A laminate floor is a DIY friendly project. One of the keys to a successful laminate flooring installation is ensuring you have the right tools and supplies to properly install your flooring. Gathering all of your tools from the beginning will help you have a smooth installation from start to finish. This  guide will help determine what supplies and laminate flooring tools you’ll need.

View this list of tools and supplies needed for an installation. Gather these laminate flooring tools before you get started,and organize your space. All laminate flooring cutting with a saw should be done in another room to avoid dust and debris in your installation space.

• Underlayment (if not pre-attached)
• Tape (packaging tape works fine)
• Safety Glasses or Goggles
• A Dust Mask
• Measuring Tape
• Carpenter’s Square
• Utility Knife
• A Saw. This can be a miter saw, power saw with dust collector, circular saw with 60-tooth carbide tipped blade, a power jigsaw, a handsaw or a laminate specific cutter (will only cut straight edges).
• Hand Saw or Door Jam saw for the door jams.
• Universal Installation Kit
  • Spacer Blocks. These can be either plastic or wood and must be ¼” thick.
  • Tapping Block (do not use tapping block for an angle-angle installation)
  • Pull Bar
• Hammer
• Broom & Dustpan
• Scissors
• Coordinated Transitions and Moldings

Some types of installations may require a few extra supplies. These supplies could include:

• Glue / Sealant (recommended for kitchens, baths, laundry and water prone areas.)
• A 6 mil non-recycled (100% virgin) resin polyethylene film (no necessary if you have vapor barrier in your underlayment. This is used for laminate that have attached padding and are being installed over a concrete subfloor.)
• Sound Underlayment (depending on building codes and noise needs)

Read the instructions from your manufacturer for details about what specifically you’ll need for your installation project.

It might seem obvious that you need flooring for your project, but how much should you have on hand? That depends.

As a rule of thumb, laminate flooring manufacturers recommend adding 5-10% for square installations and 15% for diagonal installations. This way, if any of the planks become damaged during or after installation, you’ll have enough extra to repair your damaged laminate. It is also helpful in case any accidents happen, such as wrong cuts and measurements.

Gathering the right supplies is crucial. Without them, your experience could become more frustrating than necessary. If you’re not sure about a supply or tool needed to install your laminate, contact one of our flooring experts. We’re happy to assist you in anyway we can!

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