Laminate Flooring - End Joints, Doorways, Last Row, and Transitions - SECRETS TO PRO RESULTS!
Вставка
- Опубліковано 1 сер 2020
- In this video, I'll show you a technique I call "The Staggering Power of Three" to randomize end joints, a slick little trick for cutting around door trim, cutting out a heat register, and getting that last row of planks in place.
Tap into my 37 years of experience to discover how you can get professional results in your projects.
I wear all the hats in the production of these videos. I just set up the camera, and go to work.
This video had some challenges with the auto-focus for the first few minutes, but if you can see past that, there are some tips that can save you time and get you the pro results you want.
Amazon links to specialty tools shown in this video:
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Free shipping with Amazon Prime - amzn.to/2QpTvKF
Thank you!
ProKnee 0714 Custom Fit Knee Pads with 1 Inch Foam - amzn.to/3UvqmeA
Bullet 20” Magnum Shear - amzn.to/3fbqD3r
(Newer, lighter version. Cuts up to 1” thick flooring)
Bullet EZ 13 - amzn.to/3tOpyST
(What I use for 9/16 or thinner laminate and LVP)
Shunting Tool similar to the one I use - amzn.to/3dxt0vw
Shunting Tool (alternative) - amzn.to/3sdSbsz
Wonder Bar - amzn.to/3cWFig2
Molding Lifter - amzn.to/2Plb5yR
Power Undercut Saw - amzn.to/3vRDoFV
Plastic Spacers - amzn.to/2NI86jR
Dividers (Scribing Tool) - amzn.to/3vLkS2h
Utility Knife - amzn.to/3cXHVOz
Recommended Reading:
SOMEWHERE A CHILD IS BORN: Conversations Beyond Belief.
Wolf Stanley
amzn.to/3O7vFPz
A metaphysical fiction.
Looking for a set of plans to build a garage, barn, cabin, or shed?
Want a basic set of plans that doesn't cost hundreds of dollars?
See how you can get 50 complete plans for less than $1 / set.
Check out these contractor blueprint plan sets from SDS:
17fc7bbbcyol4ffkllizjv7yf7.ho... - Навчання та стиль
Great video! I’m tackling my first install in a few days, and feel better about it after watching this. I appreciate that you included the whole thing, from pad to the final row and end cap, since I have never done any of those steps before.
Thank you! I'm happy you found it helpful.
The cat and dog scene at the end really added to the entertainment value of the video, thanks for adding that. Some good tips too.
Thank you for watching. I'm glad you found it both entertaining and helpful. I'll pass on the praise to Scout & Billy.
Thank you. Best explanation without talking a mile-a-minute. You saved me so much time.
Thank you! Glad it helped!
This looks great! Thanks for the help!
Thank you. I'm glad you found it helpful.
Great video my friend love it..... Easy and to the point 🙌🙌🙌🙌👍👍👍👍💪💪💪💪💪💪
Thak you! I'm happy to hear that you like it.
True master at work.
Thank you!
I like your technique at 7:56 in cutting inside corners short and then snapping them off by hand to give a bit of extra material to the inside corner of the cut. I'll remember that.
It's a slick and simple solution. I like that kind too. Thank you.
Great video for installation of laminating floor, especially for areas around the walls and sliding door (after 11:00).
Glad you liked it! Thank you!
I have based pretty much all of the methods for my entire install off of this video as well as your more recent hardwood install video and couldn’t be happier with the knowledge gained or my end result!! After watching it a dozen times throughout my laminate install of a large landing and 4 bedrooms/closets I am still picking up tidbits of new info. (A great feat with both 3yr and 3mo old kiddos at home) I plan to offer install services to friends and family after I am done. I just received my Taylor shunt tool today and am super excited to use it over the block and hammer and am watching the video yet again to study your shunting techniques better. It’s amazing that yours has lasted you 30 years and your video is literally the only one that I have ever seen a shunt used. Crazy….
Thank you for the effort to pass your knowledge on!
I do have one question that I do not see answered in the comments yet. What are the kneepad/ shinpad devices that you use in this video? Also, do you still use them or have you found something better by now?
Thanks a bunch!
Thank you! That's exciting to hear! You will absolutely love the shunting tool.
The knee pads that I use are:
ProKnee 0714 Custom Fit Knee Pads with 1 Inch Foam -
amzn.to/3UvqmeA
I resisted buying these for years because of the price.
But when I started having more and more difficulty getting up from the floor, I decided to give them a try. From the very first day, I noticed the difference in the way my knees, ankles, and hips felt. Now, I won't wear anything else.
Thanks again and good luck to you.
Thanks for the tips, very useful. And you've got a great voice. Reminds me of the voice from the song, Everybody's Free to Wear Sunscreen
Thank you! I'm glad you found it helpful.
You sound exactly like Billy Bob Thornton. Thanks for the video!
Thank you, and thanks for watching.
Best flooring video on UA-cam! Thanks so much
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you
Thank you!
very good
Thank you! Glad you found it helpful.
Thank you for the video. I will say I had to use subtitles because I had a hard time hearing- particularly in the beginning. The cutting partway and snapping is something I will have to try. The doggy and kitty playing at the end is adorable!
Thank you. This early video was done during the time when I was trying different mics. I have a good one now.
I developed that technique a long time ago. It is a slick and simple solution that gives better coverage at the corners.
Those two were friends from the first night. Here's the video:
ua-cam.com/video/NYn5sA4l-7E/v-deo.html
@@elbowshots I'm a bit hard of hearing to begin with so I just went straight to CC. I'm very glad you have a new mic. I think I've seen a video with a better mic. I can't for the life of me find a decent mic but I don't record myself or do videos. Thank you for the link!
My dogs and cats mostly get along (4 dogs & 15 cats). I love animals.
dude as far as help you helped this country boy out even tho ill be doin vinyle flooring today the concept it still the same and im glad you madr this video that trick with the door jams was great
Thank you! I'm glad you found it helpful.
thanks...#530. doing my floor 305-sqft, I've learned I'm not doing another one. :) I should have started in the hall, but didn't. Installed the first row and half backwards (i.e. lip into tongue vs. tongue into lip). It isn't any worse than the other laminate installed by previous owners, but man has it been a pain. It could be the flooring brand (quick step), but it's probably me. A week in and I still have 4 door jams to do (only 6 boards total, how hard could it be?)...
Good stuff sir! Very professional job with the floor as well as the video and narrating. A " likable " video.
Thank you, I'm glad you liked it.
Great job really pushing the video! A professional 30 years.Can you tell me more about your shunting tool?
Thank you! The sound of one hand tapping. The shunting tool works great on all types of plank flooring. It frees up the other hand to hold planks in position while tapping.
You should be able to find one here:
www.tools4flooring.com/taylor-tools-375-03-power-shunting-device.html
Cool video! What do you call the cool tool you use to tap or slap a piece in place?
Thank you! That is called a shunting tool.
One place that I have found them online is:
www.tools4flooring.com/taylor-tools-375-03-power-shunting-device.html
"And we'll leave the light on for you."
Thank you for watching.
First of all, this is a great video. Well done, great explanations. Second, where did you get that shunt? That's awesome.
Thank you! I have included a link to 2 different styles of shunting tools in the description. The one from Taylor Tools is closer to the one I use.
Thank you. The full plank 2/4, 1/3 method is something I will have to consider when laying out my flooring. I believe the mfr said that none of the scrap pieces should be cut smaller than 12". I'm using 7"x48" vinyl planks (but concept is generally the same as installing laminate). I do have 5 doorways to deal with (one exterior, another to a kitchen with parquet, one to a closet, another to a carpeted bedroom, and another to a bathroom with vinyl sheet. Any starting point I pick will have a doorway so the starting board will have to be notched (and possibly first whole row ripped to make the end row wide enough).
I do have a question about how to handle installing with multiple doorways: I can either start on the southwest side of the room (running planks south to north) at a perpendicular doorway with two other parallel doorways along the length of the planks and another perpendicular doorway at the end of the first few rows of planks. Installation could end with a parallel doorway to the outside. Alternatively, I could start at the perpendicular exterior doorway and the end would be the one with 3 doors (the two parallel and one perpendicular). Which do you think would be the best/easiest to start with?
The first consideration is the direction of the planks. I generally run them the length of a room. If that does not matter in this case, option A (start on SW side) seems the better of the two.
I would put a control (layout) line on the subfloor and cut in the first row parallel to that line. That should give you a solid start.
Good luck and thank you.
@@elbowshots Thanks. With my layout I'm running them the length of the room. It's ~10'x8'. Some installers online told me they would start at SW corner as well. So i get about 2.5 full planks per row. It's a little over 10' as it's about 122" one way and 94.5 the other. But that's not counting butting in to doorways at the south and north end.I think once I get past the doorways it might be a bit easier, but I still need to keep the 1/4" gap (as per mfr for my flooring) in mind. I still need to do some demo and clear replace/repair subfloor. The measurements I took are with walls that don't have drywall but have very thin wood paneling--very old house done on the cheap with no insulation in exterior walls and put up very thin wall panels everywhere.
Where did you get that magnificent shunting tool? I must have one!
The shunting tool works great on all types of plank flooring. It frees up the other hand to hold planks in position while tapping.
Mine is over 30 years old. I found a couple of them online.
This one is the closest to the one I have:
www.tools4flooring.com/taylor-tools-375-03-power-shunting-device.html
This one is similar: amzn.to/3sdSbsz
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Free shipping with Amazon Prime - amzn.to/2QpTvKF
Thank you!
Every time I have done laminate, I have used the 3's. 16, 32, trim. If installed right, there is no obvious seam. Just know the room you are working in.
Thanks for the video and perspective. Nicely done.
Yes, the randomized pattern looks much more natural than having end joints line up. Thank you!
@@elbowshots well, due to a fireplace in the room I did today, I ended up randomizing boards because the fireplace sits at a 45 to the room. Every row different and tailored to the 45 degree. It worked out well and looks good. But it felt slower, and maybe that's the fireplace factor.
Thanks again!
Great video! Can u please share the tool u are using for taping the laminate?
Thank you! The tool that I'm using is called a shunting tool. It is a great tool for most plank flooring.
Mine is 25 - 30 years old, but I found a newer version here:
www.tools4flooring.com/taylor-tools-375-03-power-shunting-device.html
Elbow Shots thank you mate!
Very helpful- thanks! Don't miss the cheesy music and time-wasting delivery of many videos. Would like to see you make saw cuts as well.
Thank you! I like to keep things simple. I don't have any footage of saw use, but I'll see what I can do.
This is an extremely helpful video. I'm having trouble leveling my floor. There's several smallish unleveled areas. I tried self-leveler and somehow I screwed that up. S0 I resorted to 1/4" and 1/8" plywood and hard board to fill the spaces. Any advice out there?
Thank you! The name self-leveler is somewhat misleading. It needs a little help getting the bulk of it spread before it can level itself. Vibration helps.
The different thicknesses of plywood that you are using sound like you're working with a severely uneven substrate. Was it that bad before the self-leveler, or a result of it?
Are you working with the whole house, or just one or two rooms?
Are there multiple layers of flooring, or has it been stripped down to the subfloor? Too many layers can create height challenges for doors, appliances, and transitions. (and leveling)
If the self-leveler hasn't cured too long, it may be an option to break it up and shovel it out. Whatever you have to do, it sounds like there may not be an easy solution. I wish you the best.
@@elbowshots
Before and after. I only used self leveler on a a 1' x 2' area. I may have made it too thick also.
OK; one problem is I just let it do its own work.
Just upstairs 5 rooms and 2 short hallways.
Just subfloor; no other layers.
I broke out the leveler; it was a tough!
Yeah, busting out cement products is tough.
If that 1' x 2' area is the only spot, you could re-apply self-leveler with knowledge you have now. I would use a 3' or longer screed that would span the area. I have aluminum screeds, but you could use a 1 x 4 (if you can find a straight one). Keep it as tight to the floor as you can, so you don't get a hump.
@@elbowshots
You have a new subscriber LoL
@@kenmitchell3355 Thank you!
Where can I get that tool that you are using to set/tap the planks?
It's called a shunting tool. This is a newer version:
www.tools4flooring.com/taylor-tools-375-03-power-shunting-device.html
Thank you
What’s the name off that self knocking board tool your using please ?
Hi. It's called a shunting tool.
You should be able to find one here:
www.tools4flooring.com/taylor-tools-375-03-power-shunting-device.html
OR here: Shunting Tool similar to the one I use - amzn.to/3dxt0vw
Shunting Tool (alternative) - amzn.to/3sdSbsz
Thank you.
I ran short of laminate flooring and when trying to order more it had been discontinued. Have lots of pieces left over, enough to finish floor however not sure if it can be glued together end to end. Can you help?
I've never tried to splice pieces like that. I would rather have a box left over than be one piece short.
If I were to splice pieces, I would do it in an area that is usually concealed. Definitely not in a traffic area.
I have laminate countertop material readily available to me. I would probably cut a piece of that to use as a strap glued to the underneath side of the flooring. You can fill the joint with a color-matched caulking.
Thank you and good luck.
Did you make that tool? I have been looking for something like that
Thank you.
I did not make it. It is a very early model, and looks like it might be one of the first production runs. I believe it's about 25 - 30 years old. There are no markings on it, so I don't know the brand. It's called a shunting tool, and I use it for most plank flooring installations regardless installation method. I use it all the time, and thought everybody had one. I was surprised at my findings. I did a search, and only found one site in the US. It is a newer model:
www.tools4flooring.com/taylor-tools-375-03-power-shunting-device.html
In the UK: Flooring Hut has one that looks like mine.
@@elbowshots Thank you for the link. Hope you are doing well.
@@algreen5559 You're welcome. I'm doing very well, thank you.
? where you get the beater tool from
The shunting tool works great on all types of plank flooring. It frees up the other hand to hold planks in position while tapping.
Mine is over 30 years old. I found a couple of them online.
This one is the closest to the one I have:
www.tools4flooring.com/taylor-tools-375-03-power-shunting-device.html
This one is similar: amzn.to/3sdSbsz
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Free shipping with Amazon Prime - amzn.to/2QpTvKF
Thank you!
old Fighter Pilot I presume?
Old contractor. I've never flown anything bigger than a Cessna. Thanks for watching.
Set your camera to manual focus when doing shots like this. The constant focusing and unfocusing is giving me a headache.
Thank you. I learned that lesson about auto-focus as soon as I saw the footage, but made a decision to not let that stop me from publishing what is otherwise valuable information. The important parts are clear. The raw footage is what it is.
I put my phone on a tripod and went to work. There is a severe shortage of people coming into the trades. This is the best way I can share what I’ve learned over the past 40 years.
Dude good video but needs much work on focus!!!
Thank you! Yeah, I had a little trouble with the auto-focus that I didn't catch until editing. The important parts are clear. I'm glad you found it helpful.
Focus bad.
Thank you. I am working and filming by myself. The autofocus had some challenges at the beginning because there was no source of artificial light. The important parts are clear.
Structural? It's a fking floating floor.... it's not structural.......why are you talking about structural?...... just stop it... it's k talking to someone who thinks drywall is structural!😆😆😆😆
You are confusing structural integrity of a floor with structural components of a building. Thanks.