If you have decided to try laying a laminate floor yourself, you are in good company. Modern click systems have made it one of the most achievable home projects, provided you respect a few key steps. Here is the straightforward sequence we recommend for a tidy, lasting result.

Step one: let it settle

Bring the planks into the room and leave them flat in their packaging for at least forty eight hours. This lets the boards adjust to the temperature and humidity of the space, which prevents gaps and bulging later.

Step two: prepare the subfloor

Your floor will only ever be as good as the surface beneath it. Make sure the subfloor is clean, dry and level. Lay a suitable underlay to smooth out minor imperfections, cushion your step and help with sound.

Step three: plan your layout

Measure the room and work out the width of your final row before you begin. A board that ends as a thin sliver looks awkward, so adjust your starting row to balance the edges. Always lay planks running away from the main light source for the cleanest appearance.

Step four: leave an expansion gap

This is the step most beginners forget. Laminate expands and contracts, so leave a small gap of around ten millimetres around every wall and fixed object. Spacers make this easy, and the gap disappears neatly under your beading at the end.

Step five: finish neatly

Once the floor is down, remove the spacers and fit your skirting or beading to hide the expansion gap. Use threshold strips at doorways for a professional join. Stand back, admire the work, and enjoy a job done properly.