Laminate Flooring Guide: Underlayment & Installation
Laminate flooring has come a long way since its introduction in the 1980s. As an engineered product, it is designed to work with specific underlay and trim components.
Sold in planks that are typically around 90 cm long, 13 to 18 cm or wider, and 7 to 12 mm thick, laminate flooring’s dimensions are usually given in a mix of imperial and metric numbers.
What is Laminate Flooring? Composed of four or five layers joined under pressure, laminate flooring is one of the most popular DIY flooring choices. One way to ensure you're buying a quality product is to verify that it meets standard European industry ratings (such as EN 13329).
Wear layer: The top of laminate flooring is the transparent wear layer, which is highly resistant to pets, chairs, and even high heels. This layer is also water-resistant and keeps the rest of the plank looking good. The upper layer is rated on an Abrasion Criteria (AC) scale running from 1 to 5. AC 1 works for low-traffic areas such as bedrooms, and AC 5 will withstand commercial traffic. Most residential laminate flooring is rated AC 3 or AC 4.
Decorative layer: The next layer is essentially a high-tech, colour-fast photocopy, usually of a natural material such as wood or stone.
Fibreboard core: The decorative layer is bonded to the core of the product, a durable, high-density wood fibreboard (HDF).
Melamine resin: Below the fibreboard core is a layer of melamine resin that provides moisture resistance and structural stability.
Underlay: The fifth layer, underlay, sometimes comes bonded to the planks; otherwise, it is installed separately underneath them.
Laminate Compared to Other Flooring Options Laminate flooring can be installed in almost any room; some manufacturers even allow their product to be used in bathrooms. Here, it is critical to follow installation instructions to the letter, particularly regarding sealing the edges to prevent water ingress.
Wood Grain and Alternatives: Wood grain is common, and you can even buy planks that mimic a hand-scraped wood floor. There are several similar products on the market. Engineered wood flooring features a layer of real wood veneer instead of a photocopy. Luxury vinyl tile/plank (LVT/LVP) is softer underfoot and composed entirely of plastic. Like laminate, both are relatively thin and DIY-friendly. The key distinction is what is on top: laminate has no real wood, just a fibreboard core. Engineered wood has a solid veneer of real wood or bamboo. If thick enough, engineered floors can be sanded and refinished—something impossible with laminate. Laminate is highly scratch-resistant, but once it scratches, the damage is permanent.
Solid Wood, Tile, and Stone: Competing materials include solid wood, tile, and stone. Traditional solid wood is usually 18 mm thick and nailed down, then sanded and finished in place (best left to professionals). Pre-finished solid wood is more DIY-friendly but its thickness can complicate transitions to stairs or fitting under doors. Ceramic tile and stone require proper underlay to prevent cracking and are typically best left to professionals.
Vinyl and Linoleum: Thin, synthetic products like sheet vinyl and linoleum are glued down. Linoleum sheets, typically 2 metres wide, are glued with a water-based adhesive and flattened with a 45 kg roller. Modular linoleum tiles (available in 25x25 cm, 50x50 cm, and 25x50 cm sizes) have a polyester backing and bevelled edges to fit tightly.
Subfloor and Underlay Laminate flooring is engineered to perform as part of a system. All laminate flooring requires underlay, which can range from 12 mm thick sheets of cork to rolls of 6 mm or 8 mm thick felt or foam.
Underlay serves several purposes:
Vapour Barrier: It keeps excess moisture from causing the laminate to swell. Many underlays have an integral vapour barrier, but an additional damp proof membrane (DPM), such as 150-micron polythene, is required when installing laminate over a concrete floor.
Smoothing: It evens out minor surface imperfections in the subfloor, supporting the edge-locking joints and limiting creaking.
Insulation: Underlay provides some thermal break over concrete floors and crucial sound insulation. Look for underlay that delivers a high decibel (dB) sound reduction rating, which is particularly important in flats or multi-family dwellings.
Impact Resistance: It makes the floor more comfortable underfoot and helps prevent damage from dropped objects.
Pro Tip: To test for moisture on concrete slabs, tape a piece of polythene sheeting to the concrete and wait. If moisture beads up on the plastic, the concrete is too damp to be safely covered. Proceed only once the slab is acceptably dry.
Is Installing Laminate Flooring a DIY Project? Laminate installation is incredibly popular for DIYers because it is straightforward and requires few tools. You can do the job with a tape measure, a chalk line, a utility knife, and a jigsaw. However, a mitre saw, a table saw, or a circular saw will greatly ease the work.
Today's products simply snap together, though there is a slight learning curve, so practice joining a few pieces first. The wood fibre core expands and contracts with humidity, so you must leave an expansion gap between the flooring and the walls (specified in the instructions), which will be covered by mouldings later.
Prep Tip: Before laying your first plank, use a flush-cut dovetail saw to trim the bottom of the door architraves so the flooring slides underneath. Gauge the height by laying down a piece of underlay and a piece of flooring (upside down to avoid scratching), then hold the saw flat and carefully cut.
Mouldings and Trim Manufacturers provide a wide range of trims to match their flooring. Most important are the various transitions, thresholds, and stair nosings used where the laminate meets tile, carpet, or stairs. Scotia or beading is available to nail to your existing skirting boards to cover the expansion gap. Alternatively, you can use standard wooden beading from a timber merchant or DIY store and paint it to match your skirting.
Source: www.ThisOldHouse.com
