Smoothing Out Your Amtico Flooring Installation

With their smooth, glowing and polished surfaces, laminate floors convey a natural, yet modern feel, to any room they are installed in. But to make the most of the wonderful transformation afforded by laminate flooring, you'll want the installation to go off without a hitch. So what are the things to look out for when putting down an Amtico flooring system?

Look underneath a well-laid laminate floor, and you will find a well-prepared underfloor surface. As with most DIY tasks, the end result is improved immeasurably by spending a little time in preparation. So make sure your underfloor is as level, and as flat, as possible, and free of protrusions. The laying of an underlay can help here, in smoothing out smaller bumps. But if the underfloor is quite rough or pitted, then the application of a self-levelling compound will be necessary.

If may need to lay a vapour barrier down- this is important if the underfloor is liable to draw moisture. Laminate floor boards are made from compressed wood residue- if wetted or dampened, they will expand – and any expansion after installation can lead to unsightly warping.

In general, with laminate flooring, you will need to allow room for expansion – so a small gap, of ¼ to ½ inch should be left around the edges of the room. But a snug fit is needed at the door jambs, so you will want the laminate to slide under them. There is usually enough space, but if not you may need to saw the jamb, using a coping saw, to gain that extra space.

The best look is achieved by laying your boards in the same direction as the longest wall in the room. The grooved side of the first board should face towards the wall- with that important expansion gap (use a strip of wood as a spacer). Then, simply abut each length, by matching tongue to groove, to build up your first row.

Each new row should be offset to six inches or so from the previous. This will improve the look, and stability, of your flooring. If possible, try and use the off-cut from the previous row to start the new row, as this will reduce wastage. No gluing to the underfloor is necessary- the natural locking and tightening with expansion will keep your Amtico flooring in place.

Finally, you should fit your chosen mouldings around the margins of your room, to cover over the expansion gap, and secure to the skirting; door jambs will need lower strips. Once done, your newly floored room is complete. But do leave a few weeks for the floor to settle in, before you undertake any general mopping. And the end result will be a beautifully enriched room.