How to lay a laminate?

Now the industry offers a rich selection of different floor coverings. Among all this abundance of special attention deserves a laminate. In comparison with its direct price competitor - linoleum - it has a number of advantages:

• Higher wear resistance when comparing models of such coatings with equal cost;
• To lay a laminate in a small house it is possible independently for some hours;
• Heat-insulating properties higher, even without additional substrates;
• Laminate flooring allows imitating expensive types of wooden coatings, but linoleum is more recognizable.

Suppose that the choice is made in favor of a similar laminate flooring. There is a reasonable question - how to lay a laminate? Quite frankly, there are a huge number of instructions and recommendations in the global web, many even with explanatory videos, but their main drawback is that in most cases some important points are completely ignored. For example, if a person wants to learn how to put a laminate, then he is offered an instruction that is acceptable for brand-name high-priced brands. But the middle and lower price categories are not adequately covered. It is quite logical that having allowed to purchase high-class laminate, it is unlikely that anyone will read how to lay laminate on their own and save on the work of handlers.

Therefore, we tried in one article to take into account the recommendations of experts and their own experience and offer their instructions on how to lay laminate. Its distinguishing feature is its versatility. The specified moments are actual both for expensive, and for budgetary marks of a laminate. Well, let's begin.

Knowing the area of the room, you can easily calculate the required number of packages. Now the first important point: you should buy a mirror thermal insulation in rolls - such a substrate is required. It will not only reduce the rancor, but will also heat the panels. Also, if the floor is not perfectly level (the difference in the levels is not more than 2 mm per meter), then it's worth thinking about sheets of fiberboard, OSB, plywood, etc.

Before packing, the laminate packages should be allowed to lie in the room for at least 3 days. If necessary, we mount the above mentioned sheets on the floor, leveling the level - this is the second important point. The greater the curvature of the floor (cavities, pits), the higher the probability of discrepancies between locks and the appearance of small but noticeable crevices between the strips. Now roll soundproof insulation. Laminated panels are recommended to be laid in such a way that light would fall parallel to the joint lines. We start from the most prominent place (usually from the door). We retreat from the wall about 10 mm and place the first panel. We take the second and join from the first from the end, then the third - while the length of the room allows. All modern models come with a lock connection, so complications usually do not arise: a slot in the spike, etc. The last strip unfolded 180 degrees, mark the strip with the help of a building corner and cut off the excess with a hacksaw (from the wall the very 10 mm). As a result, one big strip is obtained for the entire length of the room. The third important point: although it is often recommended to do more indentation, this should not be done. The width of the skirting may not be enough to close the gap. Similarly, we collect the next page. Then we connect their locks. If there is no special set for laying, then you can prepare a nozzle from the extra panel and tap it with a hammer on the strip, ensuring a dense docking. The joint should be invisible. In this way, the entire room is hidden. The last strip decreases in width (10 mm from the wall). We hit the hammer, closing the locks. In the end, it remains to install a skirting board. And the last recommendation: it is difficult for one person to join a strip of long length, so there must be at least one helper.