Laminate flooring is an affordable and attractive option for homeowners, offering the look of hardwood without the high cost or maintenance. It’s also relatively easy to install — but even small errors during installation can lead to long-term problems. Whether you’re tackling a DIY project or supervising a professional job, it’s important to be aware of the common mistakes when laying laminate flooring and, just as importantly, how to fix or prevent them.
Here are seven of the most common issues along with expert tips to help you prevent or correct them.
1. Skipping the Acclimation Period
The mistake: Laying laminate planks directly from the box without allowing them to acclimate to the room temperature and humidity. This will result in expansion or warping.
How to correct it: Take the planks out of their boxes and leave them in the area where they’ll be installed for a minimum of 48 hours. Place them stacked flat and ensure there’s airflow around each box. This allows the material to settle and acclimate prior to installation.
2. Not Preparing the Subfloor
The mistake: Laying laminate over a dirty or uneven subfloor. This leads to instability, creaking, or even cracked boards after a while.
How to correct it: Clean the subfloor completely to eliminate dust and debris. Run a straightedge or level across the subfloor to ensure there are no dips or bumps. Smooth out high spots by sanding and use a leveling compound to fill in any low areas. A smooth subfloor provides for better alignment and longevity.
3. Selecting the Incorrect Underlayment
The mistake: Using the wrong underlayment or skipping it entirely. This is one of the common mistakes when laying laminate flooring, especially over concrete or when dealing with moisture-prone areas.
The solution: Install a specifically laminate and subfloor type-compliant underlayment. If pre-attached underlayment is included in your laminate, don’t add an additional layer unless recommended by the manufacturer.
4. Not Leaving Expansion Gaps
The mistake: Fitting planks tightly against walls without leaving any room for expansion. This is one of the most overlooked yet critical common mistakes when laying laminate flooring and it usually leads to buckling or lifting.
How to fix it: Leave a 10–12 mm expansion gap around all fixed objects, door frames, and walls. Space out consistently during installation with spacers. Remove edge planks and cut them back if you’ve already fitted the floor too tightly.
5. Staggering of Planks That Is Not Done Correctly
The mistake: Placing plank joints directly over one another in successive rows. This compromises the strength and offers an unnatural appearance.
How to correct it: Begin every subsequent row using a plank cut to a dissimilar length in order to gain a staggered appearance. Make sure there is a minimum 12-inch spacing between joints. This will make the floor stronger and offer a more realistic wood appearance.
6. Cutting Corners on Measurements
The mistake: Inaccurate cuts and poor measuring can lead to wasted materials, gaps, or uneven edges, especially around corners and door frames.
How to fix it: Measure twice, cut once.For accurate results, use a measuring tape along with a combination square to guide your cuts. Dry-lay tricky sections before final installation to ensure a clean fit. If you’ve made incorrect cuts, save scrap pieces for areas like closets or under furniture.
7. Not Tapping Planks Correctly
The mistake: Piling planks together with excessive force or utilizing the wrong tools can destroy the lock mechanism.
How to fix it: Use a tapping block and pull bar specifically made for laminate click-lock systems to ensure a secure and damage-free fit.Tapping planks into position softly without using too much force. If a tab is cracked, replace the broken plank before resuming.
Conclusion
Avoiding the common mistakes when laying laminate flooring can mean the difference between a long-lasting, professional-looking floor and one that starts to show problems within a few months. Spending time allowing the boards to acclimate properly, getting the subfloor ready, and installing the flooring using proper techniques will yield a beautiful and long-lasting result. And if you’ve already run into any of these problems, it’s not too late — a lot of them can be resolved with the proper tools and a bit of patience.
Take the next step toward beautiful, long-lasting floors with Burgess Flooring
If you want to make sure your laminate flooring is installed to a high level, leave it in the hands of the experts at Burgess Flooring. With years of experience in Worthing and surrounding areas of flooring solutions, our specialists handle everything – from selecting the appropriate underlayment to guaranteeing a perfect finish. If you’re doing it yourself and require guidance or simply want expert installation you can trust, Burgess Flooring is here for you to make your dreams come true.
1. How can I determine if my subfloor is level enough for laminate flooring?
Use a long spirit level or straightedge to test for dips and bumps. Any deviation of more than 3mm should be remedied prior to installation.
2. Can I repair laminate planks that are already buckled due to lack of expansion gap?
Yes, but it is possible that you will need to remove and re-cut perimeter planks to establish the correct spacing.
3. Can I reuse laminate planks if I make an error during installation?
If the locking system is not broken, yes. Otherwise, it’s better to install a new plank in its place.
4. Do I need to glue laminate planks together?
No — most laminate utilizes a click-lock system. Glue is never required except when noted by the manufacturer for special things such as bathrooms.
5. Where can I find high quality laminate flooring options in the UK?
If you’re in the UK and want some quality laminate flooring, it’s worth contacting some of the local experts who have a good reputation. One place to try is Burgess Flooring in Worthing — they provide an excellent range of laminate designs and have helpful staff who can help you through the best options for your area.