When you’re considering installing flooring yourself, it’s important to learn a few tips on how to go about this challenging process. Many people love a laminated plank because they are affordable and still offer the beautiful look of stone or wood, but they can be really inconvenient to install.

They aren’t always going to be as durable either which means you might be making repairs or installing new floors in the future. If you follow these few tips before starting the process, you’ll have a better chance of installing the floor right the first time, avoiding damage to the floor and increasing its lifespan. Here are the tips to keep in mind when installing flooring.

Where to Begin

Before you start, be sure to remove the current base molding and flooring. You’ll need to hang on to that molding for reinstallation at the end of the process. Have the new flooring get used to the room by letting it sit for 48 hours before you attempt to install it. This gives it a chance to expand and contract in the room’s temperature before gluing it down.

Make a Plan

You’ll want to start planning your layout while you’re installing foam underlayment. This foam ensures your surface won’t have nails or staples from the old flooring damaging your new floor. You can start measuring and cutting your first piece.

How to Install

You’ll start to install once you’ve taken these initial precautions. Start with your first row having a tongue side facing the wall and then cut the tongue edge off of your planks.  Go ahead and connect the planks together using the tongue and grove but allow for expansion. You’ll need a good one-quarter-inch of a gap between the wall and your planks for possible expansion.

Wrap it Up

Now you can cut your last plank to length and install more rows with 12 inches between the seams of their adjoining rows. The last row can go in and then you’ll need to cut around the door casings using a jamb saw tool. Put those base moldings back in and install shoe moldings over expansion joints with caul around the perimeter. Use a transition strip to connect the floor to adjoining surfaces like carpet.

Following these tips will ensure that your floor is installed to the best ability.