Laminate flooring is a cost-effective, attractive option for bathroom flooring that works well with various bathroom vanity styles. Because the final look of your bathroom depends upon how each component works together, finding a flooring material and bathroom vanity design that complement one another is essential. The variety of styles, colors, and patterns available with cheap laminate flooring, plus its ease of care, make laminate flooring the optimal choice for your bathroom-remodeling project.
If you enjoy do-it-yourself projects but haven’t tackled laminate flooring before, don’t worry. Our detailed, step-by-step instructions will help you install your laminate flooring for the perfect finish to your bathroom renovation.
Evaluate Existent Flooring
Laminate flooring can often be laid directly over existing flooring materials. Although this makes the job easier, it’s not always the best route. Before you decide to do this, it’s important to evaluate the existing flooring materials in your bathroom.
Look for any buckles, bumps, peaks, or valleys on the existing floor. When you look at the standing and floor levels, it’s better to proceed with caution if there are any areas on the current flooring that aren’t smooth in appearance. Removing old tile or carpeting isn’t the most fun part of the project, but it will result in a more beautiful, longer-lasting laminate floor.
If you live in one of those old houses from the 1970s when carpeting the bathroom seemed like a good idea, you can remove the carpeting by following these simple steps:
Step 1: Grasp the corner of the carpet and pull it away from the tack strip and toward you.
Step 2: Use a utility knife to cut a 3-foot strip and roll up the removed carpet.
Step 3: Repeat the first two steps to remove the remainder of the carpet, then repeat the procedure to remove the padding.
Installation Preparations
The time spent preparing for your laminate flooring installation is just as important as the time you spend installing it. An ill-prepared floor surface can result in a floor that buckles or bulges, which doesn’t complement your bathroom vanity or anything else. Prepare your bathroom floor with these steps:
Step 1: Level all bumps and valleys and fill any holes with a floor patching material.
Step 2: Remove the baseboards, if necessary.
Step 3: Measure the floor space you plan to cover. Add 10 to 20 percent to the total area to accommodate waste or mis-cuts.
Avoid the placement of a narrow board at the finishing wall by measuring the distance from the starting wall to the finishing wall. Divide the distance by the width of one board. To achieve balance, add the leftover amount to the width of one board and divide by two.
Let the laminate flooring material acclimate to the bathroom temperature and humidity for 24 hours.
Install Your Laminate Flooring
Step 1: Lay padding with a vapor barrier if installing your laminate floor over a concrete subfloor.
Step 2: Place one piece of laminate flooring on the subfloor against the door jam. Use a coping or flat saw on the laminate floor to cut the door jam parallel to the flooring material.
Step 3: Begin installing the laminate flooring materials parallel to the longest wall in your bathroom. Position a spacer along the wall at 12-inch intervals. Push the first laminate board against the spacers. The spacers accommodate for contraction and expansion of the flooring later.
Step 4: Dry-fit your first three boards to trace around contours for the toilet, bathtub, and modern bath vanity. Fit the laminate boards together using the locking mechanism or glue, as specified by the manufacturer’s instructions. Ensure the boards are securely fitted together by tapping each board into place with a tapping block.
Step 5: Stagger the joints for each subsequent board by six to eight inches to prevent weakness in the floor and prevent one even seam.
Step 6: To trim the last laminate board to fit, lay a board on top of the last one installed. Position the last plank on top of that. Place a third board over the last board, lining it up directly over the second to the last plank so the last board to be installed sits in the middle, like a sandwich. Draw a line on the last plank, using the edge of the other two boards as your guide.
Step 7: Install the trimmed board and enjoy your new laminate floor.
The versatility of laminate flooring allows you to choose a bathroom vanity that complements your decor and flooring material. Whether you choose a conventional vanity or one with a furniture or antique style, your newly remodeled bathroom will surely become a showpiece in your home.
