personally i’m a big fan of the row by row method. i’ve done 5 laminate, 2 vinyl. things i’ve learned:
#1!! square your room. don’t rely on the starting wall for square. if it’s way out, split the difference. there’s videos on how to do that
2- measure out your room and figure out your last row width. nothing worse than getting to the end and seeing you need 3/4 of an inch to cover.and now have a thin strip of board to cut. again, split the difference.
3- after you get 3 rows down, check your square again. and keep checking. it’s surprising how much things can shift around while walking, prying pushing etc. your spacers will help with this.
4- most brands should click in easily. lay the next row flat in the groove, assembling the short ends by placing them in at a 30-45 degree angle. once that’s done, take the whole row and lift up at an angle and press it in to the groove. work your way down gently wiggling it into place. you’ll here a light click when it goes. sometimes you’ll have a trouble board in the mix. lightly tap it in with a scrap piece.
5- if you have to beat on anything to get it to work, something is wrong! inspect the boards for debris/defects. i used a hammer maybe 3 times on a 700 sq foot section.
hope this helps. i put my first floor in backwards! all 300 feet of it..yup
#1!! square your room. don’t rely on the starting wall for square. if it’s way out, split the difference. there’s videos on how to do that
2- measure out your room and figure out your last row width. nothing worse than getting to the end and seeing you need 3/4 of an inch to cover.and now have a thin strip of board to cut. again, split the difference.
3- after you get 3 rows down, check your square again. and keep checking. it’s surprising how much things can shift around while walking, prying pushing etc. your spacers will help with this.
4- most brands should click in easily. lay the next row flat in the groove, assembling the short ends by placing them in at a 30-45 degree angle. once that’s done, take the whole row and lift up at an angle and press it in to the groove. work your way down gently wiggling it into place. you’ll here a light click when it goes. sometimes you’ll have a trouble board in the mix. lightly tap it in with a scrap piece.
5- if you have to beat on anything to get it to work, something is wrong! inspect the boards for debris/defects. i used a hammer maybe 3 times on a 700 sq foot section.
hope this helps. i put my first floor in backwards! all 300 feet of it..yup
One is actually behind the door, and you wouldn't know it unless you were looking for it. The other is right when you walk in. You can't really see it, but if you step on it, you will feel it (boards didn't join up right, and I had already moved passed it and didn't feel like pulling everything up).
