Laminate floor systems do not function well on uneven surfaces. Before starting any flooring work, inspect the subfloor. Crawl around with a straightedge to find any areas that are more than 1/8-inch high or low. Subfloor seams are the usual suspects.
Before installing laminate flooring over concrete, prepare the surface properly. Remove baseboards and molding. After ensuring that the floor is level, install the moisture barrier sheeting of polyethylene film, overlapping the edges by 8 inches. Tape the seams using a polyethylene tape. Some laminate flooring comes with a foam backing.
Laminate floor lifting or buckling can be caused by changes in temperature and humidity levels. Use a hammer and chisel or putty knife to remove baseboards or molding near the damaged boards. If spacers were used between the wall and the board closest to it, replace them with smaller spacers., and more items.
Laminate flooring is typically available in 7-millimeter to 12-millimeter thicknesses. Laminate planks vary from less than 5 inches to 7 or more inches wide. You can choose from a seemingly endless list, including cherry, chestnut, hickory, maple, oak, pine and walnut. A couple additional things to pay attention too are underfloor heating, texture, and ac rating.
Do I really need to acclimate my laminate floors?
To reduce the amount of movement it is essential to acclimate a laminate floor immediately before installation. The normal period is 48 within the room of installation, before beginning to lay the floor. Humidity in a room is a very important consideration. Often it is a critical factor when the house is a new build, or over 40 years old.
Another frequent query is “Does laminate flooring need to be acclimated?”.
In general, laminate flooring needs to acclimate in the room for at least 48 hours. If you want to be extra cautious, you can go for up to 96 hours.