Laminate flooring has become increasingly popular over the past several years for many homeowners.  Laminate flooring requires very little maintenance and is also very durable.  There is also a very vast variety of colors and designs so you can definitely find something that would work well in your home.

Installing laminate flooring is much simpler than most people would expect.  The first step is to measure the room you will be installing the laminate flooring in.  You will need to get the square footage in order to purchase the proper amount of material.  You will always want to purchase a little extra just in case you have a bad cut, scraps, etc…  To measure the square footage, you simply measure the length X width.

After you have your measurements are complete, you may want to see if you have the proper tools to complete the project or if you will need to purchase some.  The list below is what is needed for a successful project:

• Hammer and/or rubber mallet
• Tape measure
• Utility knife
• Nails
• Safety Glasses
• Dust Mask
• Pull bar
• Level

If you want to save time picking out a design you can always explore online prior to heading to a store.  Another suggestion is to always get samples and lay them down on the existing floor to see how you think it go with the current color/design of the room.

After you have chosen the design of the room, you now need to purchase the product.  If you want to save money and can wait for delivery, there is a good chance you can find the laminate flooring online that is over stocked somewhere.

After you have the laminate flooring and all of your materials, you will need to make sure your floor is properly prepared.  The current flooring and baseboard must be removed, or if it is concrete, prepared and floated smooth.  If you have carpeting, you will need to remove it along with any underneath padding and get the sub floor as smooth and clean as possible.

When installing your laminate floor, you want to take your time and ensure all of your measurements and cuts are correct.  You will want to lay out several boards to check the alignment.  It is said to leave about ¼” of space between the boards and the wall for the baseboard.  Once you are sure the boards are level, the laminate floor itself is can be started.  Remember, a laminate floor is not directly connected to the sub floor; it is only glued together at the joints.

After the flooring is complete, you can either reinstall the old baseboard or buy and install new.  If you would rather see a video better depicting the process, Lowe’s has some very helpful videos on youtube.com taking you through a step by step process of how to complete the project yourself.