How To Install Laminate Flooring
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In this step-by-step tutorial, we’ll teach you how to install laminate flooring on concrete.
Step 1. Acclimate laminate flooring in room
Any time you install flooring, you definitely need to acclimate the unopened product in the room before installing for at least 48 hours.
Step 2. Remove old flooring & baseboards
To remove baseboards, simply cut the caulk line at the top with a utility knife and then use a crowbar to pry off the baseboard. Label them on the back if you plan to reuse them as you take them off.
Step 3. Ensure floor is level, clean, and no repairs are needed
If your subflooring has bumps or dips you’ll want to get rid of those before installing your laminate flooring. It’s important that the surface is nice and flat for the laminate to be installed.
Step 4. Install the first row of underlayment directly on top of concrete
Trim off the overlap on the first row of underlayment and roll it out in the same direction that you’ll be installing the laminate flooring. Be sure that the underlayment runs up the wall around 2 inches (you’ll trim the excess off later).
Step 5. Install first row of laminate flooring over concrete
After your first row of underlayment is down, you can start installing the laminate flooring over concrete.
Add spacers between the wall and the first row of the laminate so the gap equals roughly 3/8″.
Step 6. Continue working row by row installing laminate over underlayment
Step 7. Install last row of laminate flooring
The last row of your laminate floor will always take the longest. However, it’s just a combination of the steps above.
Step 8. Remove spacers & add baseboards
Once your entire floor is in, you’ll want to remove the spacers and add back your baseboards.
There ya have it – how to install laminate flooring on concrete – even if you’re a total beginner! We hope you enjoyed this guide that walks you through the whole process.
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used to do a lot of unusual jobs whenever popped up in my cleaning business years ago- laying out your flooring from center is a very Very good idea. Unless you know definitely that the dimensions of the room are allowing u to lay out the floor correctly! Does not happen very often. To be on safe side, measure always! At least twice, I always measured three times just to be sure- before cutting, so no mistakes. My dad was in construction when I was little, and guess I just hated the thought of messing up stuff. But, your floors turned out gorgeous!!!! Your advice is good- people need to know that they can do things for themselves without paying an arm and a leg for it!!!!
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Oh, and you can do this on top of plywood- not a problem!!!!!
Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
Hello. You did a beautiful job, but I have a question. I was always told to start or measure from the center of the floor and measure to the walls. Or measure the room, divide by 2 and figure how the edges need to be adjusted to have everything even and symmetrical. If you start using a full strip along the first edge, you may end up with the opposite side of tiles, laminate or wood off dimensionally. In other words, the first side will have a whole tile or wood strip and the other side may only end up needing a third, fourth or other odd width making the edges and the entire room look wonky and symmetrically off. That would drive me to distraction and baseboards can't hide the those lines. I didn't see anywhere in the directions you did that or did you simply luck out 'cause your floor looks perfect? Love the color.
My floors are not on top of concrete. Will this work on plywood?
Can you do laminate installation on 15 x 15 inch ceramic tile flooring?