Tools for laying laminate flooring: what tools are needed to install laminate flooring? Tools for laying laminate: devices, features of use and useful tips What tool is needed when laying

As you, dear readers, have already found out, laminate is a floating floor covering. And it assembles into a single structure without the help of glue. But its installation requires devices, not necessarily professional ones, but those without which it is impossible to produce the flooring. In this article, I’ll tell you what tools are needed to lay a floating floor, what to use to cut laminate flooring, and how you can replace certain tools.

Below I will publish what tools I use in the form of a list and links, and then comments and possible analogue manual or electric mechanisms.

Jigsaw
Hammer
Tamping block
Steel bracket
Spacer wedges
Tape measure, pencil, square

The cost of such a kit is inexpensive option does not exceed 3000 rubles. But it may happen that laminate flooring needs to be laid, but the necessary tools are not available or you have to travel far to get them.

It is best to cut laminate flooring with a jigsaw. I use a Makita 4329 jigsaw with a power of 450 watts and a cost of about 3,000 rubles. The Makita is not heavy, fits comfortably in the hand, and has enough power to cut any type and thickness of laminated floors.

Personally, it’s hard for me to imagine my work without an electric jigsaw. Since during installation it is necessary to make transverse and longitudinal cuts. This tool is quieter than most others electrical appliances for sawing, it produces relatively little dust, and is inexpensive. .

As alternative option it is possible to buy the cheapest jigsaw for laying laminate in Leroy-Merlin for 461 rubles at the time of writing the review (January 2019) or in Petrovich, also with a power of 400 watts, but the cost is 1,450 rubles.

I won’t put links to hammers, tape measures, pencils - I don’t see the point, it’s easy to find without any hints. If needed additional tool, please write in the comments. I will answer personally or put a forwarding in the text.

More options for cutting laminated panels

Wood saw. A good analog option due to the lack of other options. It does not require additional costs, since it is available in almost every home or can be borrowed from neighbors. The downside is that the operating time increases significantly due to manual drive. This is especially true for longitudinal cuts when laying the last row of laminate flooring.
You can use a parquet saw. Builders who are “all-rounders” often use such a tool. I don’t use it - it’s very noisy, much more dangerous to use, a lot of dust.
Grinder (angle grinder) - approximately the same as a parquet saw. Slightly less dangerous, but more burning.
Guillotine for cutting laminate. I don’t know who invented it, but it was clearly born in the wrong century. I've been asked a couple of times why I don't use the guillotine. After all, there is no dust, no noise. First of all, it's big. Secondly, it needs to be sharpened regularly and cannot be used for cutting long panels.

Which hammer to use for laying laminate flooring

In many videos and posted photographs I saw that craftsmen use a mallet. Personally, I only use a hammer.

When tapping panels together, to eliminate cracks, a finishing block is used (more on this below) and hit with a percussion tool. It is difficult to use a mallet for such purposes - its head size is noticeably larger than a hammer. When tapped, it can catch the substrate, since the angle at which the laminate comes in varies.

I see the possible use of a mallet only when tapping the joints of panels with 5G locks on the ends for a tighter fit, and then only in theory. In practice, laminate floors with this type of interlocking joint should shrink without the aid of any knocking on the surface.

Therefore, I only use a regular hammer to lay laminate flooring.

There was a case... I was repositioning a parquet board that was not laid by me, it seems Tarkett, at the request of the customer because of the creaking. And at the same time, a craftsman was working there, doing minor repairs: sealing the joint between the bathtub and the tiles, tiling the entrance to the balcony.

And so he went, took some wine, drank it and let’s freeze me out... “I thought you were a master...Who beats like that, you need to use a mallet on top.” It ended up that I called the customer and said that I would not work at the same time as him, the issue was resolved.

Moral of the story: Having a mallet or both hammers is not an indicator of professionalism.

Tamping block for laying laminate flooring

The easiest way to get the device is to buy a kit in one of the stores. The kit usually includes a block of hard plastic or beech wood, light steel bracket and set of wedges. The cost is low and amounts to about 300 rubles.

Alternative options exist, but not all are good.

I have often seen how a piece of laminate is used as a tamping beam. This method of hacks can be understood. The sawn-off lock is inserted into the groove; it does not fall out when finishing. You can, of course, miss and hit yourself on the finger, but that doesn’t stop the craftsmen. The main disadvantage is the huge likelihood of the edge breaking. The fact is that when nailing panels with imitation timber, the hard edge comes into contact at an angle. A lot of pressure is created on the edge of the board and wrinkles appear. When accepting the work, if your installation was done this way, pay attention to the joints of the panels before the calculation takes place and the master leaves with no ends.
It is entirely possible to use a conveniently sized flat edge of a hardwood board or a piece of plywood as a block for laying laminate flooring.

Tamping is done in this way. A block is applied to the inserted laminate board at the base of the back of the key joint. Fixing it with your left hand (if you are right-handed), right hand With a hammer, strike the base of this beam, gradually pressing the board parallel to the floor.

Steel bracket for laying laminate flooring

It can also be purchased as a kit for laying laminate flooring. An iron bracket or poker is needed when fitting the panels closer to each other if there is not enough free space to use a tamping beam. These are places near the wall partitions, under the battery.

Its requirement is especially evident when constructing the last row. It is not difficult to use, but you must be careful not to break the edge with the hard iron bend. And under the base at the heel it is better to place a piece of backing or cardboard.

The establishment of the panel occurs as follows. The poker with its wide side is lowered into the gap between the edge of the laminate and the wall. Press the bracket of the cut part of the panel and, using a hammer on the heel, knock the pieces of iron in your direction, pulling the panels towards each other.

Instead of a steel bracket, it is difficult to use other devices. Somehow it is possible to use a chisel as a lever. Insert the chisel vertically or diagonally between the board and the partition and pull it towards you. Some types of laminate locks are easy to assemble and thus will be able to attract the laminate.

You can try the combined use of the chisel and wedge from the kit.

Why are wedges needed for laying laminate flooring?!

Spacer wedges or their alternative are required when installing floating floor coverings on a wood materials. As you know, laminate has the ability to breathe during changes in temperature and humidity conditions. Thus, when the heating is turned off, laminate and parquet floors begin to expand.

Wedges are needed to set a gap of 5-15 mm, depending on work experience and the size of the room, but in any case, so that the gap can be covered by the floor plinth.

It is advisable to use wedges, since with the help of two units of these parts it is possible to regulate the depth of the gap on one side of the board. And the more spacers you set, the more accurately the first row will be set - the basis for further high-quality installation floor.

Often in photographs, craftsmen exhibiting their work do not hesitate to show off-cuts of planks used instead of wedges. Theoretically, what difference does it make what to set for the compression seam?

The difference is huge. Wall partitions have irregularities and are often significant. It is impossible to adjust the depth of the gap by cutting 8 mm thick laminate. It turns out that the first row of parquet may adhere unevenly to the wall. And when laying subsequent rows, displacement and crooked pressing of the lamellas is almost guaranteed. And this means gaps in the end edges of the boards.

Tape measure, square, pencil for laminate

This title is simple and clear. But it is needed to bring the review to its logical conclusion.

Using a tape measure, you need to measure the distances to cut the required piece of board. In principle, having considerable experience, I can say that for me this tool is not necessary when laying in rooms of a simple shape. I measure by applying the panel reverse side, obtaining a free residue along the seam of the already laid board.

I use a simple pencil or colored marker to mark the cutting line. The choice depends on the color of the coating, the main thing is good visibility of the markings.

I'm just used to using the square. For me this is the rule good manners. I measured 90 degrees and sawed it off. Or, if you need to make a bevel cut along the end, put two marks on the sides and use a square to connect the place of the future cut using a pencil.

Laminate is a practical floor covering that has an aesthetic appearance, is easy to maintain and is widely popular. Installing it does not require experience or special technical knowledge. Enough:

learn simple installation technology;
find out what tools are needed to lay laminate flooring and what supplies will be needed;
purchase everything you need.

Consumables

For high-quality and trouble-free installation flooring Not only tools are needed, but also consumables:

a backing for laminate flooring that acts as insulation and eliminates screed errors;
masking tape to limit the jigsaw when cutting sheets;
ordinary adhesive tape for gluing substrates;
waterproofing film;
leveling mixture to eliminate floor defects;
silicone sealant for filling gaps and cracks.

Required Tools

You won’t need many tools for laying laminate flooring yourself; you probably already have some, and you can borrow some from friends who have already done renovations.

Jigsaw

A jigsaw for cutting material is perfect for working with laminate, saving effort and time. You won’t be able to make such perfectly straight cuts and neat rounded holes for radiator pipes with a regular hacksaw as you can with a jigsaw. There is no need to purchase an expensive professional tool. But you shouldn’t buy a cheap one, as it may not withstand heavy loads. Optimal power is 500 W.

Roulette

Construction tape with a lock, 5 meters long. Necessary at all stages of work.

Kiyanka

A mallet or hammer for precise joining and fitting of lamella dies. Choose a wooden or rubber mallet weighing 0.4-0.6 kg. It can be replaced with a regular hammer, which every owner should have. But in this case, use a special “doboychik” (small wooden block) or an unnecessary piece of lamella.

Using a “doboychik” when laying laminate flooring

Square

A square with a diagonal of 25-35 cm when laying laminate is necessary for correct marking and drawing lines at right angles.

Pencil

A simple pencil with a soft lead so as not to scratch the sheets when marking. Brand "B" will do.

Goniometer

A protractor or protractor will be needed if you decide.

Laminate laying tool and parquet board

Additional tools

The above tools for laying laminate flooring with your own hands are quite enough to complete all the work. But for quick, high-quality work, additional devices for laying laminate flooring will be useful, making the life of a home craftsman much easier.

Bracket

A bracket for laying laminate (metal clamp) is a metal plate about 5 mm thick with edges bent in opposite directions. The clamp is used when installing the last sheet of the lamella or when the sheet cannot be tapped with a hammer.

Wedges

Restrictive wedges for laying laminate are used to provide a gap of 8-12 mm wide between the wall and the laid lamella. It is necessary to narrow or expand the lamella fabric due to temperature changes. After installation of the floor covering is completed, the gap is closed with a plinth.

Drills

Feather drills are needed for drilling holes for communications. The holes are cut 4-7 mm wider than the diameter of the pipe.

Tamping block

The tamping block, which protects the laminate locks from damage during tamping, distributes the impact force evenly over the sheet area and protects it from chips and damage. In terms of dimensions, choose a larger block, weighing about 1.5 kg. It can be wooden or plastic. If the surface of the bar is damaged during operation, it must be replaced.

Knife

A stationery knife is used for cutting the backing and cutting the packaging.

When performing some work you may need:

Electric or hand drill for drilling holes for self-tapping screws for plywood screeds and.
A hacksaw with fine teeth and a wide blade for sawing the door frame if laminate is being laid there.
A miter box (angle cutter) is used when it is necessary to cut the canvas at an acute or obtuse angle.
A hammer drill can be useful for installing skirting boards.
A screwdriver will make it easier to lay plywood sheets on wood coverings, installation of interior thresholds, screwing of baseboards.

A screwdriver will help in many construction works

Auxiliary Tools

Professionals prefer to use auxiliary tools for laying laminate flooring, which make life much easier when performing large volumes of work.

A machine for cutting laminate sheets allows you to quickly, without dust and noise, get an even and straight cut in one motion. The machine is mechanical, not connected to a source of electricity, and operates on the guillotine principle. It does not allow chipping and can cut small-thick natural wood baguettes.

An automatic square makes it possible to measure the angle of the walls and transfer it to a sheet of lamella. Measures angles in a wide range – 30°-180°.

The marking template allows you to evenly and quickly draw a longitudinal cutting line on the last sheet of laminate in a row.

A contour that allows you to copy curves and shapes and transfer them exactly to the lamella sheet. It is needed to copy holes for pipes, decorative elements, recesses and bevels on the outer panels.

Having studied a simple installation technology and having the necessary tools, you can lay laminate flooring no worse than an experienced professional.

Thanks to the glueless connection system, installing a laminate floor is much easier than parquet or porcelain tiles. Before work, the instructions recommend determining the list of tools for laying laminate flooring.

The set of devices for laying laminate largely depends on the professionalism of the master and the amount of work. Based on this criterion, tools can be divided into two categories:

For household use.
Professional kit

The first category includes all the necessary tools for DIY installation. If you are not going to involve a third-party specialist in the installation, then you can get by with what you probably have on hand. This:

Pencil or marker;
Square or a good metal ruler;
Impact block - plastic or wooden block for adjusting the laminate;
Mallet or hammer;
Spacer wedges, which can be replaced with pieces of plywood, chipboard and any other rigid material of the required thickness. They are necessary to create a thermal compensation gap around the perimeter;
Any cutting tool for wood or chipboard. This could be a saw with a blade for wood or a jigsaw, circular saw with a guide or even a simple grinder.

A construction knife for easily opening packages, a drill or screwdriver for installing skirting boards will also be useful for this work.

Installing skirting boards using a drill.

Many craftsmen believe that the minimum required kit for laying laminate flooring includes a pencil, tape measure, jigsaw or hacksaw and, of course, straight arms. This really can be done, but only if you are working in small areas, and the rooms have ideal proportions and an equally ideally flat surface.

Note that some manufacturers of laminated flooring and components produce an easy-to-use kit for laying laminate flooring, consisting of the three most necessary elements:

A set for laying laminate flooring can be purchased in stores that sell flooring at affordable prices. On average it is 300-800 rubles. per package.

Optional, but preferably available, tools include a drill with a crown attachment for cutting holes for pipes and communications, a hydraulic or laser level for checking the evenness of the base, various aids that make work easier - knee pads, gloves and goggles to protect hands, eyes and etc.

A professional set of tools for laying laminate differs primarily in:

expanded composition. To a good master you need to be prepared for any situation, so your supplies should contain various non-standard devices, such as special clamps, protractors, stackers, various templates and much more.
high quality workmanship. Any tools are designed for certain period and intensity of operation. Therefore, a product for frequent use over large areas is called professional, has better ergonomics, and competent engineering details. And high-quality and durable materials are used for production: carbon steel with a high content of manganese and other strengthening additives, copolymer rubbers, impact-resistant thermoplastics, etc.

Tools for laying laminate flooring can also be divided into manual and electric. The advantages of the first category are affordable price and versatility. But the second group, despite its decent cost and dependence on an outlet, significantly speeds up and facilitates the installation of the finishing coating.

Tools at a Glance

Let's take a closer look at all the devices used for laminate flooring.

A tool can be considered necessary in any home, so it is better to purchase a high-quality product with an ergonomic body shape and a rubberized surface.

Square

This carpentry tool refers to verification, that is, it is used to verify the structure, control the mutual perpendicular between parts. Household models consist of two rulers connected strictly at an angle of 90 °. But professional products much more complex and functional, since in addition to standard verification they are designed for measuring (angles, segments) markings (radius, circle, etc.), drawing, equipped additional accessories(stoppers, guide bars, etc.). There are even special squares with automatic angle division, used to accurately measure the angle of walls and transfer the resulting value to the laminate or baseboard.

Professional angle with automatic angle division.

The price of a household square is from 100 rubles, professional – from 700 rubles.

Construction pencil

Simply necessary for marking. Construction pencils with a thick lead and a shell of rectangular or oval cross-section are especially convenient. This shape prevents the product from rolling off.

Impact block

Used for tamping lamellas in combination with a hammer or mallet. Necessary to compensate for the impact and prevent damage to the locking part of the bar. Made from impact-resistant (thermoplastic) PVC or beech, walnut, ash wood.

Typical products are characterized by smooth edges. But professional devices, on the one hand, have a kind of “ladder” for convenient attachment to laminate or parquet boards of different thicknesses, and on the other, an aluminum strip that optimizes the transmission of impact torque.

Impact block for the pros.

The price of a standard bar is on average 70 rubles, a professional one - from 700 rubles. and higher.

Spacer wedges

They are small spacer elements that are installed between the planks and any vertical enclosing structures (walls, columns, etc.) to form a temperature gap. They are made of plastic, while the cheap ones have simple form, and expensive professional ones are distinguished by a special profile that allows you to connect 2 or more elements in both directions.

Professional series spacer wedges.

Price – from 150 rub. per set of 20, 30 or 40 pcs.

Mounting bracket

A metal hook is used to gently adjust the outer slats. Sold individually or as a set with impact block and wedges. A standard product is easy to implement, but a professional one has large area contact and is equipped with felt pads for soft sliding along the front part of the floor covering.

The mounting bracket is standard.

The mounting bracket is complex.

The cost of the mounting bracket is from 200 rubles.

As an analogue, manufacturers professional tools offer special clamps for laminate and parquet boards. The tool is ergonomic, convenient for frequent connection of planks without the use of a hammer or any other impact methods, and prevents the slightest damage to the floor covering. The price of the product is considerable - from 4000 rubles.

Mounting clamp for laminate flooring.

Drill or screwdriver

Laying laminate flooring usually ends with the installation of baseboards and thresholds. And in this case, you cannot do without a power tool for drilling and attaching decorative moldings to the wall or floor. In addition, it is often necessary to drill into laminate lamellas round holes under the pipes. The most convenient way to do this is with crown attachments.

Drill with a crown attachment.

Miter box

To install skirting boards made of wood or MDF, this tool is also useful, designed for cutting planks at the required angle. If the corners in the apartment do not correspond to 90°, then it is better to purchase a rotating product with the ability to cut at a non-standard degree. Professional installers prefer complex tools, such as a miter box combined with a protractor, which makes it easy to calibrate the product due to smooth adjustment over a range of up to 180°. The price of household products varies between 200-700 rubles, while the professional series will cost 1500-7000 rubles.

Miter box-protractor.

Cutting tool

A necessary device that you cannot do without when installing laminate flooring. The dimensions of the slats and rooms almost never coincide, so the outer slats are always trimmed. In addition, from time to time there is a need for filigree trimming of strips for their installation around pipes, under door beam etc. This is where hand and power tools come in handy. The first category includes:

Let's look at the last device in a little more detail. The device is designed for repairs without much noise and excess dust. With its help, you can cut a piece of laminate both across and along the length of the side of the lamella. According to the manufacturers, the blade does not need sharpening: install the bar in the stops, press the cutter handle and that’s it - put the cut element in place.

Absolutely any cutting power tools can be used for laminate flooring. The main thing is the correctly selected components - disk, blade, etc. The most commonly used are:

Jigsaw;
Reciprocating electric saw;
Circular or miter saw.

Cutting laminate with various tools.

Price cutting tools varies greatly depending on the operating principle and quality of the product. In our opinion, this is exactly the category of devices that can be safely classified as a must-have in any home. Therefore, it is better to immediately choose high-quality and multifunctional products from well-known manufacturers.

Template elements

Perhaps the best invention for professionals. But, unfortunately, most of them do not even know about this class of products. Meanwhile, this is a very convenient and accurate tool that allows you to copy the curves and shapes of the laminate with zero error. For example, a template for measuring the outline of a room allows you to perfectly accurately fit the planks into hard to reach places or around communications. And the template for laying laminate is designed to easily and quickly draw the cut line of the last row of lamellas, taking into account the expansion joint.

Outline template.

Template for laying laminate flooring.

Surprisingly, the cost similar products low - within 1000-1500 rubles. For those who work on large objects, this is really favorable price for convenience, speed and reducing the percentage of error during operation to 0%.

Let's sum it up: for one-time installation of laminate flooring own home, apartment, small store, cafe or office will need a tool for a modest amount of 3000-5000 rubles. For experienced installers, this figure increases by 10-20 times. But all investments will ultimately pay off in the quality and speed of work, as well as the absence of any complaints from clients.

Advice! If you need repairmen, there is a very convenient service for selecting them. Just submit in the form below detailed description work that needs to be done and you will receive offers with prices from construction teams and companies by email. You can see reviews about each of them and photographs with examples of work. It's FREE and there's no obligation.

More than thirty years ago on the market building materials a type of flooring called laminate appeared. The new product suddenly became very popular among the population, because not everyone can afford parquet, but laminate is its excellent artificial analogue, and plus at an affordable price.

The laminated coating is based on a wood-fiber board, which provides each board with the necessary rigidity and strength. The cost of laminate depends on qualities such as strength, degree of abrasion and water resistance. According to European standards, laminate flooring intended for residential premises is presented in three classes. That's why right choice category of laminate, will provide you with reliable and high-quality coating for many years.

Pros and cons of laminate as a coating

Like any other floor covering, laminate has its advantages and disadvantages.
The advantages of the material are as follows:

Convenient locks on laminate boards allow you to lay laminate without wasting extra time.
Easy to clean from dirt.
Environmentally friendly and hypoallergenic.

Find out from the article how important it is to harmonize with the overall interior and match the furniture and curtains.

About what the plan should be overhaul apartments, read this article. Correct advice and sensible recommendations for performing apartment renovations.

Disadvantages include factors such as:

Low moisture resistance.
Sometimes the price is high.

But even despite 2 significant drawbacks, laminate still remains optimal solution for aesthetically beautiful and high-quality flooring.

Laying the material

Laying laminate flooring is a very easy and simple process. Following simple rules, anyone can lay laminate flooring no worse than a seasoned renovation and construction specialist. All you need is instructions, free time and set the right tools. What tool should you buy to lay laminate flooring yourself? Let's figure it out.

Important! Before you begin the installation itself, you need to leave the closed packages of laminate boards in the room where the work will take place for at least 48 hours. This will allow the material to fully adapt to external factors: temperature and humidity.

Before laying laminated boards, the floor is covered with a special moisture-proof film. If laminate slabs are connected to each other using the locking principle, then laying the floor will not take much effort from you. The cost of such a covering is slightly higher, but it can be folded and unfolded many times. In any case, using well-chosen tools for laying laminate flooring with your own hands, you are guaranteed to complete the task faster and with better quality.

Basic tools

You will be surprised, but most of the tools needed for self-installation laminate are already at your fingertips: most of them are often used in everyday life.

So what set of tools for laying laminate flooring will you need first? Of course, a tape measure, a knife for opening packages, a hammer (mallet) and a simple pencil. It is better to use a pencil with a soft lead - this will facilitate the process of marking the floor covering. We will also need a square for easy marking and the most important tool - an electric jigsaw. Choose a device with a power of 500 W or more. You can use directly any saw that is convenient for you and that you have on the farm.

So, a sufficient set of tools for laying laminate flooring with your own hands includes:

tape measure (5 meters);
pencil;
square (with a diagonal of approximately 25-30 cm);
hammer;
electric jigsaw or saw.

A tape measure is used during the preparation stage to accurately measure the floor area. Marking work is carried out using a pencil and a square. Using a jigsaw or saw, you can make precise and quick cuts of boards. And the panels are knocked down with a hammer and the gaps between them are removed. In addition to the basic set of tools, you will need a few additional accessories.

Special tools

The following specific tools, which can be purchased at any hardware store, will help you do your own high-quality installation of laminate flooring:

clamp (metal bracket);
tamping block;
set of feather drills;
wedges for laying.

See what the slatted ceiling in the bathroom looks like in the photo if you plan to decorate the ceiling in the same way in your own bathroom.

Read about how to lay linoleum on a concrete floor - the secrets of laying linoleum and the nuances of the work are described in detail.

The procedure for insulating walls from the inside with mineral wool is described in the article at:

Let us consider in more detail the purpose for which this or that tool is used.
Clamp- This is an auxiliary tool for fixing parts at the time of processing or for pressing them tightly. The design of the clamp mainly consists of two parts - the main frame and a movable element with a clamp, by moving which you can change the distance between the jaws of the device.

The bracket is quite easy to make with your own hands. Its use is to tamp a board pressed against the wall with the rest. To preserve the edges of laminate boards, they are tapped not only with a hammer, but also with a staple. The wide end of the staple is applied to the end of the board, and the narrow end is struck with a hammer. This will easily allow you to match the end board to the adjacent ones.

Wedges are needed to maintain a 10 mm size between the wall and the laminate. This gap is necessary for the contraction and expansion of the hygroscopic laminate. During the repair process, it is covered with a plinth, and the gaps near the pipes are decorated with rosettes.

Tamping block, as you can guess, laminate boards are tacked. This helps reduce impact force per unit area, which protects the boards from chipping and breaking locks. It is made of plastic materials, which makes the impacts less harsh.

Notice! Laminate cannot be hammered using only one hammer, this spoils the edges and spoils the joint itself.

If there are batteries in the room, you cannot do without feather drills for wood, the so-called “feathers”. Thanks to them you can drill large holes under the pipes.

The diameter of the holes should not be much larger than the diameter of the pipes, approximately 4 to 6 mm.

We can summarize that laying laminate flooring does not require any supernatural tools from you; you can cope with the task even with a minimal set of tools. Your job will go swimmingly if you have on hand all the necessary parts and tools needed to install laminate flooring. So believe in yourself, stock up on everything you need, and you will succeed.

Do you think what tool is needed to lay laminate flooring with your own hands? Laying laminate flooring on the floor is not such a difficult task, but if it is joined lock type connections, it’s a piece of cake! This work Any person can do it without having any building skills. All you need is instructions, some free time and a special tool.

Of course, a professional tool will not be cheap, but don’t be scared! And you probably already have the bulk of the necessary tools in your closet, and the other part can be replaced with something more budget-friendly or borrowed from someone you know who has already renovated their apartment. Another type of tool is specific and is simply necessary for laying laminate flooring. After all, do not forget about the joining grooves, which for the reliability of your future foundation must be intact and perfectly joined.

Tool for laying laminate flooring

We will now consider all this in more detail. I’ll also tell you what technique for laying laminate flooring with your own hands is used by craftsmen who charge a lot of money for their knowledge.

Consumables

Before you begin laying laminate flooring, you will need not only tools, but also the necessary consumables. These include:

Masking tape to limit the jigsaw
Ordinary tape (color is not important) to glue the joints of the substrate
Waterproofing film
Naturally, the substrate itself is for the laminate, which will not only play the role of insulation, but will also eliminate screed errors, if any.
Silicone sealant to fill gaps and cracks

If you have already stocked up on all this, you can safely start preparing tools for laying laminate flooring.

Required Tools

As I mentioned above, most of the tools that you will need to install laminate flooring yourself are used by you at home. And every owner has it in their home.

Looking ahead I will say that The main tool will be an electric jigsaw. If you don’t have one yet, you don’t have to buy an expensive and professional jigsaw. But it is worth remembering that cheap analogs can just like low power, during prolonged processing, the tool will quickly become damaged.

The “golden mean” here is to choose a device with a power of at least 500 W under a well-known brand and in the middle price category. I would also advise you to stock up on replacement saw blades specifically for your jigsaw model in advance.

Basic

In this table, we tried to briefly tell you which tool is better to choose and what it will be needed for.

Tool		Description
	Roulette (5 m)	It is desirable that its sealed iron tip should hold firmly and not move on the canvas itself.
	Stationery knife	Opening the package with the material. Cutting out the substrate. In most cases, they can do without it - the current substrate is quite simply broken along the tear lines.
	Regular pencil	Grade “B” is ideal for marking laminated flooring. Even if the marking is not done correctly, you can easily wipe off a thin strip.
	Square (25-30cm)	At all times, this tool was the most important for marking anything.
	Jigsaw or fine-tooth hacksaw	Cutting and sawing material
	Hammer or mallet	For fitting and precise joining of laminate dies

Unfortunately, this set of tools will not be enough for comfortable and quick installation of laminate flooring; let’s also consider what additional tools you will need.

Another necessary tool may be a protractor or protractor. It may be useful to you if you decide not to follow the rules, but to lay the laminate diagonally - setting it to an angle of 90? It is very easy to mark lines for cutting dies.

You probably have a question: why a hacksaw with a fine tooth? This depends on whether there is a gap left between the base of the floor and the bottom door frame after installation interior doors. If there is no gap, then you cannot do without a hacksaw. You can, of course, try to make this with an LNA (grinder), but I don’t think that without special skills you will be able to make an even cut.

Auxiliary

The fact that it is auxiliary does not mean that it is an expensive tool or difficult to get. This tool for laying laminate flooring is sold in almost any construction and finishing store, unless of course you live on an uninhabited island. Estimated cost These devices range around 2800-3000 rubles. By spending this small amount, you can quickly and efficiently cover your floors with laminate.

Tool		Description
	Clamp (metal bracket)	Tamping the last sheet of laminate
	Restrictive wedges for laying	Ensuring a gap between the wall and the edge board
	Tamping block	Ensures the safety of sheet edges
	Feather drill set	Necessary for communications

To make it clearer for you, let’s take a closer look at what you need to lay laminate flooring with your own hands using auxiliary tools.

Metal bracket or clamp. It is a curved plate, the thickness of which should not be less than 5 mm for efficient operation. At the ends of the plate, bends are made in different directions, but clearly at an angle of 90 degrees. One end should be wider than the other. It is needed for padding the last laminated boards that are laid along the walls. Its use is necessary for uniform distribution of force along the entire length of the Laminate. Since tamping requires a certain amount of force, a hammer is indispensable. This bracket helps keep the laminate edges intact.
Restrictive Wedges for laying laminate flooring . They are needed for laying boards against the wall; they will help you set a gap of 8-12 mm. This gap will serve for thermal expansion of the laminate tiles in the off-season. I can immediately reassure you that they will not be visible on the finished, laid floor; upon completion of the work, everything will be safely covered with baseboards.
Tamping block. As you probably already guessed, it is used to tamp each board and to clearly join the tiles together. Using a block, all locking connections will remain safe and sound. It can be made of both wood and plastic, so that it is enough for more than one room, pay attention to its price and quality.
Feather drills. As in processing technology ceramic tiles used for precise and accurate drilling. In this case, they are used for making holes in the laminate for heating risers or for laying other water pipes. Do not forget that the holes should be made at 4-6 mm. wider than the diameter of pipes passing in unnecessary places.

Remember!

Sometimes a situation may arise that there is no tamping block at hand. In this case, DO NOT use a hammer to hit the locks of the laminate. As a last resort, take an unnecessary piece from one of the sheets, join the locks and carefully tamp the sheet. The effect will be similar to that of a bar.

Innovations

Above, we looked at a common and common tool, and professionals believe that high-quality styling DIY laminate will require a more advanced tool.

1- in simple words, silent and dust-free cutting of panels without using a hacksaw or electric jigsaw. The cut is made at a right angle. Design feature is cutting laminate or similar boards - one left, since you don’t need to put in much effort. This result allows you to obtain a special blade structure.

Makes it possible to quickly and effortlessly measure the angle of the walls and easily place it on the laminate sheet. Work surface such a square starts at 30 degrees.

Easily helps you instantly mark the cutting line for the final row of your base. This tool You don't even have to buy it in a store. If you think a little, you can find a similar design in your everyday life.

4 — It will be useful to you for quickly marking the cutting line of the row closest to the wall; it can easily cope with displaying the shape and then applying it to a laminate sheet for subsequent cutting, for example, semicircles for pipes or decorative elements. You can also combine the design of one template with another.

Video instructions

And now we bring to your attention video instructions about necessary tools and of course about the installation of the laminate itself.

Let's summarize:

We, in principle, have presented to you all the tools that you need to lay laminate flooring with your own hands and for what specific work. As you have seen for yourself, most of the tools are already in your home. There is no difference, whether you have at least part of the basic tools or the entire set, the quality of the finished floor covering in your home will not change. Any tool can be replaced with anything at hand, the main thing is to approach the matter with great care.

Think for yourself: will the quality of the saw change if you use an ordinary saw instead of a jigsaw? I think your answer is no. This will only affect the time spent.

The video in this article will help you gain more information on this topic.