How To: Install laminate flooring in your home

Laminate flooring is easy to clean and is a great way to spruce up a room. With yourlist of items in hand and a little bit of elbow grease you can have new floors in no time. Don't forget: measure twice, cut one.

Sidestep expensive labor costs by installing your own laminate flooring.

You Will Need

* Safety glasses
* Measuring tape
* Underlayment
* Laminate flooring
* Rubber mallet
* Molding

Wear safety glasses when cutting and installing laminate flooring.

Step 1: Remove the old floor

Remove your old floor and baseboards. Prep your subfloor by making sure it's flat and free of any debris.

Step 2: Measure your floor

Measure the area you want to cover.

Step 3: Install the underlayment

Install your underlayment. This will cushion the floor and reduce noise.

Some laminate will have the underlayment attached. Check with the retailer to determine the best material.

Step 4: Lay the laminate

Lay the laminate along the room's longest wall. Leave a quarter inch around the perimeter between the laminate and the wall to account for expansion.

Step 5: Stagger the laminate

Stagger the laminate and use a rubber mallet to fit the pieces together snugly.

Undercut or cut away a slice of the casing from the bottom of the door so that the flooring can slip underneath. Use a piece of the laminate to measure the necessary height of the undercut.

Step 6: Install molding

Install your molding around the perimeter. Step back, take a look, and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

Because of superstition, many hotels have no official 13th floor. Floor numbers go from 12th to 14th.