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*Floating Installation for a Laminate Floor*

"See article on preparing your floor for installing Engineered or Laminate Flooring"

Engineered and Laminate flooring is suitable for floating installation at any grade level, be it above grade, on grade or even below grade onto a concrete sub-floor, ceramic tiling, or linoleum with proper site preparation.



Check with your supplier to confirm that this is true for the flooring that you choose. I use a padded vapor barrier under the flooring to guard against moisture and to soften the floor a little.


Steps for floating installation

On this job we had to rip up the carpet and padding, move around furniture, and get a perfectly clean floor. This particular floor had a mahogany finish and came with tongue and groove boards that had to be glued together. We used Elmers wood glue for a really tight fit.


Use a chalk line to trace a starting line parallel to the starting wall at a distance of a single plank width plus the ½" expansion joint.

Lay out 4 to 5 rows of planks ahead of time that match in terms of joints and color. Cut planks with imperfections or place them in less visible areas.

Install the first plank along the starting line with the tongue facing you and the groove laid out facing the starting wall. Use expansion shims spaced every 12" (300 mm) along all walls to prevent movement during installation. Always keep a ¼" (6.3 mm) expansion joint at row ends. First row must be square to ensure a true fixed base from which to build the entire floor.

Proceed from left to right and install the other planks in the row. Apply wood glue to upper inside of grooves on planks. Always apply adhesive to groove instead of tongue.

Start each subsequent row with cut-off end of last plank from previous row. Stagger end joints by minimum of 20"

Tighten each seam with knocking block and each end joint with last board puller or crowbar.

The last row will generally not fit perfectly, thus scribe row to allow expansion gap, engage all seams with last board puller.

Once the entire surface is covered, remove expansion spacers and reinstall base and/or quarter round moldings to cover the expansion spare. Install any transition pieces that may be needed (reducer strips, T-moldings, etc.).
                            

Important: During installation, immediately wipe any adhesive from the floor surface

Finishing and Maintenance:
You can hide the small holes left by finishing nails with wood putty.

1. Fill the hole
2. Wipe excess wood putty immediately with a clean cloth and cleaner.
3. Apply a thin coat of urethane to the clean and wax-free surface
4. Let it dry for about 1 hour.

Sometimes you have to be creative, Here we had to hide a plumbing clean out. We used some left over scrape and the customer was really impressed!

Once installation is done, vacuum the floor and clean with cleaner and mop.

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