How to install laminate flooring on stairs?

September 3, 2010 – 4:52 am

A use has a question: “I have installed laminate flooring in my sitting room. Now I plan to install laminate on the stairs in the room. Can you offer some suggestion about the work?”

Our reply:

First, make each stair dry and even. Second, measure the length, height and width of one unit stair. Third, Avoid using two pieces of laminate flooring for one stair as possible as you can. For example, get laminate planks with the width of 297mm rather than 192mm if the width of the stair is 270mm wide. 2 pieces of laminate planks for one stair will leave a line on the connection space of 2 planks, which will affect the look. Fourth, keep necessary expansion space at the edge of laminate planks. Fifty, install stair nose at the each corner of stairs. Sixth, the color of laminate flooring should be the same as that on the floor to offer a better look. Finally, hire a professional laminate flooring installer to do the work if you are not sure you can do it yourself.

How to get the laminate flooring done in the enlarged room?

August 28, 2010 – 8:55 am

Some use has a question: “I had laminate flooring installed in my sitting room one year before. Now I have “dismantled” a room neighboring to the sitting room to enlarge the sitting room. My question is how to get the laminate flooring done in the enlarged room”?

Our reply:

Basically there are two ways to solve the problem. The first way is to dismantle the existing laminate flooring and then install the whole new room with new laminate flooring. The advantage of this way is that all the newly installed laminate will be with the exactly same color. Though you can get new laminate which color matches the installed one, you can’t get their colors exactly the same as it is the old color with the installed one. There will be definite or minimum color difference. The second way is to install the color matched laminate flooring in the enlarged room and use T-molding to cover transition space between the old one and newly installed one. The pro of the way is that you can save some energy and labor. If the color difference is not much or you don’t care it, you can get laminate flooring done in the enlarged room in this way.

How can I get my favorite laminate flooring down?

August 22, 2010 – 9:14 pm

Some user has got a new house. He knew nothing about flooring and installation. He asked: “How can I get my favorite laminate flooring down.”

Our reply:

First, it depends on your budget. If you have enough money for your budget, you can hire an indoor decor exporter and professional laminate flooring installer to do the work. You just need to tell them your favorite colors. They will help you to get the work done very easily. Also you can choose 12mm thick laminate flooring or laminate which offers a look of hardwood flooring if your budget allows you to do so. If not, you should take care that your favorite colors of laminate should match the colors of your furniture, wall, ceiling, etc. Also you can spend some time to learn the installation of laminate to save some money if you can don’t enough money for your budget. You can ask for help from the stores which you have chosen laminate flooring. They will offer many useful suggestions about how to get your favorite laminate flooring done.

The gaps appear between laminate flooring and skirting?

August 17, 2010 – 12:20 am

A user has a question: “I had laminate flooring installed in my house in August. Now it is December. And the gaps appear between laminate flooring and skirting. What is the problem? How to deal with the problem?”

Our reply:

There are two possible reasons for the gap. There should have been a gap which width is about 8mm between laminate flooring and wall during the installation. If the width of the gap is too big, the gaps between laminate and skirting when laminate “floats” after the installation. Also the gaps may appear when it becomes cold as laminate contract in cold winter. You can get thicker skirting to cover the gap. If it is not workable, you have to dismantle the laminate flooring and have it installed with the right width of the gap.

Which floor coverings to choose, laminate flooring or other types?

August 12, 2010 – 6:27 pm

A user has a question: “I have bought a new house. And I need to get all the rooms installed with new floor covering. Can you let me know which floor covering is best, laminate flooring or other types?

Our reply:

First, laminate flooring can’t be installed the places such as bathroom and kitchen where there is much water. It is suitable to install ceramic tile and vinyl flooring in these places as both of them are water tolerant. Laminates can’t increase the value of your house, while hardwood flooring can make it. And hardwood type is expensive. Scratches are easy to appear on the surface of hardwood type. For hardwood type, these scratches can be sanded. Laminate flooring is cheap and easy to clean. On the contrary, it is a bit complicated to clean carpet. And it is also strong abrasion tolerant and is hard to be scratched. But the scratches on laminate can’t be removed once they appear on the planks. Laminate can’t be installed outdoor as it is not water tolerant. You can consider these factors when choosing laminate flooring and other types.

Laminate flooring with the width of 297 millimeters

August 8, 2010 – 7:06 pm

There is a type of laminate flooring with the width of 297mm displayed in the market. Its price is a bit lower. When you walk on the laminate with 2 widths of 125 millimeters and 297 millimeters, you will find there will be less sound from the laminate with the width of 297 millimeters. This is because it is more difficult for laminate with the width of 297 millimeters to move when people walk on it. But laminate flooring with the width of 297 millimeters can’t offer a look of hardwood flooring. Also it is not suitable to install this type of laminate in small room as the width will make the room looks smaller. Actually it is suitable to be installed in big place such as hall.

How to install existing wood laminate floor in another place?

August 3, 2010 – 7:49 pm

Some user told us that the existing wood laminate floor was installed in his bedroom. Now he plans to dismantle the floor and installed it in another place. He asked us how to do the work.

Our reply:

Get the same colored wood laminate floor to make up the quantity if more laminates are needed to be installed on the new place. Dismantle the wood laminate floor carefully so that the locking system will be not damaged. This is very important. The locking system is easy to be damaged if the dismantling way is wrong. Dismantle the related accessories first. Then dismantle the planks from the corner one piece by one piece. Dry the moisture on the back of existing wood laminate floor. Install the ready cut plank first to offer a nice look. All the other installations work is the same as that of new wood laminate floor.

Install laminate flooring on vinyl floor?

July 30, 2010 – 12:30 am

A user has a question: “I have existing vinyl floor in my house. Now I want to install laminate flooring in the house. Do I need to dismantle the vinyl tiles before the installation?”

Our reply:
It depends on several conditions to decide the laminate flooring can be installed on the vinyl floor. First vinyl tiles are often used in some place where there is much water, while laminates are not water resistant. So it is not suitable install laminates on vinyl tiles in the places such as bathroom and kitchen. Second, there must be only little bounce when people walk on the laminates so that so the laminate flooring will be damaged. Third, the vinyl floor must be flat and dry. Fourth, if the floor can’t be higher, you need to dismantle the vinyl tiles.

What wood furniture to match cherry laminate flooring?

July 25, 2010 – 10:44 pm

A user has installed cherry laminate flooring in his house. Now he is going to get some wood furniture. He wonders what type of wood furniture to match cherry laminate flooring.

Our reply is as below:

This is a good question. The main point is that the color of the wood furniture can catch that of cherry laminate flooring. Most cherry laminates are with the colors of yellow, orange, red, white and blue. We need to know the exact color so that we can tell the suitable matched colors for furniture. Also there is a easy way to get your favorite colors for the furniture:  Take a piece of cutting sample of cherry laminate flooring which color is the same as that installed in your home to compare the colors of wood future in the store. This is easiest and quickest way to find the matched color. The texture style of cherry laminate flooring is very soft and elegant. So it looks better if the texture style of color for the wood furniture is also soft and elegant.

Why the accessories are needed for installing laminate flooring?

July 21, 2010 – 1:13 am

Some user has a question: “The sales of laminate floor stores suggest me skirting, T-molding and reducer when I choose laminates in the stores. But what they say can’t convince me. Please let me know why the accessories are needed for laminate flooring.”

Some accessories for laminate flooring are definitely needed. Laminates are of a “floating” type. So the expansion space is needed at the edge of installed laminates. To cover the gap between laminates and wall, skirting or quarter round is needed. Skirting or quarter round is also necessary if there are columns on the installation area. If the installation area is over 8m*10m, T-molding is needed to separate the area. If the install will end doorway or neighbor to other flooring area such as ceramic tile the reducer is needed to cover the transition area. If there are stairs on the installation area, stair nose is needed.