How to install snap together hardwood floors

The proper way to install laminate flooring is to use the tongue and groove locking system to click planks together, creating a smooth and seamless floating surface. With a floating installation, you can walk on the floor during and immediately after installation.

In what direction should you lay a laminate floor? In most cases, you should lay your laminate flooring parallel to the longest side of the room or your home.

This will create a more natural flow and will accentuate the length of the room better. Wood floors should always be laid perpendicular to floor joists—across rather that in between them. This will make the floors structurally sound and will help prevent the planks from separating, sagging or buckling. So, there is no right or wrong way to lay your wood flooring. The main problem with laminate flooring that has not been properly staggered is that it is more likely to separate from the boards it is adjoined to.

In addition, in severe circumstances, the boards may lift or move out of place. Stacked or spread out? The number remaining is the width of the last row. You want to adjust the width of the first row so that the last row is 2 inches wide. If necessary, trim the first row pieces to the required width using a circular or table saw. Install the first row of flooring by starting with a full length of material, and connect it end-to-end with another piece. Continue until you reach the last piece.

Cut the last piece to length, and install. Cut a plank of flooring in half, and use one piece to start the second row. This is required so that the butt joints are staggered. You will alternate between a full piece and a half piece for subsequent rows. Hold the plank at a degree angle, and insert its tongue into the groove of the previous row.

If necessary, cut the planks. Tap plank edges with a mallet to tighten. That edge will be held down by the tongue-and-groove attachment to the first row. As before, drive nails at an angle and countersink. The flooring nailer will speed things up once you have room. When space gets tight again near the opposite wall, go back to using the hammer.

Once you have all the planks nailed down, install the transition pieces to adjacent flooring types. Re-install the baseboard and shoe molding pieces and nail them to the wall. Fill any nail holes that show. Nailing through the tongue so nails are covered up by the next plank is called blind nailing. Using the blind nailing method means all nail holes in the planks will be invisible except for the ones along the edges.

Hardwood flooring is durable and attractive and a great way to spruce up a room. You can likely install the flooring yourself. Click lock flooring is easiest to install, followed by glue-down flooring. Nailing down flooring is the most durable way to attach planks. But it requires a wooden subfloor and some time, tools, and expertise. No matter what kind of hardwood flooring you select or how you install it, you can count on enjoying your floor for years to come.

Andrew Helling is the founder and editor of REthority. How do you install snap on flooring? What do you need for snap in flooring? Materials Needed snap-together laminate flooring.

Different manufacturers have different names for their products, and some call interlocking hardwood flooring by other names. Interlocking hardwood flooring is also called locking hardwood flooring or click-together hardwood flooring, as it does make a clicking sound when it is put together.

The actual process of installation excluding all preparation steps would take most DIY homeowners three to four hours, with an extra one to two hours to wrap the flooring around cabinets and doorways. Click flooring will be more comfortable, due to the extra thickness and underlay. All floating floors are generally installed with a small gap along the walls, which allows the flooring to expand and contract with seasonal humidity and temperature changes, preventing the floor from buckling.

The small gaps around the perimeter of the room are usually hidden by baseboard shoe moldings. The proper way to install laminate flooring is to use the tongue and groove locking system to click planks together, creating a smooth and seamless floating surface.