Glue Less
Laminate Hardwood
Flooring
Installing Glue
Less Harwood
Flooring
Introduction:
Glue less laminate
flooring is a new
flooring
alternative that
makes installing
laminate floors
easier than ever.
Instead of applying
adhesive to the
laminate planks
where they join
together, glue less
laminate flooring
is manufactured
with special tongue
and groove edges
that click together
and hold without
the need of extra
adhesive. It makes
installing these
floors an easy DIY
project.
Glue less Laminate
Flooring Prep:
The amount of prep
needed depends a
lot on the type of
pre-existing floor
you're dealing
with. One of the
most attractive
qualities of glue
less laminate
flooring is that it
can be installed
over just about any
pre-existing floor,
with the exception
of carpeting. If
you want to be
thorough, it's
certainly not a bad
idea to tear the
old out before you
put in the new. For
example, if you've
got old vinyl or
linoleum floors,
it's best to remove
it. Many contain
asbestos that is
released as a dust
if you start
tearing them out.
They're not
dangerous if you
leave them alone,
but if you decide
to remove it, you
need to hire a
licensed asbestos
abatement
contractor to do
the work. Besides
this precaution,
all the prep work
you really need to
do is make sure the
old floor is clean
before you begin to
lay down the new.
Let the Laminate
Age before
Installation:
Once you purchase
your glue less
laminate flooring,
remove it from the
box and let it sit
in the room where
it's going to be
installed for two
to three days. This
allows it to
acclimate to the
humidity in your
home, and prevents
it from coming
apart during
initial phases of
expansion and
contraction. Once
the laminate has
been aged properly,
you are set to
begin installation.
Once you have
prepped the floor,
it is a pretty
straight forward
task. You'll need
to lay down a vapor
barrier and a sound
underlayment before
you put down the
flooring itself,
however, since glue
less laminate
flooring is a
floating floor
product, you'll
want to measure the
space carefully and
cut your boards
such that you leave
a quarter inch gap
at the walls in
order to allow for
expansion. The
baseboard will
cover the gap.
Also, follow all of
the manufacturer's
instructions
carefully, and
utilize the aid of
a tapping block and
tightening straps
so you get your
flooring installed
as tight as
possible.
Glue less laminate
flooring can
separate slightly
over time if
improperly
installed, though
it's extremely rare
if you follow
installation
guidelines. Other
than that, all
you've really got
to do is to snap
the pieces
together. You can
easily do a one
room project in a
weekend, depending
on your expertise.
When the project is
complete you will
be satisfied with
the outcome.
See related articles:
How
to Sound Proof a Home
Office
How to Stop Rugs From Moving
How
to Select Real Wood
Furniture
How
to Use Wall Anchors
Indoor Furniture verses
Outdoor Furniture