How to install laminate flooring in a small room. Mistakes when laying laminate flooring: common and not so common. Which is better: along or across
Laying laminate flooring can be turned from a mundane task into a work of art. To do this you will have to choose original drawing, along which the slats will be located. But in most cases, it is necessary to choose such an option for the location of the laminate joint lines in order to visually expand or, conversely, reduce the room. The light falling from the window helps to achieve this. What is the best way to lay laminate flooring in relation to the window? About this, as well as about choosing a laminate for the room we'll talk in the article.
Preparatory work
The successful installation of laminate flooring largely depends on how the preparatory work is carried out. They include preparation of the base, tools and calculation of the required material. These three steps are the ones that take the most time. Each of them will be described in detail below.
What should be the basis
Laminate flooring can only be laid on a flat floor or other surface. In this case, an error of more than 2 mm per linear meter. In this case, it will not be possible to implement the required contour. That is why the following requirements are imposed on the foundation:
- level consistency;
- strength;
- minimum humidity.
Substrate preparation will depend on which laminate installation method was chosen. A room with a wooden floor may require minimal intervention. To determine this, you need to carefully inspect the floor for imperfections. It is important to identify creaks and deflections that occur when walking. It is advisable to evaluate the condition of the joists and support beams on which the plane is supported. If several need to be replaced, then you might want to consider keeping the wood floor. In cases where extensive intervention is required, it is better to perform complete dismantling. The reason is that the affected tree will deteriorate further.
Damaged joists are removed and eliminated. If mold or mildew has appeared under the floor, it must be thoroughly cleaned and the affected areas treated with an antiseptic. It is important to determine what caused the mold to appear. All paths for moisture penetration must be blocked, since it will certainly condense or leak out again. The shingles, which hold together when walked, are strengthened. It's better to walk the surface scraping machine so that it becomes perfectly even. To bring the floor to the required level, linings are made from blocks of wood. After sanding, the wood is coated with an antiseptic composition.
Advice! The easiest way to check the difference in floor plane is to use laser level. The best one is one that can project a beam with an angle of 360°. The main points are selected and a tape measure is taken from the beam to the floor plane. The difference in values will indicate a difference.
Concrete foundations sometimes require longer preparation. The floor must be carefully inspected for damage. It is also important to identify hidden weaknesses. To do this, you can gently tap it with a hammer. If there is a dull sound in some places, then over time they may peel off, which will bring unpleasant consequences with it. All potholes are sealed with tile adhesive or another similar solution. After this, you can proceed to identifying surface level differences in the manner described above.
If the difference in floor level is no more than three centimeters, then it can be compensated using a self-leveling mixture. Before starting work, it is necessary to remove dust and dirt from the floor surface and treat it with a deeply penetrating primer. If it is quickly absorbed, then the procedure can be repeated twice. After the primer has completely dried, the dry composition of the mixture is acquired. It is diluted with water in the proportions specified by the manufacturer and filled to the marked line. The next step is to remove any air bubbles from the solution. If this is not done, they can weaken the strength of the entire plane. For the procedure, you will need a needle roller, which must be passed over the thickness of the poured solution several times.
Advice! If the difference in floor level is greater, it may be necessary to fill a full screed.
Instead of pouring the screed, you can apply leveling using plywood or OSB sheets. Before starting work, the floor surface is cleared of debris and treated with a primer. All potholes are sealed with glue. The next step is styling waterproofing film. It should protect the wood from swelling and mold. The film must be laid with an overlap of 10 cm between the individual sheets, the joints are taped. The film is also laid overlapping on the wall. The next step is to adjust and lay the logs. They are attached to concrete base by using anchor bolts. In this case, the bolt heads must be recessed into wooden beams so that it is possible to lay the flooring.
All logs must be leveled. After adjustment, sheets of plywood or OSB are laid on them. In this case, the material must be selected so that it does not contain harmful impurities that may be released during operation. The bedding sheets are laid with staggered seams to ensure they are intertwined. The heads of the screws should not protrude beyond the sheet, so they must be recessed. A gap of 5 mm must be left from the walls to the sheets. This gap serves as a thermal seal that compensates for expansion with changes in temperature and humidity.
Note! Plywood can also be used to level a wooden floor.
Calculation work
After preparatory work Before laying the laminate, it is necessary to carry out calculations that will be the key rational use budget. It is necessary to determine the area that will be covered with laminate. If it is only one room, then it is enough to multiply the width by the length. In the case of several rooms, you will need to calculate the area of each and the numbers are summed up. After this, you need to accurately determine the type and size of the laminate that will be used for installation. It is important to know the size of one laminate plank. This will allow you to calculate its area. The next step is to calculate the number of strips required. To do this, the total area of the premises is divided by the area of one plank. Next, the total number of planks is divided by that contained in one package.
After determining the total number of packages, you need to make a reserve of 10%. It will help out if the laminate planks are damaged or something goes wrong. After purchasing laminate flooring, it cannot be installed immediately. It is important that the laminate is acclimatized. This usually takes one day, but it may take more. During this time, it acquires the temperature and humidity of the room in which it will be installed.
Tool
Everyone lays laminate flooring using their own tools; if this is a one-time procedure, then there is no need to purchase expensive power tools and you can get by with the following units:
- mallet;
- styling hook;
- roulette;
- fine-tooth hacksaw;
- spacer pegs;
- marking tool.
If installation will be carried out constantly, then you can additionally acquire miter saw. It will allow you to cut the laminate at a precisely specified angle and with minimal damage to the surface.
Laying methods
When purchasing a laminate, it is important to choose the right class. Those that start with 2 are intended for rooms with a small load, so for passage rooms such as hallways and corridors it is better to take class 33; for the bedroom and guest room you can stop at class 31. Everything will depend on the price. The next step is to choose the direction of laying the laminate relative to the window and correctly implement the project.
Choosing a direction
The choice of direction for laying the laminate is determined by several factors:
- number of windows;
- location of windows;
- room parameters;
- laminate design.
If laying laminate flooring is being done for the first time, then it is better to choose the method of laying perpendicular to the window. The advantage of this type of laminate installation is that the light from the window falls on the slats parallel to the seams of the laminate. This allows you to hide their presence. Thanks to this approach, the laminate floor appears monolithic. This also allows you to hide some flaws that may be made when laying the laminate. At the same time, the laminate boards look monolithic, which creates a certain charm. If the laminate is embossed, then this incidence of light will further emphasize the texture of the laminate board. However, it is better not to use this installation method for low-class laminate. The reason is that it wears out at the joints, which will ruin its appearance.
Note! When choosing this method of laying laminate flooring, you should pay attention to the configuration of the room. If the window is on larger wall, and on a smaller one, then this approach will lengthen the room even more.
The next option for laying the laminate in relation to the window would be a parallel arrangement of the slats. The reason for its choice may be the location of the window in the room, as discussed above. This installation method is also chosen in narrow rooms where light comes from next room. This method of laying laminate allows you to highlight the texture of the planks in a special way. This creates a feeling uneven surface. This option for arranging laminate boards is also suitable for laying mixed lamellas. Some may be glossy, while others may be matte.
Advice! For walk-through rooms in the best possible way Laying the laminate will be laid according to the direction of movement. In this way, it will be possible to achieve a long service life due to minimal abrasion of the laminate planks at the seams.
If the windows are arranged in a mixed manner, then you can lay the laminate diagonally. At the same time, the room acquires elusive lines. The gaze goes along the laminate not up or down, but to the corner of the room. To further accentuate the corner, a table or fireplace is placed in it. The angle of laying laminate in this way is within 40-60 degrees. Diagonal laying laminate is considered the most uneconomical, because a lot of waste remains from the laminate planks.
Installation process
The installation process requires due attention and skill, which is acquired as the work progresses. It is better to start from the far corner of the room and move towards the exit. Most often, laminate flooring is laid from left to right. The prepared surface is covered with a lining. If the laminate is laid on a concrete floor, then additional waterproofing in the form of a film is required, which is laid according to the pattern as described above. The lining can be made of foamed polyethylene or cork. An overlap is made between its individual sheets, and the joints are taped. The tenon of the first laminate strip is cut off to make it easier to place parallel to the wall.
A gap of 5 mm is made between the wall and the plank. To make it easier to store, plastic pegs are used. The first row is completely assembled and placed in its designated place. If it becomes obvious that the last plank will need to be cut by more than half, then it makes sense not to start with the whole part, but to divide the size of the final plank in half and lay the short one. The size of the first laminate strip in the second row should be selected in such a way as to ensure interlocking seams. After laying each plank, it must be tapped with a rubber mallet using a metal bracket. To get around pipes and other protrusions, you will need to make a hole with a jigsaw. A video about the installation technology can be viewed below.
Summary
As you can see, the choice of direction for laying the laminate is determined by many factors. According to the designer's idea, the styling pattern may contradict generally accepted rules. This is required to achieve a certain effect or to match the arrangement of furniture, which will compensate for the dimensions of the room.
According to the manufacturers, due to the locking system of connections, the laminate is assembled easily and quickly. But there is a problem that arises when starting work: how to properly lay laminate along or across the room? This issue can be resolved using certain technologies.
How to lay laminate correctly
Having chosen the color and texture of the material for laying on the floor in an apartment or house, the owner usually does not think about the direction of laying the laminate. According to experts, its durability and wear resistance depend on the direction in which the laminate is laid. Correct styling laminate will create a certain decorative accent. This laminate belongs to the class of long finishing flooring materials, because its length is 4.5 times greater than its width. There are limitations to the installation options for laminated parquet.
By light (from the window)
According to the recommendations of flooring manufacturers and craftsmen, this installation method is optimal. If you lay laminate flooring in apartments with a standard layout using this method, you will get a smooth monolithic surface with barely noticeable joints
A similar assembly is used for materials that have a double-sided chamfer. The surface resembles a wooden floor in country or old Russian style. If there is texture embossing on the laminate, this will further emphasize the texture or give an aged look to the floor surface.
For light installation, class 32-34 laminate is suitable. Class 31 laminate must be used carefully due to low wear resistance at the joints, and this leads to rapid wear and loss of appearance.
Across the world
This assembly method is carried out perpendicular to the window and parallel long wall. Laminate of class 32-34 is used. This installation allows you to visual increase premises. Laying laminate flooring across the room emphasizes:
- texture of the laminate “registered” (uneven embossed, lumpy surface imitating wood), “chrome” (alternating laying of glossy and matte stripes), “brush” (imitation wood, after processing with a metal brush), etc.;
- U- or V-shaped chamfer on 2 or 4 sides;
- 3D drawing.
When laid perpendicularly, the incident light highlights the joints between the lamellas, their texture, and gives volume to the surface. Rooms with this arrangement of laminate have a special charm, since deep embossing and reflection give it live game light and shadow.
Popular manufacturers have collections that combine various decor and the size of the laminated board. Experienced professional craftsmen assemble textured slats of different formats into a harmonious and effective floor.
Along the way
In passage rooms (corridor, hallway, hall) or in rooms with a certain direction of load (office, kitchen), laminate should be laid along intensive movement. This option is necessary so that the lamellas at the joints wear out less. In this case, class 31-34 laminate will last a long time.
Advice! Putting laminated coating crosswise movement is not possible, since the main lamella wears out more slowly than the edges, which halves the service life of the parquet.
Diagonal flooring
The craftsmen are against this type of laminate installation, but the client’s desire is the law. In this case, the laminated board is laid at an angle of 40-60 degrees to the walls. This installation is used as a special design technique to change the geometry of the room or make the interior more interesting. This method is often used in rooms where window openings are located on adjacent walls.
This fee has certain disadvantages:
For this option, you need to choose lamellas of class 33-34 with a chamfer or a pronounced texture
Custom laminated flooring
Before choosing an assembly option, you need to pay attention to some features.
- Unusual lamella size
In the collections of manufacturers you can see not only long boards 30x200 cm. For original flooring, slats are produced:
- rectangular type 40x80, 40x120 cm, etc.;
- square type 40x40, 60x60 cm.
This size is necessary to imitate a stacked array or a palace (artistic) floor. The design of this parquet is magnificent, and when assembled it looks gorgeous. Due to non-standard sizes and decors when laying the covering, you don’t have to adhere to the rules.
- Basic base
The best base for a laminated coating would be a leveled and dried one. concrete screed. When assembling on a wooden base, the slats are mounted perpendicular to the base boards. When done correctly, floor deflection is reduced to a minimum.
- Laminate design
Radial cut is an implicitly expressed textured surface that imitates wood. The resulting coating has almost no halftones. The lamellas are mounted in the direction of travel or in the light.
Tangentially cut lamellas are characterized by the presence of dark stripes and knots, and in some collections there is embossing. Such planks can be mounted in any way.
Rustic lamellas combine tangential and radial cuts with the addition of imitation of minor defects: cracks, blackening, abrasions, sudden changes in color. This laminate looks aged. For a variety of coverage and maximum resemblance to natural wooden board The decor in the pack changes at intervals of 1:4 or 1:6. In this case, the pattern is repeated every 4-6 lamellas.
Not only its appearance, but also the durability of the coating itself will depend on how to lay the laminate, along or across the room, so when choosing the direction of installation, first of all you need to think about the possibilities of the coating, and not the aesthetic appearance.
Installing laminate flooring in a hallway has never been an easy task. We are also talking about the appropriateness of such installation, its technological difficulties, etc. Since all kinds of damage and moisture cannot be avoided, you need to take measures to ensure that your laminate floor lasts as long as possible. What needs to be done for this?
Probably the main rule is to buy slats no lower than . Such a laminate in the corridor will be subject to frequent loads, BUT it can withstand them. He will endure even the most high level cross-country ability and will not change its appearance, even years after the start of operation.
! Yes, grades 21-23 – exclusively household options, but for such a room it is better to choose class 32. Of course, its cost will be higher, but its service life will reach several decades, and not 2-3 years.
So, how to lay laminate flooring in a hallway? Many people ask this question, but not everyone knows the answer. Laminate flooring in such a room is subject to significant mechanical stress, so its installation has several important features:
- Lay down ONLY on a perfectly flat base. The floor needs to be leveled as best as possible. Yes, in other rooms acceptable differences are allowed, but in this one such a possibility must be excluded. Firstly, it will be easier to lay boards in such a room. Secondly, the flooring will not sag or rise in the event of pressure on the panels;
! All this will help protect the floor from premature damage and wear. Please note that you can use both the adhesive version and elements with special locks.
- certainly use . This will make the floor warmer, stronger, and smoother. We recommend cork or bitumen-cork option. It differs the most best characteristics and fits slats of any thickness. You can find a cork in any specialized store;
- to visually make the space larger, you can lay the boards transversely. The herringbone method is also considered a very popular method. It is more original, but not suitable for every design. The room will become larger. But, in this case it is also important to take into account one significant drawback: large amount of waste – up to 15%.
So, in order for the laminate to narrow corridor performed not only a practical, but also an aesthetic function, it is important to adhere to a few simple rules:
Rule 1. For a narrow room, choose a light one color scheme. Usually, the best options Light pastels, blues and white-greens are considered to be the colors that visually push the boundaries.
Rule 2. Make several directional lines towards the expansion in the floor finish. Use mirror surfaces, which also expand the space. This is enough economical way extensions.
Rule 3. If you prefer darker and more saturated colors of the slats, we advise you to choose the right lighting for the room.
How to install laminate flooring in the hallway? First, select a high-quality substrate and lay it correctly. Many people prefer to connect the backing sheets with tape. This is a positive feature and prevents sheets from shifting. Moreover, in the event of an unexpected leak, all the moisture remains in the apartment and does not spill onto the ceiling of the neighbors below.
! If you live on the ground floor or in a private house, but connect separate sheets not at all necessary. But the substrate should not move, then the flooring will be durable.
In case you do not save on the substrate and choose quality material, after installation there will be no gaps in the flooring. Remember that such a layer, unlike lamellas, should be pressed tightly against the walls. IN separate cases, even go out to them. Later, this flooring is covered with plinths and corners, which ensures reliability. Some craftsmen also advise laying the substrate in a checkerboard pattern or perpendicular to the direction of the panels.
The process of preparing for laying laminate flooring in the corridor includes two main points:
- Careful preparation of the rough base, which includes cleaning the floor from dust, dirt and debris. A vacuum cleaner can be used for these purposes. Used for moisture insulation vapor barrier film, on which the substrate will then be laid. Such layers also serve as sound insulation;
- taking into account the distance from the walls by 10-15 mm. This is the so-called technical gap, which is necessary for cases of humidity changes and changes linear parameters laminated panels. The left distance (gap) eliminates the possibility of deformation. Later, such gaps are hidden by baseboards.
Step-by-step work with coating:
- Stage 1. Laying the first row. Laying laminate flooring in the hallway starts from the wall. In this case, all used elements are necessarily connected at their ends. To ensure that the technical gap remains uniform on all sections, you can use special wedges or pieces of the laminate itself.
- Stage 2. The first board of the second row must be inserted sideways, pressing it against the board of the first row - tenon in groove. First, the second bar is attached to the end of the first. After this, both boards are raised at an angle of 30° and the second board is easily inserted into the board of the first row, with the long side in the groove. Continue installing the remaining lanks in exactly the same way. The last board is cut to the required length, and its remains are used as the first element of the next row.
- Stage 3. When you reach the last row of boards, be extremely careful. It must be cut so that the length completely covers part of the floor. In this case, take into account the dimensions of the compensation gap.
During the installation process, be sure to use seam sealant. Its use will prevent possible moisture from entering the seams between the panels. And remember that installation can take a long time, even if the room is very small. The duration and complexity are directly affected by a large number of doors, storage rooms, niches, etc.
Corners and jambs
Individual boards need to be cut or special shaped cutouts must be made in the places where they adjoin the corners and jambs. This procedure requires more time. The result should be neat, so take your time. Today, even very experienced craftsmen believe that flooring in a narrow space is the most difficult task. Here important role plays a role in the quality of surface preparation. The accuracy of fitting the planks to all angles, jambs and protrusions depends on it.
Heating pipes
Are there heating pipes in the room? Then be sure to make a curly cut.
Installation of skirting boards
Today for visual expansion spaces, you can lay slats perpendicular to the length of the room. For narrow rooms it's simple perfect option. In this case, the space between the joints is about 20 cm - this is a condition, the observance of which guarantees an increase in the strength of the connection of the lamellas. If you're done installation work, install baseboards.
! Remember, not to the flooring itself, but to the wall!
Wooden Euro-plinth covers different gaps, depending on the configuration. This can be from 15 to 20 mm. If you prefer plastic options, then they are able to hide 18-21 mm.
It is very important to determine in advance the area of the room where the furniture will be placed and the area where household members, guests and even pets will most often walk. For what? It is better to cover such an area with a carpet or a small rug. This way there will be fewer marks and moisture on the floor. Be sure to lay down a rug immediately at the entrance (at front door), so all the dust, dirt and water will remain on it, and not spread throughout the entire flooring.
Excessive moisture will cause the laminate flooring in the hallway to deteriorate and swell. To prevent such Negative consequences, during rainy and snowy periods, wipe your shoes dry before putting them on the floor. Or immediately place it on a special shelf. Then a presentable appearance of the flooring is guaranteed.
Overall, all this will contribute to an increase service life your floor, which will retain its original appearance for a long time.
Video, laying laminate flooring in the hallway.
Laminate flooring has become one of the most popular due to its beautiful appearance, ease of installation and very affordable price. Varied color solutions and the ways of arranging the slats along, across and diagonally in the room give scope for design solutions.
At independently conducting For repairs, this coating can be considered the most convenient for installation. The individual elements are connected to each other using special latches-locks on the edges. If you carefully follow the technology, it will take very little time, but the result will please you.
Ways to arrange laminate
Depending on the type, color of the coating and the designer’s ideas, they can be used various ways placement of lamellas. The visual effect largely depends on the angle at which the light coming from the windows falls. If it is necessary to ensure that the coating appears monolithic, the lamellas are placed along the direction of the light.
This makes the joints less noticeable. Some types of laminate have a special chamfer that creates the appearance of individual boards. When using them, it is advisable, on the contrary, to emphasize the joints by placing them perpendicular to the line of light.
It is also important to consider the shape of the room. By setting the direction of the lamellas, you can visually change the proportions of the room:
- In the right room rectangular shape It is customary to lay laminate along a long wall, from window to door.
- In long elongated room It is better to lay laminate crosswise, since transverse stripes visually expand the space.
- If the room is of irregular shape, laying the flooring diagonally will help hide this defect. This method is somewhat more complicated - it will require more time and the consumption of materials will increase.
Advice! The direction in which laminate flooring is laid is especially important if big square the floor will be open: there will be no furniture or carpet covering. In small rooms, the free floor area is usually small, so it is worth choosing the most economical installation method, which will result in a minimum amount of waste.
Laying laminate along or across
Having decided on the direction of installation, you can count the materials. This is easy to do using online calculator on the manufacturer's or seller's website. When buying laminate, pay attention to the instructions on each package.
Modern locks have a more advanced design, which greatly facilitates and speeds up installation. In addition, the service life of such a coating will be longer, so you should not skimp on quality. After purchasing a package of lamellas, you should lie in the room for several days so that the humidity level stabilizes. This will help avoid deformation of the coating.
The most important step is preparing the subfloor. It should be dry and smooth. The deviation should not be more than 2 mm per meter. Any bump or depression will put stress on the joints, which can cause the lock to creak or even break.
To properly prepare a concrete floor, you may need a self-leveling screed, which will make the floor level and smooth without much effort. A wooden floor is usually leveled using 10 mm thick plywood sheets, which are secured to the base with self-tapping screws.
A special underlay for the laminate must be laid on a flat floor base. Its quality determines how comfortable and long the use of your flooring will be.
Selecting a substrate
The choice of material on which you will lay the laminate depends on:
- will the floor creak?
- how long will it last;
- how loud the footsteps will be heard;
- will your feet be warm?
- Will there be any dents from the furniture?
Same as laminate different kinds substrates differ in quality and price. Often, flooring manufacturers insist on using a specific underlay, and the validity of the warranty depends on this. This often requires the use of a specific material with a given thickness.
As a rule, the higher quality the material, the higher its cost. For economy class laminate, it makes no sense to purchase an expensive underlay, since it will last longer than the coating itself. Define golden mean you'll have to do it yourself.
Let's look at the different types of substrates available for sale:
- Foamed polyethylene in rolls, having different thicknesses, is most often offered as the most affordable option. It does not allow moisture to pass through, is quite elastic, and has certain heat-insulating and noise-absorbing properties. Its main drawback is its short service life; after 5 years it becomes unusable.
Laying order
When the base of the floor is properly prepared, the materials are purchased and kept in the room, the flooring can be laid:
Advice! If you are installing flooring yourself, study not only the instructions, but also several video tutorials. This will help you avoid common mistakes.
Laying laminate – quick way transform the flooring in the room. It can be laid both lengthwise and crosswise, depending on the effect you want to achieve. If you want to save money, you can do it yourself by following the manufacturer's instructions.
Laminate - modern finishing material, which has long gained great popularity. It can be seen in administrative offices and private cottages. Appearance laminate is attractive.
But to lay laminate flooring you need to level the floor. After this, you need to decide how to install the laminate: along or across the room? Any of these options can be used during installation. To do right choice, take into account several important factors:
- lighting;
- dimensions of the room and its geometry;
- plate lamella design.
Installation differences
Laying laminate flooring relative to the parameters of the room - along or across - requires a competent approach. This is as important as creating a new interior. Laminate flooring can be laid lengthwise or crosswise. Each method is used depending on the existing conditions.
Laminate flooring can also be laid diagonally. But to get such an effect, you will have to spend material and make additional calculations that require high professionalism.
When installed lengthwise, the joints are not visible when light from the window enters the room
In which direction to lay the laminate depends on several nuances that relate to the direction of the panels. Experienced craftsmen who create a laminate floor, easily determine how to install the laminate.
Experience tells us which method is more practical. To determine which direction to choose for laying the laminate, take into account the location of the windows.
The general rules for installing laminate flooring require that the floor covering be parallel to the rays of light. In other words, the installation is performed perpendicular to the wall where one or more windows are located.
Why is this so, what are these conclusions based on? When laying laminate along or across a room relative to the window, the edges of the panels do not provide shadows and become invisible. Laminate laid in this way is considered practical. The seams become invisible, and the base looks monolithic and perfectly smooth.
The placement of windows is not always done on opposite walls. The light falls unevenly. You have to decide how to do the installation correctly.
The direction of the light rays must be taken into account when planning floor finishing. The longitudinal edge of the laminate should be oriented relative to the large window. In order for the finishing to look good, the complexity of the perimeter of the room being finished is taken into account.
Whether it is possible to lay laminate flooring, placing the panels across the room, is decided individually. Classic rules in this case they have no effect.
Sometimes you have to install laminate flooring in rooms where there are no windows at all. The performer himself decides which way is best to do this. For example, to create visual effect expanding the room, you can create a transverse pattern.
Preparatory work
Installation of laminate, regardless of direction, is carried out only on a leveled surface. If it is uneven or has small indentations, the joint locks will begin to separate.
Large loads experienced by the floor covering will cause a gap to appear. Moisture will begin to penetrate through it, and the panels will become unusable. The most practical basis for laminate flooring is considered to be:
- concrete screed;
- wooden floor.
Before laying, a substrate is made. It is made from several types of material:
- natural cork: expensive, but with excellent properties;
- bitumen sheet with cork inclusions: excellent waterproofing agent;
- high strength polyurethane foam;
- polyethylene, the most available material with low cost.
According to manufacturers, if the laminate underlay is made correctly, it levels the base. This statement is somewhat exaggerated. The laid backing layer is done to provide thermal insulation. The substrate only compensates for unevenness. She doesn't align them.
Good to know! Installation of the substrate is carried out only end-to-end. The joining points are secured with tape. As a result, the substrate does not move during installation.
No less interesting: - stages of work, advice and choice of materials
Tool for the job
To get the job done you will need a small set of tools:
- electric jigsaw;
- rubber hammer;
- block of wood;
- roulette;
- pencil.
Choosing a direction
Before starting work, leave the laminate in the room where it will be installed for 48 hours. The material will pick up room humidity and ambient temperature.
Only after this the installation technology is selected. Referral can be done in several ways:
- diagonal;
- perpendicular;
- parallel.
The direction of the light rays is taken as the reference point. The diagonal installation method of laminate is suitable for narrow rooms. It visually expands the room.
Flooring done differently. Some people like the lengthwise way of laying, while others think the crosswise direction is beautiful. Any of these methods does not affect quality.
Important! When the panels are located along the direction of the light rays, the impression of a solid coating is created. If the incidence of light is perpendicular, the joints of the lamellas become noticeable, and the coating does not have a solid appearance.
If the window is located on a small wall, the panels are laid parallel to the long wall. This technology is used by professionals. They call this technique straight laying.
This method saves material, and the coating becomes attractive and original. This layout gives beautiful view simple and inexpensive laminate.
How is laminate installed?
The method of installing the laminate is reflected in the beauty of the coating, on its further exploitation. The strength of the floor is achieved by laying each subsequent row, moving the seams.
An economical option is considered to be when cutting the boards that end the row are installed. Where furniture will stand on the surface, lay pieces of laminate less than 30 centimeters long. Thus, it is achieved minimum consumption material. This will not affect the quality of the coating or its aesthetics.
High strength is achieved by laying the material in a checkerboard manner. In other words, the next row is offset by half the panel. The pattern becomes attractive, especially when the panels are chamfered.
If you move the panel by a third of its length, it creates original coating, where the end seams do not match.
Competent installation
Work begins after determining the far angle. The finished coating should be 10 mm behind the wall. This value is controlled using special wedges or cutting the laminate.
This gap is necessary to allow the panels to expand if the humidity changes. In the first row, panels with a cut ridge are placed. This allows you to create a smooth edge that faces the wall. With the help of a lock, subsequent rows are joined.
The design of the locks has several differences, so docking is performed in two ways: at an angle or in a single plane. To create a tight connection, the panels are tapped rubber mallet. After complete assembly first row, last panels sawed off to the required size.
Laying the second row begins with the third part of the lamella. This start will prevent the seams from matching. All subsequent rows are assembled in the same way. In the last row, the boards are sawed down to create a centimeter thermal gap.
It is important that the installation is carried out in relation to the existing lighting. The long side should be directed perpendicular to the light beam. The joints of the panels will become invisible, and the length of the room will be visually expanded.
The room will look larger if it is laid diagonally. IN small spaces, where there is no daylight, installation of the laminate is done across the room.
If the laminate is laid on wood covering, the plates are placed across the floorboards.
For detailed instructions on laying laminate boards, watch the video below.
