Although current technology has ensured that installing laminate floors is much easier to install than most of the other flooring types, it still does not mean that you can just go ahead and do it without proper preparation. Laminate installation preparation is important because it saves you the effort of repeating steps again and again due to mistakes and miscalculations. Simply said, without preparing your floor, you could be wasting time and money.

We have listed a few laminate installation preparation steps for our flooring customers in New England area cities like Lincoln, Rhode Island, Stoneham, Massachusetts and Windham, New Hampshire. These are the things that you would have to do before anything else not only to save time and money, but to also protect you.

Search out an "escape zone." An escape zone is an uncontaminated place where you can breathe fresh air, treat your wounds and wash your hands, face or eyes if needed. A bathroom is usually a good escape zone.
Be sure to work with puncture-protection gloves, safety goggles, and a face mask. Particles and chemicals suspended in the air may make breathing and opening your eyes a bit hard later on.
Be sure to plan out any layout and design decisions before starting to work. Any abrupt or sudden changes you make later may cost you time and money, so better make those decisions now.
Since you will be handling sawdust throughout the installation process, remember that it is very flammable especially since it is mixed with aluminum oxide. Therefore, keep heat sources away from the room you will be working on and do not smoke while working.
If the laminate floors have only just arrived, expose the planks to the area where you will put them for about forty-eight hours before installing them to let them adjust to the climate.

Now we can shift our attention to the floor we want to cover or replace. Though laminate floors are known for their ability to be installed above almost any type of flooring, we still need to see if the current sub-floor meets the requirements for installing laminate flooring.

The floor must be devoid of defects such as loose boards or squeaks. If this happens, secure them using screws.
The floor should be flat. Make sure to fill off any low spots and sand or file off any high spots.
If installing over concrete floors, make sure that the concrete floor is fully cured and dry.
For installing over wooden sub-floors, moisture content must be twelve percent or less. Also, for a more stable installation, install the laminate floor planks perpendicular to the wooden sub-floor planks.
If installing over vinyl, secure the vinyl first by stapling it to the sub-floor.
If installing over heating systems, make sure to follow the directions from the manufacturer of your radiant heating system. Concrete floors with radiant heating systems must be cured for at least six weeks. Make sure to use foam underlayment with a moisture barrier. Remember that the heating system must be turned on two weeks before the installation. Two days before the installation, turn the system off and leave off until two days after installation is complete.

Following these laminate installation preparation steps will help to ensure a smooth laminate floors installation process.

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