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Laminate Flooring Part 6 - Tongue and Groove
I prefer the random look so that it doesn't resemble a pattern. This takes some though while you're installing, but it isn't that much work. It means watching your seams more carefully and planning ahead. Let's get the first piece down and then we will worry about the seams.
The Bostitch flooring stapler worked excellent. We turned the pressure down to 80psi so as to not over sink the staples and they came out perfectly flush. The gun lined things up easily and enable some quick action. Staples should be placed every 4 inches or so. Stay away from the ends about an inch.
Each plank has two kinds of edges. Tongues and grooves. Tongues stick out past the finished wood. They slip into the grooves which are notches or channels in the planks. The groove helps lock the tongue in place and that keeps the boards from coming up. You also have to staple into the tongue side. This means that your first piece should have a tongue pointing towards you when you lay it down on the floor.
I lined up the first piece with my two marks and made sure that the tongue was exposed. The planks also have tongues and grooves on the ends. Make sure the first piece is held in place and put a staple in one end. Since this is the first piece, make sure your lined up on your mark and staple the other end. Here's the fun part. Hold the stapler on the tongue and you can slide it down the wood, pulling the trigger every 4 inches or so. You'll get to where you almost sound like a machine gun eventually.
In this case, you can use a level to press up against your stapled piece and draw a line for the next piece. I only needed a short piece to finish out the first course of the hallway. The groove simply covers the tongue and you line things up to make sure you're straight, then staple it down in the same way.
The Second Course of Laminate
Here is where the trick comes in. You do not want any seams to be within 8 inches of adjacent courses. This means that the next course can't start with the same size piece as the first course did. If you want to create a random pattern, do not start each new course with a predictable piece (for example going from 36" to 24" to 12"). There are several sizes to choose from in the box, and if you're starting a new course, you always have the privilege of cutting a piece (cut the side that will start at the wall though!) if you need something to fit just right.
About the Author Find more information on flooring and laminate wood floors at home-remodeling4u.com - a comprehensive resource for home improvement and remodeling.
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