Laminate flooring installation: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What laminate flooring installation is

Laminate flooring installation floats click-together planks over an underlayment, leaving a gap at the edges for expansion and trimming around doors, vents and baseboards. People choose laminate for a wood look at a lower maintenance level, provided the subfloor is flat and the room stays dry.

Signs you need it

  • The room has a worn carpet or vinyl that you want to replace with a hard, easy-to-clean floor
  • The floor is in an area with pets or children, and you want a surface that resists scratches
  • The subfloor is flat and sound, and no moisture problems have shown up in the room
  • You want a floating floor that does not need to be glued or nailed to the subfloor
  • The room has doors that will need to be undercut, and you want the trim work done right

What the pro does

  • Check the subfloor for flatness, debris and moisture, and fix any high or low spots before laying the floor
  • Lay the underlayment and vapor barrier with the seams taped where the product requires it
  • Set the first row with an expansion gap at the walls, then click each plank into place at a slight angle
  • Cut the planks around door frames, vents and corners, and undercut the door casings so the boards slide under
  • Install the transition strips and the baseboard or shoe molding, covering the expansion gap
  • Clean the floor, check the joints for gaps and give the homeowner the care instructions

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • Room square footage and the number of rooms, plus any stairs and irregular walls
  • The laminate grade and the wear rating chosen, which changes the product and the underlayment
  • Subfloor preparation, including leveling and removal of the old floor covering
  • Number of door undercuts, vents, pipes and corners that need cutting
  • Transition pieces between rooms, and whether the thresholds are replaced
  • Removal and disposal of the old flooring and baseboard

What a written quote should spell out

  • Square footage by room, with the waste allowance and the boxes included
  • Laminate brand, wear rating and the underlayment type named
  • Subfloor prep steps and any leveling compound used
  • Door undercutting, transitions and baseboard work listed by room
  • Removal and disposal of the old floor, plus the warranty on the install

Questions to ask before you hire

  • How do you check the subfloor, and what do you do if it is not flat enough for a floating floor?
  • What underlayment do you use, and does it include a vapor barrier for concrete?
  • How wide is the expansion gap, and how do you hide it?
  • How do you undercut the doors, and will the casings be cut or left in place?
  • What wear rating do you recommend for this room and how many people use it?
  • Can you show me a laminate floor you installed in a room with a similar layout?

Red flags

  • The pro installs laminate over a subfloor with high spots and says it will settle
  • The pro leaves no expansion gap at the walls, or says it is not needed
  • The pro cuts the door casings instead of undercutting them, and says it looks fine
  • The pro lays laminate over a wet or damp slab with no moisture barrier

What you can do yourself

Laminate is one of the more doable floor installs for a homeowner who measures carefully. Removing baseboard, clearing the room and clicking planks together on a flat, dry subfloor are reasonable tasks. A slab with moisture, a subfloor with soft spots or a floor with many cuts should go to an installer.

Licenses and permits

Laminate flooring installation commonly does not need a license, and most installs are done without a permit. Check with your state or local licensing agency if the work includes subfloor repair or structural change.

Laminate flooring installation questions

Can laminate go in a bathroom?

Standard laminate is not built for standing water. Ask the pro whether a water-resistant product is rated for the room and how the edges are sealed against spills.

Why does laminate sometimes click loose?

A loose joint usually comes from a subfloor that moved, a plank that was not fully locked, or an expansion gap that was closed. Ask the pro how the floor will be checked after the install.

Does laminate need time to adjust before it is installed?

Yes, planks should sit in the room for a period before the install so they match the room's humidity. Ask the pro how long they acclimate the boxes.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

Edit history

How it works

  1. 1. Describe the job

    Pick the service, add your ZIP and a sentence about what is going on.

  2. 2. Pick the pros you want

    See pros who serve your ZIP and choose who you want to hear from.

  3. 3. They reach out

    They contact you the way you chose: phone, email or in-app messages.

More remodeling, painting and floors guides

Find a pro near you

Find a pro

About this guide

Request laminate flooring installation