Save The Money with DIY Laminate Flooring

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Save The Money with DIY Laminate Flooring

Posted On : Sep-06-2011 | seen (336) times | Article Word Count : 558 |

Although laminate flooring has been around for decades, it has become increasingly popular in recent years. This is partly because wood flooring has been more respected and has even been shown to increase the value of homes and help them to sell better. Yet with some of the common drawbacks of wood, including the fact that it’s soft, dents easily and is vulnerable to moisture, laminate is gaining in popularity.

Laminate offers many advantages to the average homeowner. It’s durable, long lasting and exceptionally beautiful. Since the top layer is a photograph of real wood, you can enjoy unique grain patterns and different wood species. Laminate is not as susceptible to moisture and will not buckle or warp like hardwood. This is because the flooring has a plywood-like center instead of being made solely from solid wood. Most importantly is that laminate is an affordable option. You can get a quality flooring that is durable and beautiful, all for a fraction of the cost of hardwood.

There are many reasons why laminate is affordable, especially in comparison to hardwood. The materials are cheaper and DIY laminate flooring presents many opportunities for homeowners to do the work on their own. For example, with laminate, there is no need to hire a professional and pay the cost of labor. Instead, this flooring can be easily installed on your own in a day or two. To carry out the installation, the floorboards have a tongue and groove installation method that interlocks the pieces together like a puzzle.

When working with DIY laminate flooring, you’ll need to have all the right materials on hand. The laminate is first and foremost, and you’ll need to allow a few days for the flooring to adjust to the moisture levels in your home. Purchase the laminate and in the meantime, start prepping your floors. Fortunately, laminate can be installed over many existing floor types, so you may not have to remove the current floor. You will however, have to lay the underlayment.

Make sure the surface is clean, dry and flat. Remove all the trim and be careful not to ruin it, as it can be reinstalled after. Unroll the laminate, which is lightweight and easy to work with. You’ll want to lay the flooring pieces parallel with the longest wall. Then working left to right, lay the pieces using the tongue and groove installation method. The pieces will effortlessly snap together and the project will be well on its way to success. You will need to trim certain pieces to fit around doors, closets and stairways. For a more natural look, select pieces from different boxes.

The last row will involve a bit more cutting as well, as you’ll have to cut the boards lengthwise. After installation is complete, you can remove the spacers and begin reinstalling the trim and divisional pieces. Make sure that all trim is secured to the wall and not the floor. Remember that DIY laminate flooring will shift a bit, as this floor “floats” over the subflooring and will fluctuate with temperature changes. With DIY laminate flooring, you can enjoy a beautiful, hardwood floor for a fraction of the cost. Best of all, you can be proud of your new flooring and know that it’s something that you’ve contributed to the home.

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<h1>Save The Money with DIY Laminate Flooring</h1> Author: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/profile_Darrell T Potter.aspx'>Darrell T Potter</a> Although laminate flooring has been around for decades, it has become increasingly popular in recent years. This is partly because wood flooring has been more respected and has even been shown to increase the value of homes and help them to sell better. Yet with some of the common drawbacks of wood, including the fact that it’s soft, dents easily and is vulnerable to moisture, laminate is gaining in popularity.

Laminate offers many advantages to the average homeowner. It’s durable, long lasting and exceptionally beautiful. Since the top layer is a photograph of real wood, you can enjoy unique grain patterns and different wood species. Laminate is not as susceptible to moisture and will not buckle or warp like hardwood. This is because the flooring has a plywood-like center instead of being made solely from solid wood. Most importantly is that laminate is an affordable option. You can get a quality flooring that is durable and beautiful, all for a fraction of the cost of hardwood.

There are many reasons why laminate is affordable, especially in comparison to hardwood. The materials are cheaper and DIY laminate flooring presents many opportunities for homeowners to do the work on their own. For example, with laminate, there is no need to hire a professional and pay the cost of labor. Instead, this flooring can be easily installed on your own in a day or two. To carry out the installation, the floorboards have a tongue and groove installation method that interlocks the pieces together like a puzzle.

When working with DIY laminate flooring, you’ll need to have all the right materials on hand. The laminate is first and foremost, and you’ll need to allow a few days for the flooring to adjust to the moisture levels in your home. Purchase the laminate and in the meantime, start prepping your floors. Fortunately, laminate can be installed over many existing floor types, so you may not have to remove the current floor. You will however, have to lay the underlayment.

Make sure the surface is clean, dry and flat. Remove all the trim and be careful not to ruin it, as it can be reinstalled after. Unroll the laminate, which is lightweight and easy to work with. You’ll want to lay the flooring pieces parallel with the longest wall. Then working left to right, lay the pieces using the tongue and groove installation method. The pieces will effortlessly snap together and the project will be well on its way to success. You will need to trim certain pieces to fit around doors, closets and stairways. For a more natural look, select pieces from different boxes.

The last row will involve a bit more cutting as well, as you’ll have to cut the boards lengthwise. After installation is complete, you can remove the spacers and begin reinstalling the trim and divisional pieces. Make sure that all trim is secured to the wall and not the floor. Remember that DIY laminate flooring will shift a bit, as this floor “floats” over the subflooring and will fluctuate with temperature changes. With DIY laminate flooring, you can enjoy a beautiful, hardwood floor for a fraction of the cost. Best of all, you can be proud of your new flooring and know that it’s something that you’ve contributed to the home.

About the Author: Darrell Potter writes out of Vancouver about a variety home flooring tips, and gives advice on <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.flooringcanada.ca/laminate.aspx">DIY laminate flooring</a> and other projects. Always looking for the highest quality materials at the lowest cost possible, he tends to end up shopping at <a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.flooringcanada.ca/laminate.aspx">http://www.flooringcanada.ca/laminate.aspx</a> more often than not. Article Source: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Save-The-Money-with-DIY-Laminate-Flooring_80145.aspx'> http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Save The Money with DIY Laminate Flooring_80145.aspx</a>

Article Source : http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Save The Money with DIY Laminate Flooring_80145.aspx

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Darrell Potter writes out of Vancouver about a variety home flooring tips, and gives advice on DIY laminate flooring and other projects. Always looking for the highest quality materials at the lowest cost possible, he tends to end up shopping at http://www.flooringcanada.ca/laminate.aspx more often than not.

Keywords : laminate flooring, diy laminate flooring, diy laminate, flooring pieces parallel, flooring pieces,

Category : Home and Family : Interior Design

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