How to Install Laminate Flooring on Concrete [5 Easy Steps]

Are you considering upgrading your floor décor by adding gorgeous laminate floorboards, but are put off by the prospect of having to remove your present concrete flooring in order to do so?

Not to worry, you can simply place the laminate flooring on top of the concrete surface to cover it.

A concrete basement, a concrete subfloor, or a set of concrete stairs or steps are all suitable surfaces for the installation of laminate boards.

This section contains information on the right procedure for doing so as well as a guideline for how level your concrete floor should be before placing laminate flooring over it.

See Also:

How to Remove Laminate Flooring

How to Install Laminate Flooring

How to Lay Laminate Flooring

Preparing Concrete Surfaces for the Installation of Laminate Flooring

If done properly, laminate flooring provides a stylish and cost-effective look that will last for many years.

In the event that you’re interested in saving money by doing the work yourself, we’re here to give you a wealth of information that will enable you to effectively install laminate flooring over a concrete floor surface.

Dry, level, and clean surfaces are required for the best performance from your laminate flooring.

Allowing the concrete to cure for 30 days is necessary to prevent the floor from allowing moisture to seep through.

When it comes to fending off dampness, it takes an inordinate amount of time.

A moisture meter should be used to assess the humidity level of your concrete after it has been in place for 30 days. If the level is at 4.5 percent or greater, the slab may be deemed unfit for installation and must be replaced.

You can next cover the concrete with plastic sheeting that must be at least 6 millimeters thick after it has successfully passed the moisture test.

This will prevent any moisture from entering the surface of your laminate floor.

It is important to ensure that the sheets overlap by several inches at the spot where they intersect, and to secure the sheets with strong vinyl tape.

Plastic sheeting costs between 8 and 12 cents per square foot, and vinyl tape costs about 20 cents per linear foot, depending on the manufacturer.

It is critical to have a level surface for laminate flooring.

In the case of laminate flooring, any bumps or sinking will cause the flooring to squeak or even fall apart.

Fill low spots with a patch or self-leveling concrete to avoid this from happening.

Any gaps or gouges greater than a quarter-inch in width, as well as major chips, should be repaired with patching material.

Dips and fissures in the concrete slab should be filled in using self-leveling concrete to prevent further damage.

Patch costs approximately $15 per gallon, whereas self-leveling concrete costs approximately $40 to $50 per bag (depending on the brand).

Small sections of self-leveling concrete require a few days to cure before they may be used.

Make sure to smooth down any lumps and totally eliminate any defects as well as any residual glue from the prior flooring installation.

A hammer and chisel can be used to smooth off small bumps, while a grinder can be used to smooth out elevated areas.

Using a grinder or buffer with a concrete scraper over the surface of the slab will ensure that the self-leveling concrete will adhere properly.

You should put a layer of laminate cushioning on top of the moisture barrier to ensure the greatest amount of comfort when walking on the finished product.

Although it will not make a significant difference, it will only cost between 12 and 15 cents per square foot.

Finally, after the concrete has been prepared, you may install the laminate sub-flooring in the same manner as you would any other type of sub-flooring.

If you follow these methods in a systematic manner, you will be well on your way to having beautiful flooring.

Reasons why installing laminate flooring is a wonderful family project (even with small kids)

You may have noticed in our movie that there are some little children there, and they even lend a hand with the installation of laminate flooring over concrete!

As a family effort, we decided to work on this home renovation project over the weekend while both of our children were at home.

Having grown up watching us renovate throughout the years, our children are accustomed to the perpetual state of renovation.

We take advantage of any opportunity to include kids in the process (and they are always eager to assist).

In addition to the fact that there are almost no power equipment or hazardous chemicals involved, laminate flooring installation is a perfect family project because it is not overly noisy and is therefore suitable for children to be around.

The following are some ways that children can assist with laminate flooring installation:

• Clean up dust and dirt with a ShopVac (this is one of our 5-year-favorite old’s tasks).
• Underlayment seams should be taped together.
• Place spacers along the perimeter of the room to accommodate the expanding gap.
• Provide Mom and Dad with materials.
• Remove the lamination from the boxes and set it aside.

5 Preparation Steps

The Concrete Slab Must Be Prepared

Step 1:

Remove the baseboards from the walls.

The ability to correctly remove baseboards from a room is dependent on possessing the proper tools.

The use of a pry bar and hammer can assist you in removing the baseboards without damaging them.

Step 2:

Placing a long level on the floor will allow you to determine the level of the concrete slab.

Every 10 feet, there should be no more than a 3/16th of an inch difference in measurement.

Make a mark on the ground to indicate the areas that require extra work in order to be level.

Step 3:

Grinding down any high points in the concrete floor with a concrete grinder is recommended.

Step 4:

Leveling compound should be used to fill in any low spots on the floor.

Mix the leveling compound in a bucket, and then spread the compound over the floor with a trowel to level it out.

Allow the compound to cure completely before checking the floor with a level again and grinding away any high spots.

Step 5:

Install a vapor barrier in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.

5 Steps To Install Laminate Flooring

Step 1:

Lay the laminate flooring down on the concrete slab that will be used to construct the room in which it will be installed.

This will assist in acclimatizing the flooring to the temperatures and humidity of the room.

Allow three days for the flooring to settle in the room before installing it.

Step 2:

To remove the tongue from the first row of laminate flooring in your room, use a table saw to cut it away.

Install the first row of flooring so that the tongue side of the flooring is facing the wall.

Make certain that you maintain an expansion gap (as directed by the manufacturer) on all of the walls in the room.

Step 3:

Remove the first three rows of laminate flooring off the wall by tearing them apart.

After the laminate flooring has been installed, move the rows of laminate flooring into position adjacent to the wall.

Using a miter or circular saw, cut each of the end pieces to the desired length.

Cut the laminate with the rear of the plank facing the saw and the front of the plank facing away from the saw.

This will aid in the prevention of chipping.

Make sure the joints are at least 12 inches apart from each other.

Click the tongue and groove parts together, placing the tongue into the groove at an angle, and then click the pieces together again.

When you are unable to insert the tongue at an angle, you can tap the tongue into place using a tapping block and a hammer instead.

Step 4:

Put the laminate flooring back together piece by piece until you reach the last row in the room.

Make any necessary cuts, such as those for heating vents, with a jigsaw to save time.

Step 5:

On the final row, measure the distance between the wall and the last row of laminate that has been installed on the wall.

Subtract the expansion gap from the original dimension and transfer the result to the final row of laminate flooring (see illustration).

The final board of flooring should be trimmed to size using a table saw.

Transition strips and moldings should be installed.

Reinstall the baseboards if necessary.

BONUS: How to Calculate the Square Footage of a Room in Linear Feet

Linear footage is a construction measurement that is used to determine the length of construction materials before they are purchased.

To calculate the linear footage of a room, measure the length of each wall in the space then add the sums of the measured lengths together.

Many building products, such as floorboards, moldings, and trim, are offered in linear feet, rather than square feet.

1. In a room, take the measurement of the length of a wall.

Consider the following scenario: a wall with a height of 8 feet.

2. In the same room, measure the length of the wall on the other side from where you are standing.

Consider the following scenario: the adjacent wall is also 8 feet tall.

3. Take measurements of the remaining walls in the space.

Consider the following scenario: the two remaining walls are both 12 feet tall.

4. Add the lengths of all of the walls in the room together.

Assuming that the same example is followed, 8 plus 8 plus 12 plus 12 equals 40 linear feet.

This value shows the square footage of the room in linear meters.

Our Final Thoughts

Laminate flooring is more popular than wood flooring in part because of the ease with which it can be installed.

Additionally, wood flooring cannot be installed on top of concrete.

It is critical to understand how to properly install laminate flooring on concrete if you want to ensure that the floor lasts for many years.

It is a fantastic alternative to traditional wood flooring.

Frequently Ask Questions