The Tools You Will Need To Lay a Laminate Floor
Laying a laminate floor in your own home can be a very enjoyable and satisfying job. A floor can make or break a room, and you could have the best decoration and furniture possible, but a poor floor will let down the whole effect. Laying wood flooring isn’t difficult, but a great many of us measure up, rush down to the DIY shop and then, when we start the job, realise that we don’t have the right tools for the job.
The first tool needed is cutters for the padding. This is the sub layer that is laid first to cut down on noise and also make the floor more comfortable to walk in. The type of underlay you will need depends on the thickness of flooring you are laying and also what storey of the house you are laying the laminate on. Make sure that when you buy your packs of flooring, you get the right underlay and the correct cutters.
Whenever doing any kind of job like this, make sure you have gloves and goggles. Better to snag a glove with your saw than your hand, and the goggles protect your eyes from the chippings of wood will which inevitably fly off when you are cutting. A level is also need to ensure that the floor is flat, this may seem like common sense, but it’s amazing how many people trust their eyes to check that a floor is true! Then they start laminate and realise that the edges don’t meet up, or one end is higher than the other etc. Ensuring that sub base is level is essential to ensure that your new floor is firm and will last.
Packs of good quality Laminate flooring will come complete with various tools included; these include spacers and hitting blocks. The hitting block is an essential piece of kit as it protects the Laminate from your hammer. If you have got your packs of flooring at a discount price, check what you get in the packs. If there is nothing apart from the planks you must purchase a hitting block and spacers.
A measuring tape is a must, not only to measure the area to ensure you get the right amount of flooring, but also to measure the lengths for accurate cutting. Once you have marked with a pencil where you need to cut, something like painters tape should be used to protect the laminated surface while you cut and to use as a guide while you saw.
Your trusty handsaw many have seen through many a DIY project, but unfortunately it may not be the only saw you need for this job. Depending on the shape of the room, you may need a circular or Stihl saw for cutting the planks, especially if cutting lengthways, a mitre saw for the ends and a smaller handsaw for any details. AS the modern flooring clicks together without the need for any nails, you may not think that you will need any. Certain trims will need small tacks, so check to make sure.
Now you have all the tools needed, you can go ahead and lay your floor. One last thing, a brush and shovel to clear up after you!