Welcome to our simple guide to installing your new timber floors.

*All flooring with Tongue & Groove locking systems are to be installed by a professional flooring installer.

• Pre-select boards that blend best with matching scotia, skirts and trims.

• Stagger boards to ensure a more favourable overall appearance of the floor. When installing boards of random length, ensure that the staggered length is at least 20cm. End boards must be greater than 30cm in length.

• Check door and door frame clearances to ensure that doors will move freely without contacting the floor surface.

• Although floating floors can be installed in any direction, as a rule, they are usually installed perpendicular to a window. Installing the floor parallel to the longest wall tends to make a room appear larger. 

Step 1. First plank, first row. Place a spacer 10-15mm thickness to the left and position the plank against the wall. Later, after 3 rows, you can easily position the flooring against the front wall with spacers of 10-15mm. 

Step 2. Second plank, first row. Press the short end of the next floorboard at an angle to the first one, then lay down, Complete the first row. The boards can also be lightly tapped up without lifting.

Step 3 At the end of the first row, place a spacer 10-15mm to the wall and cut the length of the last plank to fit.

Step 4. For a clean cut, the top surface should face down when you use a jigsaw, or circular handsaw and up when you use a handsaw or a crosscut saw.

Step 5. Second row, first plank. Minimum length 300mm. Place a spacer against the wall. 

Step 6. Minimum distance between short ends of planks in parallel shall not be less than 200mm.

Step 7. Place the floorboard at an angle against the floorboard in the previous row, press forward and fold down at the same time. A rubber mallet and tapping block may be necessary.

Step 8. Second plank, second row. Place the short end of the floorboard at an angle against the previously installed floorboard. Fold down. The boards can also be tapped up without lifting.

Step 9. Lift floorboard (together with the previously installed floorboard in the same row) lightly up (about 30mm) and push it against the row in front. Push down when the floorboards are positioned tightly together. 

Step 10. After 2-3 rows, adjust the distance to the front wall by placing spacers 10-15mm

Step 11. If the wall is uneven, the floorboards must be adapted to its contours. Mark the floorboards with the contour of the wall. Do not forget to leave a 10-15mm space to the wall. 

Step 12. To remove the first row, lift the floorboard a few centimetres and tap along the joint. Cut the floorboards as required.  

Step 13. Reinstall the first row from left to right. Press the boards against the edges of the floorboards that are already in position, with the first strip.

Step 14. Last row. Minimum width 30mm. Remember, the space to the wall is 10-15mm. 

TIP! Place a spacer before measuring. Cut the panels lengthwise and install. 

Congrats, you did it! Before you kick back and admire a job well done, don’t forget to snap some photos and share your new floors. Tag us on Instagram @flooringonlineau to really make our day.