Tools Needed To Install Laminate Flooring

There are many tools required to install laminate flooring and it is wise to ensure that these are available prior to commencing the work. Laminate flooring makes a great choice, and is often less expensive than other types of flooring. Installing it is relatively straightforward once all the tools are available, and the choice of flooring has been made. Planning to empty the room is a good idea, since this allows more efficient installation. Tapping block If buying laminate flooring which has its own tapping block, make sure you have this. A tapping block allows the installer to tap the planks into place without compromising the surface of the laminate flooring. This fits into the tongue of the plank and allows the user to ensure that the plank is correctly tapped into place. If you do not have one, what can be used is an offcut of laminate flooring which fits onto the tongue and which can be used in a similar fashion. Never tap the actual tongue of the flooring as this can damage the edge and make it impossible to fit the next piece. Spacers These can be used around the baseboard area to ensure that the floor has adequate movement. If the floor is fitted too tightly, what happens is that the planks can lift. Marking and measuring tools A good quality tape is essential and of course a pencil and metal rule. The metal rule allows the installer to make sure that all lines drawn are straight before cutting the planks. The measurement should always be taken with a tape which does not have any stretch so avoid using cloth tapes. Use a hard pencil which does not overly mark the planks nor cause indentations. Leveling A leveler is vital. The leveler is used to determine if the pieces being added are straight or whether any padding is required. If installing laminate flooring on an uneven surface, this is particularly relevant, as all boards should be leveled out as the work proceeds. Small hammer It’s never worth using a large hammer as these are too gross for the job. A small hammer is more easily controllable, and will be used to tap new planks into place. These should never be used directly on the laminate flooring surfaces, and a tapping block should always be employed to cushion the blow of the hammer action. Saws and sandpaper A table saw and a hand saw with a fine blade are ideal for cutting lengths. Do be aware of the tongue and grooves at the end of planks as these should always be respected. The lengths cut should be at the outside of the floor, so that the cut edge is always under the protection of the baseboard. Sandpaper should be fine in nature and is used after the sawing process, though do be careful not to sand the upper surface of the laminate. This is merely used to clean up sawn edges. Scissors, tape, dustpan and brush Before placing the floor, often an underlay is needed. Duct tape helps to keep all the underlay intact. This should have no gaps, and should blanket the whole area before boards are laid. The area should be swept clean before the cushioning is placed, as areas which are dusty may compromise the efficiency of duct tape. Utility knife and polyurethane mastic. The mastic is used in areas where there is high humidity to reinforce the joints of the laminate flooring. This use is advised in bathroom and kitchen settings where leakage may lead to damaging the laminate flooring. This acts as a seal between the boards. These are the main tools required for installing laminate flooring. There may be other small ancillary items which are required during the course of installation, such as bars used to protect the flooring where it ends in doorways and where the floor surface transitions to the next room. These give a very neat edge and should never be neglected or left without protection. Once the floor is down, and the new look is achieved, laminate flooring can make a whole world of difference to presentation of a room, giving it a fresh appearance and newness, which is hard to achieve less expensively with other flooring products. Category:Home › Other • Pomegranates: A newly discovered superfood • Where did the joke why did the chicken cross the road come from and why is it funny? • Can mothers diagnosed with bipolar disorder make good parents? • Spiritual evolution of human consciousness • Tips for getting a college basketball scholarship • Living with Pseudotumor cerebri (PTC) • Caring for the caregiver • Technologys impact on society