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Should Laminate Flooring Be Nailed Down? (Complete Guide!)

Laminate floors are floating floors that give durability and strength. This floor doesn’t need much maintenance. Moreover, laminate floors are cost-effective. So, the flooring is being demandable day by day.

Installing a laminate floor isn’t that hard. So, you can install laminate flooring on your own. But you might be confused about whether laminate flooring should be nailed down or not.

This article will tell you about nailing down the laminate floor and whether nailing down is mandatory or not.

Should laminate flooring be nailed down?

Laminate flooring doesn’t need to be nailed down. These floorings are floating floors, and they must not be fixed with something like glue or a nail. Because the laminate floors expand and contract over time according to the temperature and humidity. So, nailing down can be an unwise decision.

Some floors, like wood floors or plywood, need nails to settle down. But laminate floorings aren’t suitable for nailing. If you nail down the laminate floor, the floor might expand or contract for the environment.

While installing the laminate floors, a gap between two planks of the laminate flooring is a must. But if you nail down the floor, nails won’t allow the floor to contract or expand. So, the planks might break and damage the floor.

Do you need to nail down laminate flooring?

You don’t need to nail down the laminate flooring. Laminate floors are floating floors that need a gap between the planks. The expansion and the contraction are related to the temperature and humidity of the floor.

When the temperature and humidity change with the environment, the laminate floors are likely to expand or contract. If you attach the planks with nails, the planks won’t get space to expand or contract. So, the planks might break or damage.

So, you don’t need to nail down the laminate flooring. Sometimes, the floating laminate floor might move. You have the options to solve the moving problems. But if you nail down the floor, it might cause harm to your floor.   

Do you glue laminate flooring?

You don’t need to glue the laminate flooring. Gluing the laminate floor isn’t mandatory. Because, the laminate floor is a floating floor. The primary reason for making the laminate floor is its contraction and expansion possibilities.

When the laminate floor expands or contracts, it needs space for spreading the extended part. If you glue the laminate floor, the floor will stick to its place. The glue will not let the floor spread the expanded portion.

It might cause problems if you glue the laminate floor. Moreover, drying the glue needs time. Sometimes, glue might damp the laminate floor. So, you don’t need to glue the laminate floor.

Do you staple laminate flooring?

Laminate flooring doesn’t need staples. Generally, staples attach the planks of the floor and stick them together. Staples don’t let the floor move. But laminate flooring is a floating floor, and it needs to be free from nails or staples.

When you staple the floor or attach it with something, the laminate floor will stick to one place. But if the plank of the laminate floor expands, it will not get space to move.

Similarly, when the floor contracts, it will not let the plank contract, and the floor might break or damage. So, you don’t need to staple the laminate flooring.

Should I glue laminate flooring joints?

Generally, laminate flooring joints don’t need glue. Laminate floors are floating floors that don’t need excess things to attach the planks. If you glue the laminate floor, it might be problematic.

But in some cases, you can glue the laminate flooring joints. Sometimes, moisture or liquid can enter into the laminate floor’s plank and damp the floor. Moreover, joints can be rusted if they get moisture.

So, you can glue the joints to keep the joints moisture-free. But gluing is not recommended for the laminate flooring.

Can I use Liquid Nails on laminate flooring?

Generally, nails are not recommended for laminate flooring. But when it comes to liquid nails, you have to check the materials before using them. The liquid nails, which contain polyethylene and polypropylene, aren’t suitable for laminate flooring.

Liquid nails, which don’t contain polyethylene and polypropylene, can be used on laminate flooring. These liquid nails keep the joints from moving and forming rust.

Some companies guarantee the safety of liquid nails on laminate floors. So, you can use liquid nails on laminate flooring.

What happens if you nail down, screw or glue laminate flooring?

If you nail down, screw, or glue laminate flooring, they can make the laminate floor damage. Laminate floors have the feature of expanding and contracting.

So, a gap between the planks of the laminate flooring is recommended. Let’s see what happens when you nail down, screw, or glue the laminate flooring.

Breakage:

When you attach the laminate floor with something, the nails, screws, or glue might hinder the floor from expanding or contracting. So, nails, screws, or glue can be an obstacle to the natural process.

If you nail down or screw the laminate floor, the floor might break up from the pressure of expanding or contracting. The floor might be damaged from excess attaching elements.

Damp the floor:

When you glue the laminate floor, the glue must be dry. When you use the laminate floor after installation, the glue might not dry properly. So, the laminate floor will get damp when you use it to join the planks.

Damage:

Glues have some chemical elements which are not suitable for the laminate floor. For example, polyethylene and polypropylene are toxic for the laminate floor. Toxic materials can damage the laminate floor.

Rust:

When you join the laminate planks with screws or nails, there is a chance to form rust on the screw or nails.

This rust will make the full planks damaged. Moreover, the manufacturing components of the nails or screws might not be suitable for the laminate flooring.

How do I keep my laminate floor from moving?

Laminate flooring has the feature of expanding and contracting. This feature varies with temperature and humidity. Laminate flooring is a floating floor. Moreover, it doesn’t require any glue, nails, or attaching elements.

So, you might be facing your laminate floor moving. You can slide a spacer between the wall and the short edge of the plank. This spacer will allow the laminate to expand and contract with the environment. Also, the floor will not be moving.

The laminate floor moves when the planks contract and create a gap between the gaps. You can caulk the laminate floor’s gap to fix it. After caulking, the laminate floor won’t move and stay together.

Also read, How Soon Can You Walk on Laminate Flooring After Installing?

Can you nail laminate flooring to the ceiling?

You can nail the laminate flooring to the ceiling. Installing laminate flooring to the ceiling might be difficult, but you can do this by following instructions. Laminate on the ceiling will create an elegant and cottage appearance in your home.

For installing the laminate flooring to the ceiling, you have to decide the direction of the laminates opposite to the furring strips. Follow the caulk line and fasten the planks with nails. You can use nails on each edge to stick them on the ceiling.

If you use glue for installing the laminate flooring to the ceiling, it might fall or loosen the bond. So, you have to nail the laminate flooring to stick the laminate to the ceiling.

How do you stick laminate flooring to the wall?

You can stick laminate flooring to the wall. But you have to follow some instructions for sticking the flooring to the wall. Let’s see how you can stick laminate planks to the wall.

  • Clean and prepare the wall: Clean the wall and prepare the wall with correct measurement for installing laminate.
  • Measure temperature: Measure the temperature and humidity and adjust them with primer or dry color.
  • Stick the planks: Use silicone caulk to stick the laminate planks to the wall.
  • Keep gap between the planks: Complete the first row keeping a gap between the planks and the adjoining wall.

Laminate floors are convenient and floating floors that don’t require much maintenance. When you attach the laminate planks to the floor, you don’t need any excess elements to join the planks.

For example, nails, screws, glue, etc., aren’t compulsory for installing the new laminate floor. If you use nails or screws, the floor will not get the space to expand or contract.

Moreover, some glues might have chemicals that can damage the floor. So, it would help if you kept the laminate floor without adding excess elements and glues.