Home Services Guidelines and Best Practices
Laminate Flooring Installation
Laminate Flooring Installation guidelines, FAQs and unit pricing information
January 2017
Are you looking for independent, trustworthy advice about Laminate Flooring Installation? Do you need to understand common installation options? If your project calls for Laminate Flooring Installation work, the following guidelines and best practices will help you understand: Is a subcontractor really necessary for Laminate Flooring Installation work? Will a permit be required? What are common problem areas? How much will Laminate Flooring Installation labor cost? What are the important Laminate Flooring Installation quality checks that should be included in the work requirements?
Laminate Flooring Installation - Frequently Asked Questions
| What is a fair price for Laminate Flooring Installation? | Costs vary with project size, job quality and time of year. For typical Laminate Flooring Installation expect to pay between $2.66 to $3.46 per square foot. Additional fees are typically charged for small projects or rush jobs. |
| Is a permit needed for Laminate Flooring Installation work? | Design approval and permits from your local building department are not required for Laminate Flooring Installation. If your home is subject to homeowner association (HOA) covenants, you should verify that your Laminate Flooring Installation project complies with association guidelines. |
| Is it worth using a professional to perform Laminate Flooring Installation work? | The appearance, functionality and useful life of the laminate flooring may be compromised by poor installation. Hire the service provider carefully and tie payment milestones to appropriate quality checks (use the list below). |
| Is Laminate Flooring Installation something that I can do myself? | The typical Laminate Flooring Installation project can be completed by a moderately skilled do-it-yourselfer; as with any project, high quality Laminate Flooring Installation requires attention to detail and careful planning. |
| How many days are typically required to complete the Laminate Flooring Installation work? | Normally, this work can be completed in 1 day. |
Laminate Flooring Installation - Options, Quality Checks and Important Details
Use the list below to document your expectations for level of detail and finish quality for Laminate Flooring Installation. Make sure that relevant information is included in any written contracts or work orders on your project. Before any Laminate Flooring Installation work begins, review the checklist with the service provider. Tie payments to satisfactory completion of this checklist.
- All laminate flooring from the same manufacturers lot
- A detailed laminate flooring layout - showing material placement and all joints/seams - will be reviewed and approved before work begins
- There will be no gap of more than 1/16 inch wide where the laminate flooring meets adjacent surfaces; a gap (in no cases wider that 1/16 inch) can be hidden by: __scribing __a smooth bead of caulk __ appropriately finished molding
- Installed laminate flooring surface variations along a 4 foot straight edge will not exceed 1/16 inch - from any location along any direction
- Ceiling and wall cutouts will be neat, uniform and no larger than necessary; any air gaps around the cutout(s) will be insulated and sealed; the cutout(s) will not be visible when cover plates are installed
- Stagger laminate flooring joint ends in adjacent courses in a (choose one): __uniform ___random pattern, with no joint ends in adjacent courses closer than 1/4 the typical laminate flooring length
- All laminate flooring seam / joint location(s) must be approved before work begins; typically, seams should not be located in areas of high traffic exposure, visual prominence or bright lighting
- All laminate flooring seams will be joined and edge glued per manufacturer approved methods; finished seam will be straight, flat and completely free of adhesive residue
- All laminate flooring edge seams will be concealed completely under base molding; the molding will be straight to within 1/8 inch in 10 feet and rest flush directly on top of laminate flooring
- Finished laminate flooring will not shift, squeak or creak when walked upon
- Finished laminate flooring will feel uniformly solid and rigid under pressure
- The laminate flooring will be solidly attached and not slide, rock, twist or move when used
Laminate Flooring Installation - Work Milestones and Project Reminders
The following list summarizes work tasks commonly performed during Laminate Flooring Installation. These tasks help ensure proper completion of the laminate flooring work and compliance with common manufacturer and vendor warranty requirements. Make sure that either you or your service provider takes responsibility for each of these tasks. All service provider task responsiblities should be clearly called out in the written contract or work orders.
- Complete written contract, including scope of work, quality checks, warranty, timing and payment terms; ensure that contract is signed before work begins
- Review and approve detailed layout / plan that shows location, orientation and placement of laminate flooring, before any work begins
- Select, specify and order laminate flooring; verify that type, grade, finish, size, color, any options, and quantity are clearly identified in the order; make sure that delivery date, terms and damage provisions are included in the order
- Manage delivery of laminate flooring; verify that delivered model #, grade, finish, size, options, and quantity match the order precisely; thoroughly inspect all items for damage and proper operation; make or authorize final payment only after complete order is delivered
- Review material choices for Laminate Flooring Installation with the homeowner before work begins - consider toxic exposure, allergic risks and environmental factors; purchase construction materials only after approval
- Prepare area for safe, efficient work; move items that restrict work access or are vulnerable to damage; cover and protect items that cannot be moved
- Carefully remove fixtures, fittings, finish plates, grilles, knobs, pulls and trim that will be reinstalled later; label and safely store these items for later use
- Remove existing laminate flooring (optional)
- Secure subfloor to framing; eliminate squeaks and soft spots
- Install laminate flooring to fit closely around fixtures and fittings
- Remove debris, dirt and dust from all work areas; unless otherwise agreed, all demolition debris and construction waste will be removed from the site within 24 hours
- Install trim plates or pieces
- Submit final payment; pay with a check to ensure expense can be verified for tax purposes
