do you need backer rod for laminate flooring

The Mohawk perimeter sealing kit includes the materials needed to seal 50 lineal feet of RevWood Plus laminate flooring. Make sure to cut the side that will be against the wall, so that the tongue is cut off instead of the groove that you may need if you have a wider room than I do. Family Handyman. + 1 778-244-4107 You end with a cut that provides the correct expansion gap. . Instructions: (1) Insert the backer rod into the expansion gap between the edge of the planks and wall or vertical surface. (2) Run a bead of silicone on the rod being sure to cover the edge of the planks. You will find that floor scrapers, like this one, are often equipped with long handles. the cumulative length (linear feet) of the gaps or joints that you want to seal. Cut the tongue off the short side of the first piece. Try to work with two layers (3/4" + 3/4") so that you don't have to get into staggering three layers in a small area (talk about flooring nightmares). We welcome your comments and Step one -How to Install Cement Board on the Floor. After all the trim is in, fill the holes, caulk the cracks and touch up the paint. Remove the existing baseboards and update them with new trims. myhomedwelling@gmail.com, #514-1231 Pacific Blvd On the kitchen side we filled the expansion space with 3/8" backer rod, caulked and covered with 1/4 round as . When the surface is dry, apply a floor primer and leave to dry for a few hours. The point is that I live there and I have some OCD tendencies. You will also need to do a . Low spots can be remedied with underlayment and other floor patch products. In order to make the floor 100% waterproof, I'm supposed to install backer rod in the expansion gap around the edge, then seal it with a silicone sealant. Vancouver BC V6Z 0E2 With proper weatherproofing applied to your household, air can't seep in or out as quickly. For Perfo Defense +, this number is 3/8 and I used some spare pieces of flooring that happened to be the same depth to use as spacers against the walls. All rights reserved. The main challenge at this juncture is keeping the underlayment in place before the laminate boards are fully installed. It not only protects the laminate flooring against damage from moisture, but also makes the living space more comfortable by adding sound absorption and insulation. 4 0 obj Underlayment will get you the best results possible, but as with any project, you must have your priorities sorted out and constantly keep them in mind as you move forward. Re-doing your flooring is a big undertaking, especially for large rooms or your entire home. home improvement and repair website. In the alternative, you can use a 100% silicone sealant to create a watertight seal around the rooms perimeter. In these cases, underlayment is definitely way less attractive, and thats totally fair. Typically this gap doesn't get filled with anything. You may not be able to raise the front much, but sometimes you can raise it 1/2 inch or more. You can use glue to deal with gaps in the laminate flooring. Before notching out the board, I cut it to final length, and then made a few marks on the board where I needed to cut it. You will certainly be doing your fair share of measuring twice and then cutting boards. d. Make sure you have the appropriate installation tools, an installation kit and additional spacers (used to maintain expansion space). Moreover, they are very flexible and soft, making them easy to control and excellent for more minor, harder-to-reach gaps. 5. It also serves the purpose of adding insulation and resistance to moisture. You really don't want to strip any of the screw holes. 12. Without underlayment to add a layer between these damp subfloors and the surface flooring, your laminate can quickly become wet, warped, and mildewy, harming its overall integrity. Novia Methane Pro is a premium specification multi-layer laminate DPM membrane incorporating reinforcement and an aluminium foil core. Have you heard of the 95% club? When you place a tile next to a wall it should have a gap between it and the wall. If it is a round log chink joint, you first have to insert a length of proper size Grip Strip and then measure the . 2 0 obj Installing a layer of -inch cementitious backer board on top of the plywood will create a stable, bondable substrate. What it means is that the flooring can move around on top of the subfloor. Why? It adjusts to the rooms temperature. Cut a small portion of the tip off the tube and squeeze a bead of caulk out to test the width of the bead against the area you are caulking the bathroom. My first obstacle was when my flooring extended beyond the shoe shelves and landed at a door. If you have a jigsaw, you could make this cut WAY easier. Underlayments used to nix these before they ever happen as it provides a perfect, solid base for your flooring, free from dents, rips, and the wear of time. If you need your bead to be a bit wider . Some people doing reno might be willing and able to eat those additional costs, but what if youre already on a tight budget? Place the silicone tube in a caulk gun, and squeeze its trigger a few times until you feel resistance. Drive the screws into the new holes and sink them . There are other factors to consider, too, however. This step was pretty easy for me because I had just laid the old carpet back down and it wasnt actually attached. You could be anywhere, not even actively surveying the construction of a building, and your eyes will stop upon it. These are; to control depth of sealant, to provide backing for the . If you glue it down, you remove the freedom to move naturally. Answer these honestly, balance your priorities, and the question of laminate underlayment or not will be easy as can be. The only time you can use glue on your laminate flooring is when a gap needs to be closed. Moreover, they come in different shapes: open, closed, and bi-cellular. Then, I notched the trim around the door a little bit higher so I could fit the transition under it. Thank you for supporting my blog! If there is an existing underlayment that looks fine, then this step will not be necessary. 1. The first step will be installing the vertical trims around the doorways, if necessary. STEP 6: Start laying your Flex Click vinyl floor. Carpet pulling tools, such as the one found here, make it a whole lot easier to pull up carpets. Do you have a construction project coming up for which you need to find foam sheet rolls? Squeeze the caulk gun's trigger to allow the silicone to flow. To recap, here are the tools that youll need: Laminate flooring is a worthy option for homeowners who are in search of a new floor but would like to take care of the project on their own. sealant, as follows. Although, this is a bit inaccurate as the laminate itself is only water resistant. Among the essential materials and equipment are cutting and measuring tools. Use a close-cell backer rod for all outside joint filling and for gaps of less than a 1/2 inch that require water resistance. Diameter x 50 ft. However, they are not suitable for projects requiring weatherproofing due to their airiness. <> It is suitable for use on wood and will do an excellent job holding two planks of laminate flooring together. You can learn more about how to use leveling tools on a floor here. Welcome to FoamNoodles.com | Always FREE Shipping (Lower 48 States), Everything You Need To Know About Foam Backer Rods. As a rule, the larger the space the larger the expansion gap should be. Yet, thats not a major bonus for everyone. Backer rods are usually round, flexible lengths of foam that come in many shapes, sizes, diameters, and types for optimal fitting of the joint being sealed. Then use a tapping tool/pull bar and hammer to ensure the pieces are properly joined together. Caulking is extremely valuable, but to make the most of its use and ensure its longevity, you should consider using a foam backer rod. Getty. For example, say you are installing a door in a brick houseeven with a perfect fit, you will need to seal off some cracks. There is no need to worry, as you can quickly fill any gaps with a silicone sealant to tidy things up. Hardwoods like oak, maple, and mahogany are commonly used as commercial or production molding. The hook at the end of the pull bar will allow you to maneuver the laminate flooring into place. Do Heated Floors Use a Lot of Electricity. It will be difficult to remove the laminate again. Moreover, they come in a wide range of shapes and sizes, making them perfect for any job. Simply place the glue along the top of the tongue. You are encouraged to purchase at least 10% more than the minimum amount needed. Not including houses that are pretty newly developed or were made with exceptionally great materials/attention to detail, most of our subfloors arent flawless. I always try to split the area into squares to make measuring so much easier. This do-it-yourself laminate system fits closets four feet to ten feet wide and creates up to 120 inches of shelf space and 144 inches of hanging space. <>/ExtGState<>/XObject<>/ProcSet[/PDF/Text/ImageB/ImageC/ImageI] >>/MediaBox[ 0 0 612 792] /Contents 4 0 R/Group<>/Tabs/S/StructParents 0>> This is also where the tapping block comes in handy. Join Our Fast-Growing Team! I have a single story house with a finished basement. Install spacers at the wall to provide an expansion gap. II. Downy Unstopables vs Downy Infusions (Comparison Guide). You can actually bend those edge fibers of the wood towards the corner and close the gap. How much are you ready to spend, anyways? 1. In all these applications, it is used for three major purposes. We recommend to have an expansion gap around the perimeter of the room as well as transition pieces at all door ways. The side with a plastic strip is meant to be placed along the wall underneath the portion that a baseboard will ultimately cover. The laminate will connect with the stairs and I would like the flooring to match. Once you identify the problem, you can take the necessary steps to fix it (e.g., installing an underlay to take care of moisture issues, reinstalling the laminate after levelling the subfloor, etc.). Laminate flooring naturally contracts and expands. I would prefer to go with engineered would since it looks nicer and can be refinished. However, I am concerned that putting real wood next to a laminate will highlight the fact that the existing laminate iswell laminate. You can certainly expect there to be at least some slight variations. Also make sure the floor is clean, flat and smooth. You have 3 choices regarding which action to take: You can carefully remove the existing baseboard using a pry bar. You can learn more about how and when to glue laminate flooring here in this video. Each piece of laminate has special edges that allow the pieces to click together. Always follow the manufactures instructions provided with your tools and abide by local building codes. Circular saws and floor cutters serve the purpose of cleanly cutting laminate flooring. These rods come in a relatively wide range of sizes and shapes; theyre available from about one-fourth of an inch to four inches in diameter. Backer rod can also fill gaps to protect the home against drafts, moisture, dust and insects. Safety glasses, work gloves, and face masks are necessary since you will be encountering sawdust and debris during the installation process. Laminate: Laminate: Laminate: Laminate: Assembled Height (in.) Any remaining particles and debris will be trapped underneath and between the flooring pieces, where they will be challenging to remove later on. Anytime you install laminate flooring in a bath, laundry room or kitchen, you should use AC3-rated flooring, leave 1/4-in. We just installed laminate flooring in a few r Hello, first off, Fantastic forum and site, lots of help to be found. Your back and knees will thank you for using these to remove the old flooring. Remember to always measure twice before cutting. If the glue is still wet, wipe it off with some cloth or sponge. Some types of laminate flooring have their underlayment built into the pieces. A nice dense felt underlayment likeQuietWalkis excellent for covering subfloor imperfections. For outside corners, I joined two pieces of trim with a 45 degree miter cut. Choosing Laminate Flooring To determine how much laminate flooring you'll need, multiply the length and width of the room. It takes a considerable amount of time, dedication, and, of course, cash, making it imperative that you follow the old adage (both figuratively and literally, depending on your flooring choice) to cut once and measure twice. Your first step will involve gathering the necessary tools and materials to remove any preexisting flooring. If you dont have room to pull it out, you might be able to connect them in another area first. 1/2 in. The tongue is the shorter feature that will stick into the groove of the previous board laid. The gap should be a minimum of 3/8 of an inch (9 mm). The sole purpose of caulk is to close off the crack between the door and brick, not to fill in the back of the crack. This was a bit complex and required a few modifications. How to Level a Floor for Tile. It typically comes in 5-8 cm widths and approximately 240 cm lengths. by FixtureDisplays. To install laminate flooring, youll need several tools and materials. With the closet system, it's easy to design and install a beautiful closet system in your home. This step was so exciting for me because I had taken all my trim off when I first started this closet project almost 5 months ago! Quantity. If there are any obstructions like a pipe, use a jigsaw to cut the planks so they will fit around but dont forget to include some space for expanding. My question is, do I have to use the backer rod, or can I . Foam backer rods will also help improve your stress, as you might see a significant . The size of the spacer will also be specified in the manufacturers instructions. There are a few common causes of laminate flooring gaps. You may freely link Before you install . From there, you just start on one side of the transition, pushing it so that the bottom grooves click into the aluminum track. Your email address will not be published. To lock them together youll need to combine downward pressure while also pushing the boards into one another. Underlayment is basically a must-have for areas that tend to be wetter and more prone to humidity because this also increases the amount of moisture in your subfloors. It will be much easier to perform the cut on a stable workbench with a carefully marked-out cutting pattern. Leave a 9.525 mm space between the walls and the first and last rows to account for the expansion of the flooring materials. The instructions of your laminate should have the exact gap dimension recommended. Once I cut out the notch, I could test fit the board. % ft./case) 8 Cases. Moreover, with a foam backer rod, your caulking job can withstand the test of time. Another reason is that one of the planks somehow slid under one of the clearing gaps you left (for a reason) when you installed the laminate flooring. Each of the sheets should be taped together to prevent overlaps from occurring, which will make it more challenging to install a flat floor. As you fit, tap, wiggle, on each consecutive row, the pieces you just put down have a tendancy to wander a little which could close your gap completely if you are not paying attention. It is used in a wide range of applications including tiling, flooring, window paneling and stoneware among others. Periodically check the level of the floor as you are sanding to ensure that you do not end up with any low spots. Youll save on material expenses. Be sure to wear clothing that you arent afraid to get dirty and that will also be easy to move around in. I would suggest using 5/8 inch exterior grade plywood and topping it with a 1/2 cement backer board and then . Use a scrap piece of wood to spread the silicone to . Literally and figuratively, there is so much flexibility available with a foam backer rod. You'll want to fill in any spaces as you go where water could potentially seep through and get to the subfloor. Fixing uneven wood subfloors may be as easy as placing new plywood or tamping down existing plywood. Leave the baseboards, taking care of the expansion gap later on. Jamie has worked on numerous residential construction sites helping with interior and exterior renovations. This is an issue you need to fix. This is easily fixed (see above). Be sure to follow the manufacturers instructions for these products and clean up all debris with wet vacs before moving to the installation stage. Thats bad regardless but can only lead to more issues as the seasons and years pass by. is quarter round molding necessary on laminate floors. Since underlayment is an important part of the installation, I usually like my underlayment separate just because I can be more choosy on the type and specifications. QuietWalkscompression resistance exceeds the requirement for pre-attached flooring that is greater than 29 psi @50% per ASTM D1667. Foam backer rod helps to fill the empty space in the room perimeter expansion gap and reduces the amount of 100% flexible silicone sealant needed during installation. This opens up the pores in the cement. It is incredible how a poorly applied sealant can drastically alter the look and appeal of a building. He has real estate experience working as a new home construction Realtor. Whats most critical to you? While on the subject of cash, wed be remiss not to talk about budget influence here. Place the trim puller or pry bar between the wall and baseboard. For laminate flooring, opting for underlayment is typically encouraged. Bissell vs Tineco | Who Makes the Better Vacuums? No, you will never use glue when installing laminate flooring. It is possible to perform this task yourself, but you need to be sure that you know what you are doing. 11. 7. It may end up being the case that the pipe doesnt fit perfectly. I added a spacer first to bring the transition piece up the the level of the laminate floor. You will also void any guarantees and warranties on your laminate. There are also heat-resistant varieties available that are useful in large-scale applications such as sealing pieces of concrete highways or runway construction. Before installing laminate, first prepare the subfloor. View our Privacy Policy here. If you are going to do this make sure to use the backer rod as it allows the floor to move at will. The name gives it away: floating floors float on top of the subfloor. $40 OFF your qualifying first order of $250+1 with a Wayfair credit card. Refill it as often as needed to cover your floor. Thanks to the versatile PerfectFold V click system, you can click the planks into place using one of the three methods. That's a perimeter joint. Pine baseboards are often seen in older homes. 3. Your first piece will be the hardest. If you are doing construction work, there will always be a gap in the middle of any connection between materials and building elements. Quality wall and doorway trim accent the room and serve the purpose of protecting the laminate flooring at its edges. A foam backer rod takes the phrase "I've got your back" to a whole new level, as it fills up the back of a crack so the caulk can do its job. You do not want the joints of the first and second rows to be in the same place. With the backer rod in place, cut the end of the silicone sealant tube and cover the backing rod. If you use caulk to fill in the back, the sealant is more likely to crack or appear distorted. The subfloor must be level; otherwise, the finished flooring will never look right. There are also specialized gap fillers for laminate flooring on the market; one example is Cal-Floors glue, which is designed for floating floors. First measure the area that you are going to need cement board. Use some scrap wood to protect the transition from the hammer and slowly move down the length of it. A dry and wet shop vac like this one will have no problem getting the space clean. Unfortunately, once you start working on the 5%, you realize its really closer to 10%. This is good for applications where a large amount . It works perfectly as a concrete expansion joint sealant. For Pergo Outlast+ you will also need 3/8" compressible PE foam backer rod and clear 100% silicone sealant to properly seal the perimeter of the installation. Laminate flooring: Is shoe molding inevitable? It is a rather bad idea because laminate is a type of flooring that needs to be able to move. With floating laminate and vinyl flooring, you would need expansion gaps through out the project size. You should use a caulking gun to work the sealant into spaces that are susceptible to moisture. Laminate flooring is an item that homeowners can install themselves without having to hire a contractor. He is a homeowner and enjoys sharing his homeowner tips with others. 1. Though the installation process is different to some other common floorings like carpet and hardwood. Copyright There are some circumstances in which adhesives should be used to join sections of laminate flooring: Look for a wood glue that doesnt have too much water in it. Within 5 feet of a water source, such as a sink in a bathroom, A mudroom where you will be dragging wet shoes/boots across the floor, Kitchens in some cases, though not always. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); .wp-show-posts-columns#wpsp-1498 {margin-left: -2em; }.wp-show-posts-columns#wpsp-1498 .wp-show-posts-inner {margin: 0 0 2em 2em; }. Oil-based or water-based paints work best for baseboards since they will hold up better over time and only require a single coating. You can find more detailed instructions here. Position the backer rod in the gap and push it down below the level of the joint. endobj Be sure to paint or stain trim pieces before installation at a separate site set up for painting. Fail, Install flooring transition between laminate and tile, Take new Final Photos with the new floor. Complete the job with the matching moldings and accessories or have it .
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