How to put laminate flooring without matching seams?

  11 answers
  • Annie Annie on Jun 17, 2020

    Hi Cindy. Laminate flooring can be easy and kinda tricky at the same time. If you are installing mis matched pieces it will be a trail and error process as most laminate packages have "Lot" numbers and should be matched when purchasing from retailer. Here is a Good vid for basic install. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP7B9B7WX1E

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Jun 17, 2020

    I would think that laminate flooring is pretty similar from company to company, it works on a tongue and groove, interlocking system. I am not sure how effective this would be between companies, or even within the same company and different types of laminate flooring, meaning would it line up correctly and not buckle up or have irregularities.

    As Annie stated, there are lot numbers that need to match for a good fit and continuity in a floor.

    The only way I could figure to lay this floor would be to sand or saw off the tongue portion of the plank. Then nail into place on the sub floor.

  • GrandmasHouseDIY GrandmasHouseDIY on Jun 17, 2020

    Hi Cindy, start with a cut piece (in half or a quarter doesn't really matter as long as its not a full piece) that should get you started right away with miss matched seems but it really depends on the length of your room.

  • Lifestyles Homes Lifestyles Homes on Jun 17, 2020

    I would lay it out “dry” first and use either a grease pencil or masking tape to number the pieces, after you’ve a strategy for mixing mismatched pieces,

    including dye lots, as mentioned above.

  • 17335038 17335038 on Jun 17, 2020

    Plan to have the mismatched pieces of flooring under furniture that will be in the room all the time, under items that can go on top of the join, or in areas of the room that do not show as much (such as in a corner, in a closet, etc.).

  • Joy Elizabeth Joy Elizabeth on Jun 17, 2020

    Do you have a photo of what it looks like? Are you connecting to another existing floor so there is a seam, or laying mismatch tiles across the whole floor?

  • Cindy Cindy on Jun 17, 2020

    Hi Cindy. I'm a Cindy too. You should begin with a cut piece. Lay a whole piece after that. Continue laying the flooring this way. Be sure to leave about an eighth inch to a quarter inch gap around the perimeter of the entire room to allow for expansion and contraction that comes with weather. Lay a quarter-round trim to cover this gap. Good luck Cindy Hoping all is well with you.

    • Cindy Kelly-Magness Cindy Kelly-Magness on Jun 19, 2020

      Thank you!

      we are actually doing it that way, and so far,so good!

      im doing well.

      imhope that you are staying safe and well too

      thanks so much for your time.👍

  • Cynthia H Cynthia H on Jun 18, 2020

    Hi! Transition strips are frequently used between sections of flooring that aren't the same thickness. For example in a doorway. I'm not certain if that's what you're asking about, or if you are trying to match flooring. Or, are you having trouble lining up seams? Generally, you want to stagger seams when they are planks, and when you are working with squares, you are matching the seams so they are snug against each other. If none of that answers your question, perhaps you could go into more detail?

  • Cindy Kelly-Magness Cindy Kelly-Magness on Jun 19, 2020

    Thank you!

  • DarylEustoquio DarylEustoquio on Nov 22, 2022

    My husband faced the same problem. We recently decided to freshen up the floors in our living room. But since hiring workers is very expensive, the husband decided to do everything himself. He levelled and thickened the bottom nicely, but when it came time to lay the laminate, he ran into a problem. He couldn't get the seams to line up correctly, so he started reading up on what to do with it and came across one site https://craftyclub.co/1363/cheap-diy-flooring-ideas-you-need-to-know-about/. This helped him a lot, and he correctly and accurately laid the living room's laminate.