LAMINATE FLOORING GENERAL INSTALLATION Page 3.
In these laminate flooring installation instructions, we will begin with installing the laminate flooring in the left-hand corner. This means that we are installing the laminate flooring from left to right and will be clicking the panel together using the tongue into the groove.

Laminate Flooring

A:) Take four laminate flooring panels and place them ready in the corner where you want to begin installation. For the time being, do not place them too close to the wall so that you can easily get between the wall and the panels. First saw through panel 2 so that you have a piece 80 cm long that you can use with a groove along the long and short edge (the sawn-off part against the wall). To ensure a perfect expansion joint, the tongues along the long edge of panels 1 and 3, which go against the wall, needs to be sawn off.

B:) We can now begin Laminate flooring installation. Place your knees on panel 1 and push the tongue of panel 2 into the groove of panel1. Rotate panel 2 up and down (while you hold panel 2 hard against panel 1) until both panels click together. If panel 2 does not stay flat or if the joint is not perfectly tight, this is a sign that the joint has not been fully made. If this is the case, rotate and press both panels again, using more force until they click in together.

C:) Now install the second laminate flooring panel of the first row. Take panel 5 and hold it in your left hand. Hold the panel slanted, so that the tongue (on the short edge) can be fitted easily into the groove (on the short edge) of panel 1. if the tongue sticks in the groove, rotate panel 3 up and down and at the same time push against panel 1. Make sure that panels 1 and 3 are perfectly aligned to one another. This is very important for installing the next rows ! Before you go any further, first place a weight (e.g. a full pack of panels) on top of panels 1 and 2.

D:) Place both knees on laminate flooring panels 1 and 3. The weight (pack of panels) that is lying on panels 1 and 2, will ensure that the joints you made previously will not come apart. Now take panel 4 in both hands, and fit it on the slant into the groove on the short edge of panel 2. Ensure that on the long edge there is a space of +/- 1 cm between panel 4 and the panels in the first row. Rotate panel 4 gently downward and press it against panel 2 until you feel the tongue and groove click firmly together. Now the panels lie flat on the ground. Slightly lift up panel 2 and 4 and use your left hand to tap panel 4 on the long edge side so that it moves in the direction of the first row so that the tongue of the long side of panel 4 comes into direct contact with the groove of the first row.

E:) Rotate laminate flooring panels 2 and 4 together up and down in order to make a joint between tongue and groove. Always make sure when rotating that you press the tongue and groove together with sufficient force. After a few rotations, the tongue-and-groove joint should have been made and you can now let the panels lie flat on the ground. If there is no visible space left in the joint, then you have joined the panels together correctly. If not, repeat the rotation movement (and press harder) or you must check that the panels in the first row are in perfect alignment. Now you have joined the first four panels and have got used to the technique. Then use the same technique as with panels 3 and 4 so that the first two rows are fully installed. Now push the whole unit against the wall and fill in the expansion joint (+/- 1 cm), using spacer blocks, so that you have a sturdy whole.

F:) From the third row on, finish off each row at a time, each time joining the panel along its short edge, then along its long edge. You can use the left-over pieces that you have at the end of each row as the beginning panels of the next row. That way, you make the best possible use of each panel. Always place a weight (a pack of panels) on the joints that you have just made in order to stabilize them.

G:) Finish.

After installing your laminate flooring you can immediately walk on it and begin the finishing process.

Remove all spacer blocks.
Fix the skirting boards to the plastic membrane sticking up from the floor. Never fix the skirting boards to the floor itself, but allow the floor to expand and contract underneath the skirting board.
Finish the pipes with rosettes or elastic paste.
In locations where no profiles or skirting boards can be placed, the expansion gap must be filled with elastic paste.

Precautions

Protect furniture and chair feet by means of felt or plastic gap's.
Avoid bringing dirt, water and sand from outside by using a doormat.
Use wheel chairs with soft rollers suitable for laminated flooring.
Make sure there is a minimum humidity of 50% in the room. If necessary, use a humidifier.

Maintenance

With its smooth surface, these floors cannot retain dust or dirt.
NEVER use a wax or varnish coating on the floor.
For dry maintenance, use a duster of vacuum cleaner.
For damp maintenance: wipe over with clean water or with BRANDED CLEANING PRODUCT diluted in water. (Never use other cleaning product or detergents !) This product cleans the floor very well and leaves a satin shine. Only use a WELL WRUNG OUT CLOTH. ALWAYS WIPE DRY IMMEDIATELY AFTER until no moisture is visible on the floor. If you do not wipe it dry, the Uniclic cleaning product has virtually no effect.
WET MAINTENANCE IS ENTIRELY FORBIDDEN.
Remove stubborn stains carefully with a little acetone. Never use any scouring products. Despite the relative moisture-resistance, remove any excess water immediately.