flooring onto a concrete base, a damp proof PE membrane must be placed over the concrete which acts as a protective barrier against moisture. If multiple pieces of membrane are required then they must be overlapped by approx 200mm and taped down.
To reduce noise and to act as an insulation barrier a 2mm foam underlay is placed ontop of the damp proof membrane. This membrane can be laid in the same direction as the damp proof pe membrane. Please note that some laminate panels already have a foam layer attached on their base. If this is the case then there is no need to install a foam underlay.
Installation
Begin laying the laminate flooring in the left most corner along the longest wall. Ensure that the tongue of the laminate panel is facing the wall. Also leave a 10mm gap between the flooring and the wall using small plastic spacer blocks / wedges. A string line can be used to check that the floor panels are straight and correctly alingned.
When you get to the last peice of the row, you can then use the left over piece as the starting piece of the next row, this will ensure the laminate panels are staggered in a brick or staggered pattern.
There are different methods of locking laminate panels together so be sure to read the manufacturers recommendations / instructions prior to installing.
A floating floor installation kit will be a necessity for this project, as it will make it an easier installation. They can be purchased from most hardware stores. They consist of several adjustable plastic wedges, a tapping block, and a metal tapping plate. Of course you will have to supply your own hammer. You might also want to use ear protection as it can get loud when using the hammer in an empty room.
To get a professional looking finish at the base of a door frame, cut a slot into the frame to allow the laminate panel to slide under it. To cut the door frame a very quick and handy tool to use is the Bosch pmf 180e multi function tool. This tool is perfect for the job. Once all your panels are laid, you can remove all the plastic spacer wedges.
The next step is to cover up the 10mm expansion gap by placing your desired floor trim along the edges. If you are nailing trim onto your existing skirting board keep in mind that some skirting boards are made of very hard wood, and simply nailing with a hammer can lead to many bent nails. If this is the case, you may want to consider hiring from your local hardware store a nail gun. This will make nailing the trim very fast and easy!
Cleaning
Once the floor trim is done, it is time to give it a little clean. If it is very dirty you can give it a vacuum. You can also clean the floor with a static mop. Never use a wet mop or chemicals, detergents, polish or wax to clean as this can damage the laminate floor panels. Always make sure to read the manufacturers recommendations for cleaning.
Now it's time to move your furniture back into the room. Remember to use felt pads on the base of your furniture to protect your floor from furniture damage.