Lay a laminate floor, part three

Laying a LOC laminate floor

LOC laminate flooring simply 'locs' together, so no adhesive is required. It is quick and easy to install and can be re-laid up to six times - but remember that care should always be taken when doing this.

Choose the direction

Most manufacturers recommend flooring is laid lengthways, along the room, running the boards towards the window if there is one. If you're laying over floorboards, lay the laminate boards at 90o (right angles) across them to reinforce the joints

Laying the first row

Lay the first board with the Groove or small tongue against the wall. Two spacers should be used to allow for the 10mm expansion gap between the boards and the wall Check alignment and squaring. Lay the next board against the short side and fix into place. Once fixed be very careful if separating the joints as this may result in damage.

The end of the row

To measure the correct length of board to use at the end of a row (allowing for the 10mm gap), place the final board next to the existing flooring with the tongues facing each other. The groove end should be pushed up to the spacers against the wall (3). Cut the required length and turn the board so that the groove and tongue are together.

Fitting the boards

Check that the first row is positioned correctly and the spacers are in the right place. Insert the tongue of the first board at an angle to 'loc' the boards firmly together

Starting a new row

When starting to lay a new row of flooring, make sure that the first piece you are going to lay is at least 30cm in length. Remember to stagger the joints (creating a 'brick wall' effect) when laying the boards and tap them together using a tapping block - the long side first, followed by the short side.

The final row

When you come to lay the last row, place a loose board on top of the previously laid row, then place another board on top of this with the tongue touching the wall. Mark the board underneath so that it shows the required width and cut along this line before fitting it.

Pipes

If you need to fit your flooring around pipes, start by measuring the diameter of the pipe then drill a hole, 20mm larger than the pipe diameter, in the laminate board. Saw a section out of the board which goes through the hole so that it can be laid around the pipe and replace the sawn out section and glue in to place.

Mouldings and skirtings

You may need to make minor adjustments to door mouldings and skirtings to ensure your new flooring fits comfortably. Place a piece of the flooring face down on to any underlay you are using and saw the moulding above this board at the base (8). Fit the floorboard under the moulding, remembering to leave a 10mm expansion gap.

Finishing

When you have laid your floor, remove the fitting wedges. If you are using floor edging to hide the expansion gaps, pin or glue it to the wall or skirting board (not the floor). Use a nail punch to drive the pin heads below the surface. Cover holes made for pipes with pipe covers and glue into place.

To restore your floor's shine, go over the surface with a broom or vacuum cleaner (with the brushes down). To add extra shine to your newly installed floor, use a laminate floor cleaner.

Laminate flooring repair kits are available should your new floor suffer any damage. Please refer to the product instructions for advice on ongoing care and maintenance.

DIY advice in association with B&Q