Laminate flooring is a fantastic way to give tired floors a fresh new look - plus, it’s hardwearing and great value. Whether you want to perk up your kitchen, living room, or hallway, laminate is a great option, and with our handy fitting guide, it’s super easy to install too!
Just remember, not all laminate is laid the same way, so always check the manufacturer’s instructions before you dive in.
The first thing is to figure out how much flooring and trim you’ll need and the design you want. Grab your tape measure, jot down your room’s length and width, and multiply them for your total square metres. Add a little extra (about 10%) for any awkward corners.
If your room isn’t a neat rectangle, break it down into smaller sections and add those totals together.
Preparation really is the secret to a flawless finish, but don’t worry, it’s not as intimidating as it sounds.
Start by making sure your subfloor is clean, level, smooth, and dry. In other words, a good “blank canvas” for your new floor. That means removing any old carpet, underlay, tiles, or vinyl. If you’ve got floorboards, give them a quick check to make sure they’re secure, and hammer down any rogue nails or screws. For concrete floors, it’s worth checking for damp first and, if anything seems off, get a bit of professional advice.
Once everything’s stripped and back to basics, give the area a proper tidy-up so there’s no dust or debris hanging around.
When you've given your space a tidy, leave your laminate packs flat and unopened in the room for at least 48 hours so they can acclimatise to their new home.
Whether you're fitting laminate floor tiles or boards, it’s worth taking a moment to plan things out before you get started.
First, decide which direction to lay your boards or tiles. As a general rule, flooring looks best running along the longest wall or heading toward a large window, as this helps the room feel more spacious.
Next, do a quick test run of your layout to make sure the final row of boards will be at least 60mm wide. If it isn’t, simply adjust the width of your first row slightly so everything balances out.
Don’t forget to leave a 12mm expansion gap around the entire room, as flooring needs space to naturally expand and contract with changes in temperature and humidity.
Now it’s time for your underlay. Roll it out across the room following the manufacturer’s instructions. Make sure each strip sits snugly against the next, with no gaps or overlaps. If your underlay requires it, tape the seams together so everything stays neatly in place while you work. It's very important that it sits flat and smooth, as any bumps will affect the finished flooring.
Top tip: Your knees will be doing most of the hard work, so kneepads are a must!
Start in one corner of the room and lay your first row of laminate boards with the tongue side facing the wall. Add 10-12mm spacers between the boards and the wall to keep that expansion gap nice and consistent.
Work your way along the first row, connecting each board end-to-end. Make sure the joints are tight and lined up neatly. If needed, use a tapping block and a wooden mallet to gently tap everything into place.
When you reach the end of the row, measure and cut the final board to fit. If the leftover piece is at least 300mm long, save it and use it to start your next row. This helps stagger the joints, giving your floor a stronger structure and a more natural, professional finish. If you’re going for a tiled look instead, keep the rows aligned for that clean, classic tile effect.
For the second row, angle the long edge of the board into the groove of the previous row, then press down until it clicks into place. Continue row by row, always staggering the end joints by around 200-300mm where possible.
As you get closer to the final row, measure the remaining space carefully. You may need to cut boards lengthwise to fit.
A pull bar will be your best friend here, helping ease those final boards into position when things get a bit snug near the wall.
Once everything is laid, remove the spacers and finish off by fitting scotia trim or skirting to cover the expansion gaps. Make sure to fix it to the wall rather than the floor to allow natural movement and expansion.
Top Tip: While you’re cutting boards, don’t forget a dust mask, safety goggles and ear defenders are a smart idea if you’re using power tools to keep you safe and comfortable.
This is where things can get a little fiddly, but with the right tools and a bit of know-how, anything is possible.
Start by laying an offcut of underlay and a floorboard up to the door architrave to see how everything will sit. Rather than trying to cut the flooring to fit around it, you’ll get a much cleaner finish by trimming the architrave itself.
Use a panel saw to cut the architrave to the correct height, then use a hammer and chisel to remove enough of the bottom so the laminate can slide neatly underneath. Plus, don’t forget to maintain that super important expansion gap.
You will also need to double-check your door clearance over the laminate flooring. If the door won’t swing freely over the new floor, you may need to remove it and trim it down slightly.
At some point, you’ll likely come across a radiator pipe (or two), but there's a super simple solution.
Lay the board in position and mark where the pipe centre hits the board. Remember to factor in the expansion gap from the wall, then mark the centre point where you’ll drill. Clamp the board securely on a workbench and use a drill with a 30-32mm flat wood bit or holesaw to create the hole.
Next, draw two angled lines from the hole out to the edge of the board and cut along them with a jigsaw. Make sure to keep hold of the wedge-shaped offcut as you’ll need this.
Fit the board into place, then glue the wedge back in using wood adhesive on the edges of the board (not on the underlay). Wipe away any excess straight away and finally, cover the hole with a pipe collar for a neat, tidy finish.
And just like that, your home gets an instant glow-up! If you’re feeling inspired to take on your next project, why not explore our flooring guide for more tips and ideas? Or browse through our huge DIY department.
