Laminate Flooring Subfloor Requirements

If the subfloor is not acceptable it can often be overlaid with 1 2 inch plywood.

Laminate flooring subfloor requirements.

Flat and level laminate flooring subfloor. Other manufacturers will have a different requirement though flat and level is a common requirement. Stapling or nailing your flooring to the subfloor is the most common way to install solid hardwood. Not all laminate manufacturers have the same laminate flooring subfloor requirements.

If the top layer is tongue and groove and the strip wood is 3 or less in face width cover with 1 4 or thicker underlayment panels. Regardless of whether the subfloor is single or double layer armstrong flooring recommends the following. Engineered or solid strip flooring less than 1 2 inch thick and parquet flooring may need an additional 3 8 inch layer of plywood installed over these types of subfloors. Materials not suitable for a laminate installation.

Subfloors such as vinyl carpet concrete or ceramics cannot support a solid hardwood installation and should be removed before you install. Before you install your plywood subfloor first calculate the room s square footage to find out how much flooring you ll need to buy. Wood and concrete are the idea subfloors. Most but not all laminate floor manufacturers require a subfloor to be flat within 3 16 over a 10 foot radius.

If the laminate flooring is installed parallel to the direction of. The key to a beautiful long lasting hardwood or laminate floor is a well prepared subfloor. Some wood flooring may not hold sufficiently if installed directly over solid wood subfloors. Upgrade your home s flooring with beautiful durable water resistant laminate flooring from the home depot.

Laminate flooring cannot ever be installed on a subfloor made of carpet or padding. Laminate flooring which can only be installed using the floating method can be installed over a 3 4 thick plank subfloor over the recommended foam pad as long as the plank subfloor is flat. The flooring must be installed crossing the subfloor boards at a 90 degree angle. With much of today s wood flooring being thinner wider plank installed on the minimum building code panel thicknesses we are seeing more creaks pops and squeaks.

The building code for the subfloor is to ensure structural loads are adequate from a safety perspective not necessarily from a wood flooring performance perspective. With engineered floors you can also opt for glue down or floating installations. In some instances you might be able to install your flooring over an existing floor but it is important to check prior to installation if it is a suitable material. These subfloors must meet structural requirements.

Laminate flooring gives you the look of hardwood tile or stone floors in addition to exceptional durability easy installation and low maintenance. Laminate flooring provides an affordable and eco friendly alternative to standard hardwood. Plus laminate flooring is affordable.