Some rooms, mostly in modern buildings are easier to laminate than others. Bid and win more jobs. The room visualizer tool also permits users to modify a certain room up-close. Input the area dimensions 3. This is why it is said that you should look at the direction of light before deciding which orientation to lay the laminate flooring. Here's a quick step-by-step primer to help you get a handle on the basics. To install laminate flooring you must, remove obstacles, level the subfloor, install the transition strips, plan the stagger pattern, install the boards, and snap the transition strip covers into place. Step 1: Acclimate Your Planks and Prep the Subfloor Before you can install your new floor, your laminate planks will need to acclimate to the room first. Laminate can be uneven, so it's not recommended to lay vinyl over it. The first note I need to make is this; randomize the colors on your floor by pulling from different boxes. A picture is worth a thousand words, so I've made one on the left. You have to decide whether it is better to lay it width-ways or sideways depending on these factors. Another free tool worth trying is from Armstrong Flooring, which lets you design a bathroom, bedroom, dining room, kitchen, and living room. Source Images. To minimize chipping on the flooring surface, cut with the backside of the plank up. With a laminate flooring design like this, it is important that the rest of the design of the room is kept simple. Well, look no further because I have your answer! Measure the width of the room from the longest wall and divide the distance by the width of the planks. Begin laying the first row on the longest wall with the trimmed edges of the planks against the wall. In other cases, you'll need to apply the glue yourself. The best advice that I can give you is just be sure to give a good expansion along the walls and in the doorways. (Yes, if your first row needs cut to width, you will need to cut off the tongue side that goes against the wall according to the table above. Laminate Kitchen Floors 13 Photos Durable laminate flooring is an inexpensive option available in styles that mimic hardwood and stone. This would create a lock that is difficult to undo and can damage the edges. If you have any questions just ask below. Now about the calculator: Another nice feature is that you can change the color of the cabinets, walls and countertops so that you can see how different colors work with different flooring types. Planning the laminate flooring layout is by far the hardest part of laminate flooring. I was really interested to find out that spacers were required. A laminate flooring with patterns can be the element in focus in your living room. Most people will bother to think about the orientation of the laminate flooring only after they have bought it inside the room. So, to help you more easily calculate and plan out a staggered pattern specifically for your room, you need to check out my tutorial here. Since I had already laid laminate twice :), the task was quite clear, and the calculator was created. If you cut the piece to width first, then to length, you will have to cut another board to have a starting piece for the next row (which just creates extra waste and wasted money). By using our site, you agree to our. Input real numbers only. The first step to installing laminate flooring on concrete is to remove all of the obstacles in the way. Laminate flooring laid lengthways can have an expanding effect. Length of the last plank, millimeters - length of the yellow plank shown below Last Updated: December 21, 2022 Depending on the room layout, you can choose a direction that suits you the most. Finally, a solution for all the people who have ever started a home improvement project and thought to themselves, "There must be a better way!" To find out details, please visit : 221 E Walnut St, Suite 110, Pasadena, CA 91101, Technical support Even though the floor might look like a big single piece of wood, it is actually made up of smaller individual segments that join together. The best way to get the most expansion along the walls would be completely remove all the base. Inspect all flooring materials for damage and defects. Remove Toilets, Baseboards, Door Jambs, Other Obstacles To Prepare For Laminate Flooring, Level Uneven Concrete Subfloor & Install Underlayment, Install Metal Base Of Laminate Flooring Transition Strips In Doorways, Plan Staggered Pattern For Laminate Flooring Layout, Install Transition Strips Over Laminate Flooring Edges, Re-Install Toilets, Baseboards, Etc. I measure the widest point of the are that I am installing in and thats how far I go on my cheat sheet numbers. See how much new carpet, hardwood or laminate you'll need before you buy. Enter the project name more What's New Version History Version 4.9 Added printing and sharing as PDF or JPG. Thanks, guys. Additionally, TheHandyNest.com participates in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes get a commission through purchases made through our links. 1. Let's get started and I will show you how to install the first row of laminate flooring. Next, cut strips of underlayment to size and lay the strips down across the exposed floor. You can zoom in and out and undo or redo an action. Theres a general rule for choosing the direction of laminate flooring. He has been a construction professional since 1987. To lay laminate flooring, first clear out any furniture in the room youll be laying the floor in. You simply peel away a protective film before pressing the tiles into position. Therefore, you shouldmake sure that the light falling on the laminate panels doesnt cause it to lose its visual effect and looks. Or import drawings from graphics files (.pdf, .bmp, .tiff, Dodge files, CAD, etc.). Remember, we did all those calculations above in preparation for this moment. Experiment it for the whole day for a better result. Finally, tap the piece into its neighbor in the same row with the hammer and tapping block or pull bar (on all but the first piece in each row). Continue laying the rows like this. For help on the different laminate flooring edging options and when to use them, check out my article here. We prefer to do most of the redecoration and maintenance work by ourselves in these days of growing self-sufficiency. Saving is only available to members of the site, so you need to create an account first. The option also includes marking the floor area and changing perspective. 2 L - length of laminate flooring installation area in feet. In general, if you've decided on hardwood flooring, the normal notion is of long straight lines. Let users design with your products, generate leads and information requests, and lead customers to the showroom closest to them. You will need several, six or more for the first two rows. Therefore, light plays a smaller role when it comes to aligning. 7 Fun Flooring Patterns. Introducing My Project Planner, consolidates all aspects of your home improvement project, including a budget tracker, room images, design styles, to-do lists, and contact lists into a single interface. Select area type 2. New flooring can make a huge difference in any room. Here's what you need to know about how to install laminate flooring. So you want to use the proper tools at the proper time. If for any reason something didnt make sense than watch it again. The key to learning how to layout a laminate floor is making a cheat sheet. We have the answer. Select a floor from hundreds of products. Reading this article and seeing the. After uploading a few images of your home, you'll be able to review all your options in no time and narrow your focus quickly. The best way to lay laminate flooring is to start with a subfloor or old flooring that's flat, smooth, and clean. The grid pattern, also known as stack bond, is one of the most common layouts. Accessible from anywhere, My Project Planner makes it easier than ever for busy people like you to stay on top of their projects and come out of the process with a floor theyll be happy with today, and years down the road. So far, weve laid laminate flooring in a completely gutted house with a concrete subfloor that had no toilets, doors, baseboard, or pretty much any obstacles. Speedy perimeter measurement for nail strip and baseboard needs. If you reach an obstacle like a toilet flange, plumbing sticking out of the subfloor, or corners in the wall, then cut your piece to fit around it while still leaving a expansion gap. The floor pattern tool figures the number of tiles needed based on the square footage and desired waste. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. ), Common Mistakes When Laying Laminate Flooring (& How To Fix Them! The alignment of the individual panels can be used to make the room feel smaller or bigger. Laminate Flooring Calculator estimates the laminate SF usage with actual layout, plank size and waste margin for rooms and stairs. Menu. Over Laminate Floor, Other FAQs About Laminate Flooring Layouts On Concrete, How To Remove A Toilet Before Installing Laminate Flooring, How To Remove Baseboard Without Damaging Your Wall Before Installing Laminate Flooring, How To Cut The Door Jamb And Trim Before Installing Laminate Flooring, How To Make A Stagger Pattern For Laying Laminate Flooring (A Helpful Guide With Pictures! Don't worry too much about your technique for cutting or ripping laminate planks. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Choose the wood flooring and the type of the product, which includes options like Oak, Ash, Birch, Red Oak, and Cherry. Let us now talk about a question that most of us have thought about. Laminate flooringis not hard to install yourself, even for beginners. This calculator should answer the laminate's question, "with the known size of one plank and area of a room, how many planks are needed, including the scraps." Put aside any planks that are unfit for installation. So you want to have the least amount of seams around this area as possible to keep water out from underneath. For laminate, interlocking wood, or vinyl plank flooring material measure the face width to the nearest 1/16th of an inch (the part you will see, do not include the interlocking tabs in this dimension). Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Product Disclosures | FA Management Enterprises, Inc. We're sorry, but we can't find a Flooring America location in the zip code you entered. Chad, I would absolutely do it that way. Laminate installation is much like putting together a large puzzle and should take no more than one day for almost any room. Certain types of underlayments are also moisture/vapor barriers. You can change your choice at any time on our. 184 followers. Otherwise, run the floor parallel to the longest wall in the room. The lamination is available in a great range of colours. Most vinyl plank flooring uses a tongue and groove system. MeasureSquare Laminate Calculator estimates wood laminate accurately with exact room measurement sizes, and it generates professional floor layout directions and patterns. If you already have an account, all you need to do is sign in with your registered email and password. Our flooring visualizer tool, My Floor Style, allows you to select a floor and get a virtual look at how it'll work in your home. To make this cheat sheet lock together ten planks side by side and measure to see how many inches it will equal. DIY With Christine is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. An uneven sub-floor is another common cause of quality flooring installations failing. The online tool also lets you select the grade whether it is prime, natural, rustic, or heavy rustic depending on the product type. Once you have the direction chosen, its time to calculate the starting row dimensions. The Spruce uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. It's lightning fast, powerful, light-weight and affordable. Lay Your Laminate Flooring Across the Width of a Narrow Room to Make It Look Wider If you have an unusually narrow room and you would like to make the room's width look wider than it actually is, then try laying your laminate floor perpendicular to the direction of the longer wall of the room. How laminate flooring works is that it floats across your room. See all home software design options here. To create a more natural look, you want to pull pieces from 2-3 different boxes at the same time. *Actual flooring may vary from on-screen representation. This thin, dense foam layer helps to absorb sound, provides a thermal barrier, makes it more comfortable to walk on the laminate, and helps bridge minor gaps and bumps on the underlying floor. The instructions with your flooring should specify these slight variations better for you. Easy to Use; Libraries; Integration; From floorplan to 3D, designing is fast and simple. Keep in mind though that if you knew how to layout a laminate floor these could be avoided. Vinyl Plank Flooring Calculator.