From which way you lay laminate flooring in a hallway to figuring out whether you need to stagger laminate flooring in a hallway, the prospect of taking on this particular DIY project can be daunting. The shape and size of your hallway will determine how you proceed so tackling the job will be different depending on whether you’ve got a narrow space to lay your flooring, an ‘L-shaped’ hallway, or if your laminate is being continued from a room such as your living room.

If you’ve now got more questions that you started with, fear not! Keep reading for a simple guide on how to lay laminate flooring in a hallway.

What To Consider

• Your flooring will need to be acclimatised for 48 hours. Leave the flooring in the room it will be fitted in with the boxes open - this allows the wood to get used to the humidity of the room and avoids warping or buckling later on.

• It’s essential that the subfloor is dry, clean, solid and level for a successful installation.

• Installations must use the correct underlay to support your new flooring. Take into consideration the floor you are laying your laminate, if you’ve got underfloor heating, noise cancellation, etc. See all of our laminate flooring underlay options here.

• You must leave a 10mm gap around everything including walls, pipes, door frames, kitchen units etc. You can purchase spacers to make this easier.

• Laying your laminate flooring in the same direction as the longest walls of the hallway will make the space look longer and more spacious.

• If you are laying laminate flooring that transitions from a room to the hallway, ensure you keep consistent with the direction you are laying.

• You will need a T-Mold in doorways as this will give the laminate extra strength and avoid buckling in the future. The gap between the laminate should be 3mm wide.

What You’ll Need:

• Moisture Meter
• Box cutter
• Pencil or Dry Erase marker
• Spacers
• Rubber mallet
• Block
• Corner Block
• Table Saw
• Miter Saw
• Hand Saw
• Fine Tooth Saw
• Ear Plugs
• Safety Goggles
• Tape Measure
• Knee pads
• Drill
• Radiator Rings (optional)
• Tin Snips
• Construction Adhesive
• Screws

Instructions:

1. Place the first board finish side up, ridge side facing the wall and wedge a spacer between the end of the board and the wall.
2. Lay the next boards end to end parallel to the wall.
3. Move on to the second row. You will now need to shorten the first board so that as you lay the boards, they are staggered in relation to the first row. Click the boards into place and use the wooden block and hammer to close the gap.
4. Continue until all rows are done. Start each row with the other half of the board from the previous row because it wastes fewer planks, and because it makes the floor stronger when the boards do not start and end in a line.
5. Remember to keep adding the spacers around the perimeter of the wall. Keep checking to ensure the boards remain parallel to the wall.
6. Boards that don’t fit will need to be trimmed down. Use a mitre saw to make the boards shorter and a table saw to make them narrower.
7. You can now add skirting or beading.

How To Install A T-Mold

The Glue Down Method

1. Measure the width of the doorway between the floors. Measure and cut the metal track that comes with the T-molding with tin snips.
2. Always measure twice before cutting your T-molding strip. Use a miter saw for a clean cut.
3. Attach the metal track onto the bottom part of the “T”. The track should hold to the T-molding securely, if it doesn’t snap into place, use some construction adhesive to secure it.
4. Apply a thin layer of construction adhesive along the bottom of the gap between the two floors.
5. Press the T-molding into the gap firmly but do not glue the tips. The top of the T-molding should rest firmly on each floor with no gaps, then use a damp cloth to remove any excess glue.
6. We would recommend you use painter’s tape of a few heavy objects (provided the doorway isn’t to be used) and keep it there overnight to hold it down while the glue dries.

The Screw Down Method

1. Measure the width of the doorway between the floors. Measure and cut the metal track that comes with the T-molding with tin snips.

1. Always measure twice before cutting your T-molding strip. Use a miter saw for a clean cut.

1. The track should have pre-drilled holes in the bottom. If not - drill three holes for the screws. Place the metal track into the gap, making sure the spacing is even on each side. Attach the track using the pre-drilled holes as a guide.

1. Snap the T-molding into the track. Press it down to ensure that the lips of both sides of the molding are resting on the floor.

We hope this guide has helped you with your task of laying laminate in your hallway. If you’re in the market for laminate flooring, explore all of our options here. Check out our Ultimate Guide on How to Lay Laminate Flooring for tips and support for your DIY projects.