Does anybody know anything about laminate flooring?

[NewSc2]

I purchased some IKEA tundra laminate flooring and from the IKEA website it supposedly looks really easy to install. That is... if it weren't a piece of crap. Iono if it's the heat or humidity or whatever but two planks do not go in together side by side and lay flush. They kinda bend at the middle, creating a flat V, and if I force both sides to lay flat on the ground a little crack appears in the middle.

After messing around with the planks for a while I decided to sand the hooks on the side down to allow for more room so the V thing wouldn't happen. They're flat on the ground now but they're still not sitting next to each other really well (there's a tiny crack where they meet) and I just read about laminate floors coming apart, which I don't want.

So a few questions:

- what should I do about the crack? sand the hooks down some more? fill in the gap with some wood filling?

- is sanding the hooks down going to make it easier for the planks to come apart? they're still fitting together pretty well but some of the pieces I sanded down quite a bit...

 

[BigJ]

Pergo is expensive, but damn does that stuff look good when it's finished.

::Just a general comment on laminate flooring::

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

How long did you let it sit in the area that you'll be installing it? You're supposed to let it sit there for 1-2 days IIRC.

 

[NewSc2]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
How long did you let it sit in the area that you'll be installing it? You're supposed to let it sit there for 1-2 days IIRC.

about 3 days. i wasn't supposed to take it out of its package but I opened up a slit to take out the instructions...

i opened up a new box just to double check and same problem with those planks

 

[alfa147x]

bump-o

 

[Number1]

Remove the planks and inspect the grooves carefully. Remove any damadged joint material. Re asemble. There should be NO tiny cracks whatsoever.

There should be no need for sanding anything. You may need to use a hamer and the install kit to get the planks together once in a wile.

Pics would help.

 

[NewSc2]

Originally posted by: Number1
Remove the planks and inspect the grooves carefully. Remove any damadged joint material. Re asemble. There should be NO tiny cracks whatsoever.

Pics would help.

i might be able to get pics up later (usb transfer cable is in my sister's car) but i'll do my best to describe it... i can get the the planks to go perfectly together but then the planks won't sit on the ground.

If you look at that IKEA flash animation it tells you to slide in the next row of planks in at a 45-degree angle. I stick the next row of planks into the first row (which is perfectly aligned and all) and when I push it down to the ground it starts to lift up the first row of planks, making like a 177-degree angle (not 180-flat). So when I apply pressure on both sides one end pushes up on the other end and creates a little space where they meet, about 0.5mm wide and 0.5mm high. After letting go, the planks usually settle back at their 177-degree angle.

I'm not sure if this problem will continue after a few rows (maybe the weight will settle all the planks down) but I didn't think I'd have this problem to begin with. After getting to row 3 I decided to sand down the hooks and the planks lay flat now but there's still a tiny space between the rows (smaller than before) and I'm assuming if I sand the hooks down even more then the space won't be visible at all... of course this route is time consuming and I just heard about this flooring-separating issue... which i'm assuming happens because the pieces aren't hooking well enough.

I'm not sure if the whole thing will settle down, but having the first few rows not lay flat makes it almost impossible for me to continue with the next rows.

 

[JinLien]

It should pop/click together if apply correctly and there shouldn't be any visible seams. Be patient and practice with a few pieces before installing. Or, call a friend/contractor if you can't handle it.

 

[NewSc2]

Originally posted by: JinLien

It should pop/click together if apply correctly and there shouldn't be any visible seams. Be patient and practice with a few pieces before installing. Or, call a friend/contractor if you can't handle it.

Speak of the devil, this actually worked.

I was taking pictures then I decided to take 2 planks out and really rough them around to get them to fit and then I heard a little pop and they fit together fine~ they weren't totally level but I started bending them here and there and they eventually settled down. Guess I wasn't patient enough / wasn't applying enough force.