Does Floor Have To Be Level For Laminate

Laminate floors may be glued down or installed as floating systems which lock together using tongue and groove connectors.

Does floor have to be level for laminate. Typically the floor must be level and uniform within 3 16 inch every 10 feet. Subfloors are the base layer on which all finish materials such as carpet laminate tile and wood are installed. Off the foyer the living room flooring can be sculpted carpet wood cork bamboo laminate tile or stone. Because laminate is typically thinner and less sturdy than real wood it is critical that you properly level the subfloor before you install laminate.

Be careful where you switch flooring. One room shouldn t have two different types of flooring. Hardwood floor installers often use the term level when referring to subfloors when actually they are meaning the term flat while it s desirable to have a level floor most homes. Starting in one corner begin laying the laminate floorboards in the same direction.

Instead try to make the boundaries between your different floors fit naturally along the borders between two rooms. Check the floor again with the carpenter s level to make sure it is level and ready for the laminate flooring. How to level a subfloor for laminate flooring. It s a bit confusing but a flat floor can still be slightly out of level and still create a good foundation for a long lasting floor installation.

Laminate flooring on an uneven subfloor can cause problems and needs to be addressed. Check your wood flooring manufacturer s recommendations and sand any high spots with a concrete grinder. Avoid switching up the flooring in the middle of an open space. While laminate tends to be more forgiving of subfloor imperfections than many other types of floor finishes installers must take the time to level the floor prior to installation.

If the uneven floor is due to floor joists that have warped or twisted over time or were incorrectly installed the only way to level the floor is to remove the subflooring and shim the joists. The floor can have an unlevel subfloor and still have a base for a nice laminate floor.