Laminate floors are placed over the sub-floor without actually being attached to it. In other words, laminate flooring simply lies on whatever's underneath it (wood, cement, linoleum, etc.). Laminate floors come in squares or planks, and have a variety of shapes and sizes The planks have a tongue and groove edge which are locked together.

Many laminate floors don't require any glue, making installation much easier with their glueless locking systems. Other laminate floors have glue pre-applied, requiring just a damp sponges to activate the adhesive. Many of the better grade laminate floors have their edges pre-sealed at the factory in order to prevent moisture from attacking the inner core structure.

Prior to installation, a special polyurethane coat is put down, over which the flooring will float. Some higher-priced underlayments reduce sound and restrict moisture penetration. The installation for laminate wood flooring is similar to hardwood, with several rows laid first to square off the room to prevent bowing and cupping of the planks.

The process of glueless laminate floor installation

The laminate flooring most commonly offered by manufacturers are glueless, also referred to as "clic-floors." The tongue and the groove of this type of flooring is meant to lock firmly in place and not come apart with foot traffic. Always read the manufacturer's installation procedures before you start – this will prevent you from making mistakes and wasting time and effort. Also, the subfloor must be flat in order for the planks to lock together.

Tools to install glued laminate flooring

You'll need various tools to install standard laminate flooring. Again, be sure to follow the manufacturer's installation instructions and use the recommended tools.

•Glue – most, but not all, laminate floors have a special adhesive to join the planks and help keep moisture out of the core.

•Straps – these are much more effective at pulling rows of planks together than clamps are. As a rule, you'll need a set of straps for every four feet of starter rows.

•Fillers and sealants -- some laminate wood flooring manufacturers offer color coordinated fillers and sealants to cover gaps between planks and prevent moisture from entering the perimeter of the planks.

•Tapping block – use this to tap two planks together.

•Wedges – V-shaped wedges are used to ensure that there's as little gap left between the laminate floor and the walls as possible. Again, different manufacturers of laminate floors have their own recommended gap distance, so to be sure to consult your manufacturer's installation manual.

•Pulling bar – this bar is used to pull two pieces of together. Great care must be applied in using the bars to avoid chipping the surface of the plank.