Laying laminate & real wood flooring

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Laminate and sealed real wood flooring is attractive, hard wearing and easy to lay, adding extra style to any room.

The tough surface makes it scratch and scuff resistant as well as easy to keep clean: simply wipe with a damp cloth to remove everyday dirt to restore its original shine. Even more serious spills and stains can be removed easily, following the manufacturer's instructions.

This leaflet is intended as a basic guide only. However the different brands of laminate flooring available at Focus varies slightly in the precise way they should be laid and maintained. To ensure best results please follow the manufacturer's instructions on the packaging.

Always consider 'safety' before you start any DIY project. Look for the 'Be Safe' sign and read the safety advice.

Flooring type

3 types of floating flooring are available from FOCUS

o Hardwood Flooring (Glue fix)
o Laminate Flooring (Glue fix)
o Laminate Flooring (Dry fix - no glue required)

Underlay

Most laminate and real wood flooring can be laid on linoleum, vinyl, wood, concrete and tiled floors - check this carefully on the instruction leaflet with the flooring you choose. The floor should always be clean, dry and level before you begin!

An underlay will help insulate the floor against heat loss, damp and sound (follow manufacturer's advice on which to use). If using a foil underlay on concrete there is no need to lay a plastic film moisture barrier first.

Acclimatisation

The natural materials in the flooring need to adjust to the temperature and environment in your home. Store the packs - unopened - horizontally for 48 hours in the room where they are about to be laid before setting to work.

The important gap

The wood in the flooring will naturally contract and expand with the changing temperature. For this reason, the flooring will need to be fitted with a small gap between it and any fixed objects. Gap spacers are available to suit the particular type of flooring you choose. This gap can later be filled with cork expansion strip and concealed using beading.

Fitting

1 Clean and dry the floor, removing any bumps and filling any indentations.

2 Lay the first board into one corner, with the grooved sides towards the two walls.

3 The floor usually looks best if the planks are laid in the same direction as incoming light. Hallways and long, narrow rooms look best if the planks are installed along the length of the room, irrespective of the light source.

4 Measure the width of the room. The final row may have to be sawn lengthwise if the planks don't match the width of the room exactly. If the final row is narrower than 50mm the best result will be achieved if you saw the planks in both the first and last rows.

5 Use spacers to create the required expansion gap (this will vary between 8 and 15mm). Please follow the manufacturer's recommendations.

How to shorten a door frame

For a professional finish, the boards should be placed under any door frame. To achieve this, position a loose board - decorated side down -on the underlay next to the door frame.

Then saw the door frame along the line of the board. This will give you the precise height, allowing the floor to be fitted neatly underneath the frame.

When pipes have to pass through the flooring

To accommodate central heating or water pipes, place the board next to the pipes where it is to be fitted. Measure, draw and drill the holes in their correct place - allowing an additional 10mm diameter for expansion and movement.

Cut out a section at an angle of 45?, cutting through the mid-way points of the drilled out holes. Fit the board around the pipe, then glue back into place the piece you sawed out.

Care instructions

o Brush or vacuum your floor regularly.

o To prevent excess dirt coming into the room, place a mat on the outside and inside of the door.

o Avoid applying excessive amounts of water when cleaning.

o Always use protective pads and cups under furniture legs.

o Follow the manufacturer's instructions on whether detergents or other cleaners can be used. Also refer to their guidelines for stain removal.