Laminate tiles float above the existing floor or substrate, making installation less messy than tiles that need adhesives and grout. Most laminate tiles lock together in a tongue-and-groove system, which allows them to snap together into rows. Some manufacturers recommend the use of glue between the tiles, while others simply snap. In either case, the laminate floor should be given plenty of room for expansion with the humidity of the bathroom.
Instructions
1. Bring the laminate floor tiles into the room where they will be installed and leave them unpacked in the air for a few days. This will help the laminate adjust to the humidity in the air, making them less likely to shrink or swell after installation.
2. Remove any baseboard moldings from the room with a pry bar and putty knife or hammer. The laminate will need to be installed a minimum of 1/4 inch from the walls -- more if the bathroom has a shower -- and the baseboard can be used to cover or hide this gap.
3. Lay out the laminate directly on the floor to determine the pattern you wish to design and to practice snapping the tiles together in their grooves. Lay the tiles from the center of the wall farthest from the door, and move equally out from there for a balanced layout. Use laminate spacers between the rows to keep lines straight.
4. Cut the laminate tiles with a circular saw to fit the edges of the room, around the toilet stack and around the sink. Move the laminate in a straight line through the saw carefully to make straight cuts. Remember to keep the interlocking portion of the tiles intact as you cut.
5. Lay the first row of tiles 1/4 to 1/2 inch away from the edge of the wall. Set a tile spacer at this edge to keep your line straight. If the manufacturer recommends it, spread a small amount of glue on the tongue and groove of each tile as you snap it into the next one.
6. Allow two or three days for laminate that has been glued to cure, then replace the baseboard moldings. Use a nail gun to drive the moldings back into place. Spread a small line of flexible caulk between the laminate and the sink, toilet or tub in the room to hide the gap between the tiles and fixture while still allowing the tiles to flex.
Tags: baseboard moldings, between tiles, laminate floor, laminate tiles