Laminate Flooring

Fitting a laminate floor is a manageable DIY job with the right preparation and a few basic tools, including a fine-toothed saw, spacers and a tapping block.

• Measure the room: measure before you buy to work out how many planks you'll need. Use our measuring guide to help.
  

• Prepare the subfloor: remove any existing flooring and clean the subfloor thoroughly, clearing any debris such as nails.
  
• Install the underlay: lay underlay for comfort underfoot, moisture protection and sound reduction. Read our guide on underlay for more detail.

• Install the laminate planks: click the boards together row by row, staggering the joints for a natural finish.
  

• Add the finishing touches: remove the spacers, refit skirting boards or scotia, and fit door bars and beading to finish the edges. Trim doors if needed, clean up gently, avoid wet mopping for 24 hours, and use furniture pads to protect the floor.
  

Read our full guide on installing laminate for a step-by-step walkthrough.

To keep laminate flooring looking its best, use soft cleaning tools like microfibre mops, dry dusting cloths, or vacuums with hard floor settings to avoid scratching the surface. Clean spills immediately with a dry cloth and use a damp mop for routine cleaning. Never soak the floor or use steam mops, as excess moisture can cause damage. For tough stains, use a cleaner made for laminate on a soft cloth, testing a hidden spot first. Regularly dry the floor after cleaning and avoid harsh chemicals to maintain your laminate's finish and durability.

We have a more in-depth guide on cleaning dirty laminate floors and tips for caring for your floor on a regular basis.

Cutting laminate flooring accurately is key to a neat finish. Start by measuring the space carefully and marking your cut line clearly with a pencil on the plank. For straight cuts, use a fine-toothed handsaw, a jigsaw or a laminate guillotine.

For more precise cuts, especially around door frames, vents, or tricky corners, a jigsaw is easier to control. Use a fine-toothed blade to avoid chipping the surface, and cut slowly and steadily. Always wear safety goggles and work on a stable surface.

Leave an expansion gap of around 8-12mm around the edges so the floor can expand and contract with temperature changes. Measuring carefully before each cut will save you from costly mistakes.

For more tips, check out our measuring and fitting guide.

If you’re thinking of installing your laminate floor DIY style, here are some common mistakes you should avoid.

1. Skip Floor Preparation: Always make sure the subfloor is clean, level, and dry before installing your laminate floor to prevent shifting, cracking, or warping later.
2. Fail to Acclimatise: Let laminate planks adjust to the room’s temperature and humidity for at least 48 hours to avoid gaps and buckling.
3. Use Wrong Tools or Techniques for Cutting: Use proper measuring tools, a suitable saw (mitre saw or jigsaw), and cut carefully to ensure clean, accurate cuts.
4. Forget Expansion Gaps: Leave around 10mm of space (but anywhere between 8mm and 12mm is also fine) around the room’s edges to allow for natural expansion and contraction, preventing buckling.
5. Choose Incorrect Underlay or Install It Poorly: Select the right underlay for your subfloor type and install it correctly to ensure insulation, moisture protection, and soundproofing.
6. Ignore Layout and Alignment: Plan plank direction and alignment carefully, measuring precisely to maintain visual balance and room flow.

Neglect Post-Installation Protection: Clean the floor properly after installation, use furniture pads to avoid scratches, wait 24 hours before heavy use, and maintain regularly.

Laminate is durable and comes in styles that mimic real materials like wood and stone. With normal domestic use, it typically lasts 15 to 25 years, depending on its AC rating, how much foot traffic it sees and how well it's looked after.

To extend the life of your flooring as much as possible, we recommend: 

• Using the right cleaning tools to avoid damaging the surface. For example, opt for soft microfiber mops and vacuums with hard floor settings so you don’t scratch the surface while cleaning. 
• Avoid excess moisture, or your planks could warp, swell, or even delaminate. 
• Use furniture pads and rugs so your furniture doesn’t leave dents, scratches, or scuffs. 
• Protect from harsh sunlight to avoid fading over time. 
• Address spills immediately by soaking or blotting with a dry cloth. Gently clean the area with a damp cloth or laminate-safe cleaner. Dry the surface to prevent moisture damage. 
• Have a cleaning plan. Deep clean your laminate floors every couple of months with a specialised laminate cleaner. Check for signs of damage, like cracks, on a regular basis and address them as soon as possible. 

Read more about how to extend the life of your laminate flooring.

In many cases, yes. Laminate can be laid over existing hard flooring such as tiles, provided the surface is clean, flat, level and structurally sound. Tiles with deep grout lines need levelling first. We don't recommend laying laminate over soft flooring such as carpet or cushioned vinyl, over a previously laid laminate floor, or over any floor with bounce or flex in it, as this can affect how the click joints perform and may void the product warranty. Check the manufacturer's fitting guide, and use a door bar to deal with any significant height difference at doorways.

Both are popular hard flooring options that convincingly mimic the look of real wood or stone, but they differ in a few important ways. Laminate has an HDF core (High-Density Fibreboard) with a photographic design layer and a protective wear surface, and it's not waterproof, though water-resistant options are available. Luxury Vinyl Tiles (LVT), on the other hand, have a PVC construction that handles moisture better than laminate, feel warmer underfoot, and tend to be more durable in high-moisture environments. Laminate is generally the more budget-friendly option, but LVT is the better choice for kitchens, bathrooms, and anywhere water resistance is a priority. Browse our LVT range if you'd like to compare.

Absolutely. Many of our laminate ranges are suitable for kitchens, particularly those with water-resistant surface treatments. AC4 or higher is recommended for kitchen use, given the higher foot traffic and greater risk of spills. Water-resistant technology such as Balterio HydroShield is specifically designed to allow these surfaces to handle the moisture and humidity typical of kitchen environments, provided spills are mopped up promptly, and edges are sealed properly.

Most laminate flooring in our range is compatible with both electric and water-based underfloor heating systems. That said, we always recommend checking the individual product specification before purchasing, and following the manufacturer's guidelines on maximum surface temperature (typically 27°C). It's also important to use a low-tog underlay when laying laminate over underfloor heating, as a high-tog underlay will insulate against the heat rather than allowing it to pass through to the surface effectively.

Minor surface scratches can often be disguised using a laminate repair kit, which you can find in most DIY and hardware stores. More significant damage, such as swollen or cracked planks, will typically require replacing the affected planks rather than repairing them. Because laminate is a floating floor (planks aren't glued or nailed to the subfloor), a damaged plank can usually be replaced by unclicking the rows, or by cutting it out and gluing in a replacement. It's a job for a confident DIYer, so ask a fitter if you're unsure.