How to Install Laminate Flooring Over Concrete (Step-by-Step DIY Guide)

This post was originally published in 2016 and has been updated with improved instructions, tips, and current best practices.

Hey there everyone!

I’ve been working on finishing up my office/craft room makeover, and today I’m sharing the flooring we chose and how we installed it.

As part of this project, I knew new paint and flooring needed to happen before building the Murphy bed. With how large that bed was going to be, it truly felt like a now or never situation. So, after painting the room and installing new baseboards, we moved on to replacing the carpet with laminate flooring.

Why We Chose Laminate Flooring

If you follow me on Instagram, you might remember when I was asking for opinions on flooring options. At the time, we went back and forth between laminate flooring and wood-look tile.

We ultimately chose laminate because it:

• Is more DIY-friendly and faster to install
• Feels warmer and softer underfoot
• Offers a realistic wood look at a lower cost
• Can be wet mopped (depending on the product)

We ended up choosing AquaGuard laminate flooring in the color Cocoa from Floor & Decor. At the time, we hadn’t heard much about this brand, but it had a high wear rating and checked all the boxes for what we needed.

Even now, I still love how well this color transitions with the existing tile in the rest of our home.

Materials & Tools

Materials

• AquaGuard Laminate Flooring (Cocoa)
• Eco-Ultra Quiet Underlayment (necessary moisture barrier for installation over concrete floors)
• 3/16″ spacers or plastic shims

Tools

• Tape measure
• Utility knife
• Laminate Flooring Cutter
• Laminate flooring installation kit
• Table saw or compact circular saw for trimming width of flooring (if needed)

Step 1: Prepare the Subfloor

Because we installed this flooring over a concrete foundation, proper prep was essential.

Before starting, make sure your subfloor is:

• Clean
• Dry
• Level

A moisture barrier is especially important when installing over concrete to prevent long-term damage.

Step 2: Install the Underlayment

We chose the Eco-Ultra Quiet underlayment, which includes a built-in moisture barrier.

At the time, it was slightly more expensive, but after testing the sound difference in-store (yes, we were those people bouncing golf balls on displays Read Original