Dealing With the Tricky Bits of Your Kardean Flooring Installation
Laying laminated flooring is supposed to be something of a breeze these days. Once you've got your underfloor ship-shape, the actually laying, and putting together, of the main floor can sail along quite merrily. That's because Kardean flooring, as with most modern laminate flooring systems, take a free-floating glue-free approach to assembly.
So there is no need to nail or glue down the boards to the underfloor- the whole system locks together is such a way that slippage of individual boards or sections should not be an issue. Additionally, each board locks into the next board in the row, or the next row along, via a two-sided tongue and groove locking system. That ensures a tight snug fit that requires no further nailing or gluing.
But as with most do-it-yourself jobs there are always unforeseen difficulties and complications that can hold up even the most apparently simple of installations. So what are the 'tricks of the trade' to get around these teething problems, and get your floor down pronto?
The simplest problem is getting the board lengths right, for those that will butt against the perpendicular wall. Firstly, use a ½ inch spacer when measuring- you need to leave an 'expansion gap'. Then it's just a matter of juggling a few boards around- first place a whole length board over the last whole length board before the wall. Then place another board over the top of that, with it butted against the spacer. Use its edge to mark the underlying board- that will be your cut line.
A similar approach will need to be used to trim the last row, which will need to be cut along its length. Once again, just overlay the last but one row with a board, and then place another board onto that, again butted against the spacer. Then draw that line, and trim carefully.
There's also the tricky issue of how to handle doors, and their frames; to get a completely accurate cut into your boards quite difficult. An acceptable alternative is to use an offcut, placed up against the protruding architrave, to mark a cutting line- saw off this part of the frame, and then you can run the board under the frame. And don't forget the door itself- it may extend below the line of the new flooring, so remove it prior to installation. Once the floor is laid, measure the displacement needed, and trim the base of the door.
Finally, how to handle that last board- at this stage it is not so simple to manipulate the board; fortunately Kardean flooring comes with a handy tool, which helps to lever that last trick piece into place. Once that is done, leave the whole floor to settle for 24 hours before moving any furniture in. Then you'll be ready to put your feet up, and admire the warm glow of your freshly laid flooring.