How To Install Laminate Floor On Wood Subfloor

The minimum subfloor thickness is approximately 3 4 inches so the minimum thickness of osb board you will need for laminate flooring is 23 32 inches or 18 mm.

How to install laminate floor on wood subfloor.

Determine how much flooring and materials will be needed. The key to a beautiful long lasting hardwood or laminate floor is a well prepared subfloor. In some instances you might be able to install your flooring over an existing floor but it is important to check prior to installation if it is a suitable material. Wood and concrete are the idea subfloors.

An osb sheet has a finely corrugated unfinished side and a smooth side that is often coated with a clear finish. Before you install your plywood subfloor first calculate the room s square footage to find out how much flooring you ll need to buy. Multiply length times width of the room. If not your floor covering which is the solid hardwood laminate tile or other exposed flooring that goes on top of the subfloor will never be flat and level this problem can be fixed but it all depends on exactly what kind of uneven subfloor you have.

A subfloor is meant to be flat and level. Laminate planks snap together and float above a subfloor which means tiny subfloor imperfections are okay although again a level subfloor will help prevent damage. Materials not suitable for a laminate installation. Add about 10 to that number to account for any possible mistakes and warped boards.

To level a subfloor for installing laminate follow the directions above to remove high and low spots. Do this by multiplying the room s length by its width. Be sure to properly prep the leveled subfloor for whatever flooring material you ve chosen. Laminate is a budget friendly attractive alternative to hardwood flooring.

After removing the existing flooring baseboards and quarter moulding check that the subfloor is solid flat and clean. Remove any carpet or other flooring. Laminate flooring is ready to install as long as the base floor is clean and smooth. Laminate flooring cannot ever be installed on a subfloor made of carpet or padding.

Now that your subfloor is level you can proceed to put in hardwood tile laminate or carpet without having to worry about any frustrating gaps or structural imbalances.