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Originally posted 17th July 2019

Last updated 7th June 2022

Laminate Installation Guide

Laminate is such a popular flooring solution because it’s so easy to install. Although it...

Paul Hambidge

Managing Director Factory Direct Flooring Ltd

5 min read
Written by Expert

Laminate is such a popular flooring solution because it’s so easy to install. Although it replicates the look of solid wood, it’s a fraction of the price and comes with a handy click system. If you’re planning to install yourself, here are the tools and the know-how you'll need for laying laminate floors without the hassle.

What tools do I need for laminate flooring installation?

What tools do you need to instal laminate flooring

While there are various methods for laminate flooring installation, depending on whether it’s click or glue, the below advice helps with installing click laminate. So, these are the laminate flooring tools you'll need to complete the job:

  • Measuring tape to measure your boards and the room.
  • Laminate underlay to prepare your subfloor.
  • Scissors to cut your underlay.
  • Adhesive tape to keep your underlay in place.
  • A rubber hammer to gently knock your boards into place.
  • Flooring spacers to keep an even gap between your floor and skirting.
  • A chalk pencil to mark saw lines.
  • A laminate floor cutter to cut the boards.
  • A mitre box to hold skirting or beading place.
  • A handsaw to cut your skirting or beading.
  • A hammer and nails or wood adhesive, for your skirting or beading.

If you think you’re a little short on the tools you need, check out our flooring accessories for everything you need to install your floor.

How to Lay Laminate Flooring

For laminate flooring installation, you’ll first need to measure the space available to work out how many boards you need. Then, once your boards and tools arrive, you’ll be able to start the process.

Laying laminate flooring is easy, even for those with limited DIY skills. Take a look at our guide on how to fit laminate flooring:

1. Work out how much laminate flooring you need

Measuring to install laminate flooring

Measure the length and width of the room. Multiply these numbers together to find the surface area, then enter that number into the flooring calculator on each laminate floor page to tell you how many packs you’ll require.

2. Gather your tools and materials

Tools needed to install laminate flooring

After gathering all of your tools and receiving your laminate, remove the laminate from its packaging. Leave it to acclimatise and adjust to the room’s temperature for at least 48 hours prior to installation. While you wait, ensure your subfloor is clean and dry.

3. Install your underlay

Underlay for laminate flooring

Use your scissors to cut the sheets to the size of the room and simply tape them together on the floor. We recommend using our special Vapour Tape which not only keeps the underlay in place but also strengthens the joins. Add some more tape around the seams.

4. Layout your first row

Laying your first row of laminate flooring

After the underlay, you can lay your first row of laminate flooring. Start in the left-hand corner of the room. Leave a gap of roughly 8-10mm around the perimeter of the room to allow for beading or skirting. Some flooring spacers might help you at this point.

5. Measure the last piece of your first row to size

Measuring wood when installing laminate flooring

When laying your first row you’ll most likely reach a point where a full board won’t fit anymore. At this point, you need to measure the distance from the end of your penultimate board to the wall. Take off 10mm to allow for spacing and then mark where you need to cut with a chalk pencil.

6. Cut the last piece of your first row to size

Cutting wood for laminate flooring

Ensuring all safety precautions have been taken for the laminate cutter – we recommend gloves, a cutting bench and safety goggles – start to cut your board to size. Using your laminate cutter, cut the board along the line you marked in the previous step. Use the remnant of this board to begin the next step.

7. Lay your second row

Installing solid wood laminate flooring

Repeat steps 4 – 6 for your second row, taking care to follow safety regulations. As you slot each second board to the first row, gently hammer the board until it clicks into the parallel board in row 1. Remember to start with the offcut from the previous step.

8. Repeat until your floor is fully laid

Take care to repeat these instructions all the way from row 2 until you are as close to the farthest wall as you can get. Remember to use the offcuts to start each new row and to gently hammer in each board til its click into the previous row.

9. Add the beading or skirting

Laying skirting when installing a floor

After your laminate is down, the last step is to add the beading or skirting. Mark the measurements onto the beading or skirting and trim down using a handsaw. The mitre box comes in handy here to help you hold the beading or skirting in place.

10. Fix the beading or skirting into place

Finally, fix the beading or skirting down using a strong wood adhesive or a hammer and nail. If you haven't yet found your beading or skirting, check out our best floor edging for some inspiration.

Video Tutorial

Would you prefer a more visual look at the installation of laminate flooring? We have the below video tutorial on hand which shows the typical installation process using one of our popular flooring types:

Our Flooring Calculator

When you browse any type of flooring at Factory Direct Flooring Ltd, each product has a flooring calculator on the page. Simply enter the surface area in either metres or feet squared and our My Project flooring calculator will tell you how many packs you’ll need and how much it will cost you.

By simply measuring your room and entering your dimensions, we will provide you with an instant price which will show on every type of flooring you browse across our website. You can either input the total coverage or your width and length measurements, in meters or feet. You can even save your measurements room by room to make your shopping experience stress-free.

It also offers to add an extra 10% for wastage. While this may cost a little bit more, we highly recommend adding it just in case there are mishaps during the installation process. Enjoy the My Project flooring calculator below:

Get instant Personalised Pricing for your room

  • Enter your unique room measurements.
  • We'll give you an instant price for the flooring you need in your home.
Add Room Measurements

That’s it! Enjoy your new laminate flooring installation! If you need any more advice please call us on 0330 100 00 15 or check out our laminate advice centre and get the low-down on everything from maintenance to removal.

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About the Author

Paul Hambidge, Managing Director

Paul has 32 years of flooring industry knowledge & experience from both an installation and manufacturing perspective. He started out as installer of very large commercial flooring projects for multiple retailers. As director of Factory Direct Flooring Ltd, he has been involved in all aspects of flooring and has worked with some of the largest producers of wood flooring, vinyl flooring and laminate floors.