How do I install click-lock laminate flooring as a DIY project in my NB home?

Click-lock laminate is one of the most DIY-friendly flooring options available, and it is a great weekend project for NB homeowners comfortable with basic tools and careful measuring. The floating installation system requires no nails, glue, or specialized equipment — just patience, planning, and attention to NB-specific moisture considerations.

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Start with acclimation and preparation. Bring the laminate into the room where it will be installed and let it sit, unopened, for 48-72 hours at normal room temperature (18-22°C). This is especially important in NB where laminate delivered from an unheated warehouse or cold delivery truck in winter can be significantly colder and drier than your home environment. Installing cold, dry laminate in a heated NB home leads to excessive expansion as the material warms and absorbs indoor moisture.

While the flooring acclimates, prepare your subfloor. Remove existing flooring if necessary (old flooring removal runs $1-$4/sq ft if you hire it out, but pulling up carpet or old laminate is manageable as DIY). Check the subfloor for flatness — it should be flat within 3mm over a 1.8-metre span. Sand down high spots on plywood subfloors and fill low spots with floor-levelling compound. Sweep and vacuum thoroughly — even small debris under laminate creates annoying bumps and clicking sounds underfoot.

Install the underlayment next. Over plywood subfloors in NB, use foam underlayment with an integrated vapour barrier ($0.50-$1.00/sq ft) — the vapour barrier protects against moisture from crawl spaces and ground-level subfloors common in NB homes. Over concrete, a vapour barrier is absolutely essential. Roll out the underlayment with edges butted together (not overlapped, unless the product specifies overlap), and tape the seams with the manufacturer's recommended tape. If your laminate has a pre-attached pad, skip the foam layer but still install a separate 6-mil poly vapour barrier over concrete.

Begin laying planks from the longest, straightest wall, working left to right. Place 10-12mm spacers along the wall to maintain the expansion gap — this gap is critical in NB, where summer humidity causes the floor to expand more than in drier provinces. Angle the long side of each plank into the previous row at about 20-30 degrees and press down to click into place. Stagger end joints by at least 30cm (12 inches) between rows for stability and a natural appearance.

Use a pull bar and tapping block (not a hammer directly on the laminate) to close tight joints. Cut planks with a mitre saw, circular saw, or even a sharp utility knife and straight edge for simple crosscuts. Measure and cut around door frames — undercutting the door casing with an oscillating multi-tool or hand saw creates a cleaner finish than trying to notch the laminate.

Finish with transitions and trim. Install T-mouldings or reducer strips at doorways and transitions to other flooring types ($15-$50 each). Remove spacers and install quarter-round or shoe moulding around the perimeter to cover expansion gaps. Trim door bottoms if the new floor height causes clearance issues — laminate adds 8-12mm of height to your floor.

A typical 200-300 sq ft room takes a handy homeowner one full day. Materials for a DIY laminate project in NB run roughly $2-$5/sq ft for the laminate plus $0.50-$1.00/sq ft for underlayment, saving you the $2-$4/sq ft installation labour cost. For a 300 sq ft room, that is $600-$1,200 in labour savings. Bring your room dimensions to a local NB retailer and buy 10% extra for cuts and waste.

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Looking for experienced contractors? The New Brunswick Construction Network connects homeowners with qualified professionals:

• Thirty Four Renovations
• First united design & construction inc.
• Gionetterenovations
• 3Tone Construction Ltd
• Forever Epoxy Inc