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How to Install your Laminate Floor
Prior to installing your flooring, unwrap the flooring
and leave the boxes at room temperature for three or four days. At this
time, look over all of the panels to see if there are any defects
because you may not make a claim for flooring that has already been
laid.
Take out any carpet, as well as any of the adhesive material that was
used to lay the carpet. You must level any areas that are uneven and
make sure that the surface you will be covering is clean, smooth and
firm.
Due to the level of moisture, laminate panels should not be installed in
bathrooms, or other rooms where a high level of moisture is contained.
Even when your are installing laminate panels in rooms that do not
contain a particularly high level of moisture, it is advised that you
place a moisture barrier over concrete floors. This moisture barrier
will guard panels against moisture that could seep from surfaces. Place
a 6-mil (0.2mm) polyethylene film moisture barrier over the base
surface. The edges of the polyethylene should overlap by at least 8
inches and the connection should be sealed with some type of moisture
resistant self-adhesive tape. This procedure should be followed on all
concrete floors, as well as other floors where condensation or moisture
seepage could occur.
It is important that floors which contain radiant heat have a moisture
barrier installed over the floors. Heat should be turned down to 60
degrees F one week prior to laying the flooring and the temperature
should be kept under 80 degrees F at all times.
A good quality foam underlayment (a type of padding) should be installed
prior to installing laminate panels. Use a self-adhesive tape to adhere
the underlayment to the base surface and do not overlap. After the
underlayment is in place, the laminate panels may be placed on top.
If you are using a moisture barrier, it should be installed before the
underlayment. Once the moisture barrier has been installed, the
underlayment may be put on top of it. If you prefer, you may use a
product that contains a combination of both a moisture barrier and an
underlayment. (Make sure this type of product is reliable.)
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