🖼️
The project:
We are just an ordinary couple with no previous DIY experience. We decided to try our hand at laying a new floor in our recently purchased unit, changing it from old carpet to laminate flooring. We bought all the materials at Bunnings, the Hanwood Tasmanian Oak flooring, followed the guidelines on the packaging and the floor placement came together very smoothly.
We ended up buying a mitre box to finish off the wooden beading around the edge.
The results are amazing! We are incredibly happy with the way it has all turned out. With a little time and patience anyone can achieve these results and it’s very sayisfying knowing we have done it ourselves. Now we’re pumped and are ready to tackle our next project!
- Materials:
Hanwood Tasmanian Oak 8 mm (https://www.bunnings.com.au/hanwood-8mm-1-92m-tasmanian-oak-natural-variance-water-resistant-laminate-flooring-8-pack_p0975469)
QEP 2mm 11m² Silver Laminate Floating Floor Underlay (https://www.bunnings.com.au/qep-2mm-11m-silver-laminate-floating-floor-underlay_p6650148)
Aluminium tape (https://www.bunnings.com.au/ametalin-48mm-x-50m-reinforced-insulation-ducting-tape_p0745986)
- Tools:
Makita jigsaw (https://www.bunnings.com.au/makita-18v-brushless-jigsaw-djv184z-skin-only_p0370869)
Makita circular saw (https://www.bunnings.com.au/makita-18v-165mm-brushless-circular-saw-dhs680z-skin-only_p6240314)
Craftright 450g / 16oz Rubber Mallet (https://www.bunnings.com.au/craftright-450g-16oz-rubber-mallet_p5760010)Hanwood Laminate and Hybrid Tapping Block (https://www.bunnings.com.au/hanwood-laminate-and-hybrid-tapping-block_p0670323)Hanwood Laminate and Hybrid Pull Bar (https://www.bunnings.com.au/hanwood-laminate-and-hybrid-pull-bar_p0670321)Hanwood 4 in 1 Floating Floor Spacers - 30 Pack (https://www.bunnings.com.au/hanwood-4-in-1-floating-floor-spacers-30-pack_p0670322)
- Step 1:
Remove your old flooring. In this case it was the old carpet
- Step 2:
Clean the floor. Make sure to remove any nails or anything that may damage the new flooring. Check for dips or high spots with a straightedge as the laminate needs a flat surface to click together properly.
- Step 3:
Lay down the underlay along the floor. Position it to the edge of the skirting and wall. Use aluminium tape to join the foil overlapping.
- Step 4:
Lay down the laminate floor boards. Start from the window corner of the room, as it will look the best visually. Use the mallet and the tapping block to join the floor boards together. Begin in a corner, laying boards parallel to the longest wall or the main light source. Use the wedge spacers against the wall to leave an expansion gap — laminate needs room to move with temperature changes.
- Step 5:
Work row by row, clicking the short ends together first, then angling each row into the previous one. Stagger the joints between rows by at least 30cm for strength and a natural look. Cut boards to fit at the end of each row using a circular saw.
- Step 6:
Use the jigsaw to work around the wall edges if needed or in built wardrobes.
- Step 7:
Once the floor’s done, remove the spacers and fit skirting boards or what we did use beading trim to cover the expansion gap.
And that’s it! Looks amazing!!!
