Laminate Flooring
Laminate Flooring Installation
In Port Alberni.
Laminate installed by Justin Bennett over a flat, prepared base, fitted cleanly to walls, doorways and the floors around it. Based in Port Alberni and working across Vancouver Island.
Laminate
A Practical Floor, In The Right Room.
Laminate is a hard-wearing surface at a lower material cost than wood, and it is usually installed as a floating floor. How it performs depends on the specific product, and on putting it where it suits: it handles busy rooms well, and moisture less well than vinyl plank.
- Floating installation over the right underlay
- Subfloor flattened before the boards go down
- Expansion gaps left at the walls and hidden under trim
- Clean fits at doorways, cabinets and transitions
- Help deciding between laminate and vinyl plank, room by room
How A Laminate Floor Goes In
Flat Base, Room To Move.
- 01
Look at the space
The rooms, the existing flooring, and whether laminate suits each of them or vinyl plank would be the better fit.
- 02
Prepare the subfloor
Old flooring removed where it applies, then high and low spots corrected so the boards lock together flat.
- 03
Underlay
The underlay the product calls for, with a moisture barrier over concrete.
- 04
Install with room to move
Laminate expands and contracts, so a gap is left at walls and fixed objects and hidden under baseboard or trim.
- 05
Finish the details
Transitions, trim and doorways, then a walkthrough of the finished floor.
Common Questions
Laminate Questions
Is laminate flooring waterproof?
Most laminate is water-resistant rather than waterproof. Its core is made from wood fibre, so water that gets into the joints or sits on the floor can make it swell. Some newer products are sold as waterproof, and the manufacturer’s own wording and warranty are what to go by. Where water is a real risk, such as a laundry room or a basement, vinyl plank is usually the safer choice.
What is the difference between laminate and vinyl plank?
Both are click-together plank floors. Laminate has a wood-fibre core under a printed, hard-wearing surface; vinyl plank is made from plastic and tolerates moisture much better. Laminate tends to feel firmer underfoot. Which suits a room depends on how wet it gets, what is underneath, and the specific products being compared.
Does laminate need an underlay?
Yes, unless the product has one attached. The underlay evens out very minor imperfections and reduces noise, and over concrete a moisture barrier goes down as well. The product’s instructions set what is required.
Can laminate go in a kitchen?
It can, with care around the sink and dishwasher where water is most likely, and spills wiped up rather than left to sit. In a kitchen that sees a lot of water, vinyl plank is the more forgiving choice.
Can I buy my own laminate?
Yes. It is worth confirming the specific product, its underlay and the quantity before ordering, so the installation can be planned around it.
Related Work
More From Bennett & Sons.
Hard Surface Flooring
Every kind of hard-surface floor Justin installs, on one page.
Learn moreVinyl Plank
Luxury vinyl plank over a flat, prepared base, for kitchens, entries, laundry rooms and basements.
Learn moreFloor Levelling & Prep
Self-levelling, patching and subfloor correction, so the finished floor sits flat and lasts.
Learn moreHardwood & Engineered
Solid and engineered hardwood, with the subfloor checked and every transition finished.
Learn more
Also in:Courtenay and Comox
Laminate Or Vinyl Plank?
Send the rooms and the products you are comparing, and Justin will follow up about which suits each space.