DIY laminate flooring
If you decide to lay a laminate in your apartment (or room) without the involvement of professionals, you need to properly study all the subtleties of this procedure. In fact, there is nothing difficult in laying laminate flooring with your own hands - you just need to know the basic rules used by repair specialists, be careful and neat enough - after all, first of all, you are doing repairs for yourself, and you probably want the apartment to be comfortable and beautifully, and so that the floor is level and does not creak. If you doubt your abilities, we recommend that you watch the course of laying laminate at this link:
http://fb.ru/article/65184/ukladka-laminata-osobennosti-tehnologii .
DIY laminate flooringSo, first of all, you need to prepare a flat surface for laying the laminate. Your actions will depend on what gender you have.
Wood. Check the condition of the floor for irregularities, holes and bumps. Walk on the floor - how much does it flex, and also - are there squeaks? Eliminate any drawbacks - they usually depend on the fastening of the floorboards to the joists (wooden floors). The floor must be perfectly flat, if necessary, use special building mixtures.
Concrete. To level this floor, it is necessary to make a screed of concrete and sand, or use a self-leveling (self-leveling) floor, mixtures for which are sold in specialized stores. Sometimes, after leveling the floor, it is necessary to lay plywood.
After choosing a laminate, pay attention to its drawing. Most often they use a drawing "under a tree" - in this case, you will have to select boards so that the joints are as less conspicuous as possible. It is better to place a mismatching pattern in places where furniture will stand or where the laminate flooring is least noticeable (at the entrance and near the walls).
Use wedges to leave 3 to 5 millimeters away from walls, door frames, and pipes. This is necessary so that over time the laminate does not "lead". Usually, a piece of laminate board is used as a wedge - so that the distance is the same everywhere.
Lay backing. This can be cork, corrugated cardboard, expanded polystyrene, expanded polyethylene, Tuplex or bitumen-based material.
Start laying the laminate according to the previously selected pattern, inserting the grooves into each other. If necessary, hammer the boards together with a regular hammer. To keep the boards tight and not squeak, grease the joints with special glue or wax.
Start laying the second row so that the boards are staggered.
Use baseboards to close gaps between walls, door frames, and laminate flooring.
Laminate boards must be laid vertically from doors to windows, otherwise the joints will shine in the sun.