Laminated floor help

[beezee28]

I am about to install laminted flooring in our den and was reading up on the subject. There are conflicting issues that I would like clarified. Would appreciated comments from all those who have installed laminate floor. ON 1 brochure it says that you apply a thin bead of glue/sealant between each joint and another said that you apply a thin bead of sealant on the first row of flooring so that it would stay in place. I went by Lowes and ask one of the floor sales person about it and he said that you can do both. If I were to do both then my cost will increase but is it absolutely necessary to bead on every joint or the first row for that matter? Please help.

 

[KM2]

Re: Laminated floor help

I have done laminate a few times. Glueing depends on the type/brand of flooring you install. The last time I installed the snap together flooring and it was great. No glue or sealant. Follow the instructions provided by the manufacturer. <br /><br />IMO The snap/lock together flooring is worth the extra money.

 

[Chief101]

Re: Laminated floor help

You need to follow the instructions supplied with your flooring matereal as there are a lot of diferences. If you have the "don't glue each joint" flooring than liquids that spill will penetrate and do damage below the surface. Chief

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Laminated floor help

You absolutly want a flooring that is completly impervious to moisture of any kind, or one woops is all it will take to ruin the whole floor.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Laminated floor help

There are a gazillion different products out there....<br />Chief is correct, follow the instructions that come with your particular material.....<br />I didn't even know they sold the glue together kind anymore.....<br />I will say this; If you do the glue kind, make sure you have a good supply of clean, (peferably white) rags & warm water to immeditely clean up any bleeding at the joints.....<br />I wouldn't worry about water problems weakening or destroying your floor's finish, unless there is a constant amount of puddling.....<br />I've installed both, I think the uni-click is easier & cleaner.....JK

 

[Johnshan1]

Re: Laminated floor help

Just did about 600 square feet of this stuff, click together kind is what I used, no glue. Go with what the package says in terms of glue. If your in doubt about how to install Pergo makes a nice video that will end all confusion and make things much easier, $15 at home depot if I recall correctly.<br /><br />Also make sure your surface is level or you will get a spongey floor and the joints will come apart over time.

 

[ndemge]

Re: Laminated floor help

I've done a few floors now with the snap together stuff.<br /><br />None of them said to use glue, But, do what yours tells you to do on the package.<br /><br />My first floor was a mid grade stuff that already had the foam on the back, it was "OK", but every piece had to be tapped tight together, and now 2 years later, I have a lot of joints with slight seperation... 10 years from now I will need to replace it.<br /><br />2nd floor I did was at my parents, they bought the expensive Pergo brand, We only had to tap together 1 spot, 2 years later, still exactly how we put it down.<br /><br />3rd floor a few months back, was another brand, but equally as expsnesive as the pergo, had to pound them together, looks ALMOST as good as the pergo.<br /><br />You do get what you pay for with the stuff.<br /><br />but with the budget I had for my room, I'm still happy with what I had, because double $ to upgrade.

 

[beezee28]

Re: Laminated floor help

I have wooden floor and will be putting an underlayment (moisture barrier) and then the laminate floor on top of this. The original wooden floor is too scuffed up and water stained. I thought of sanding it down but was told by a contractor that it would cost alot and they will most probably sand down about a quarter of an inche. I calculate the difference and it seem that laminated floor is the way to go. Will be starting this project sometime over the next weekend. Boating is on the back burner right now.