Baier Laminate Flooring Installation Guide

Step-by-Step Installation Instructions

First of All：Let all flooring materials sit in the room for 48 hours before installation—this helps avoid expansion or buckling after it’s laid.

🔧 What to Do:
Sweep the floor thoroughly. Remove all dust, nails, adhesive residue, or staples.
Check for flatness using a 2-meter straightedge—no deviation should exceed 3mm.
Use leveling compound to fix dips or grind down high spots.
For concrete, perform a 24-hour moisture test using plastic sheeting.
For wooden subfloors, locate squeaks and re-secure loose boards with screws.

⚠️ Important Tips:
Uneven surfaces will cause clicks, hollow sounds, or open joints.
A dry surface doesn’t mean a dry substrate—moisture testing is mandatory.
Never skip this step. A perfect install starts with a perfect base.

🔧 What to Do:
Select underlay based on the subfloor and project needs (foam, IXPE, rubber, cork).
For concrete, always use an underlay with an integrated vapor barrier.
For multi-story buildings, use acoustic underlay to reduce footfall noise.
Keep underlay thickness between 1.5–3mm to maintain proper locking performance.

⚠️ Important Tips:
Never install laminate directly over concrete without moisture protection.
Too thick of an underlay can compromise the locking system.
Ask your supplier to match underlay specs to the flooring’s click-lock design.

🔧 What to Do:
Start from one corner of the room. Unroll the underlay perpendicular to the plank direction.
Lay strips edge to edge—do not overlap.
Tape the seams using aluminum foil tape or the attached self-adhesive strip.
Trim excess underlay along the wall using a sharp utility knife.
Walk over the entire area to check for bubbles, wrinkles, or soft spots. Fix as needed.

⚠️ Important Tips:
Overlapping or wrinkled underlay will lead to floor movement and uneven joints.
If your underlay has a foil barrier, it must face up—otherwise, moisture protection fails.
Do not run underlay up the wall. Keep it flat and flush to the edge only.

🔧What to Do:
Calculate layout first: Divide the room width by plank width to see how many full rows you’ll need.
If the last row is too narrow (<5 cm), trim the first row to balance the layout.
Mark the endpoint for the last full plank on the wall to guide alignment.
Unpack and mix planks from multiple boxes to spread color and pattern variation.
Start from the longest wall, but leave space between the floor and the wall—walls are rarely perfectly straight.
Lay the first row with the tongue side facing the wall, using spacers to maintain an 8–12 mm expansion gap.
Begin the second row by clicking the first plank into the long side of the first row at an angle, then lower and lock.
Stagger all end joints—keep at least 30 cm offset between plank ends from row to row.

⚠️Important Notes:
A crooked first row will affect the entire floor—double-check alignment before continuing.
Never align end joints in consecutive rows; this weakens the structure and looks unnatural.
Do not glue laminate planks—Baier’s click-lock system is designed for floating installation.
Don’t skip the expansion gap. Laminate needs room to move with temperature and humidity changes.

🔧What to Do:
Cutting is unavoidable to fit your laminate floor perfectly in any room shape. Always wear protective gloves and use a pencil to mark your cutting lines clearly. When sawing, place the plank with the decorative top surface facing upwards to prevent chipping or damage.

Use a fine-toothed saw, such as a jigsaw or circular saw with an appropriate blade, to ensure clean, straight cuts. Measure twice, cut once!

⚠️Important Notes:
Cutting with the decorative side down may cause splintering or rough edges.
Keep your workspace clean and secure the plank firmly before cutting to avoid slipping.
Always wear eye protection and follow tool safety guidelines.

🔧What to Do:
Once all laminate planks are installed, complete your floor by adding matching skirting boards and finishing profiles. These cover the expansion gaps around the room and give your floor a polished, professional look.
Use finishing profiles for transitions between different flooring types or to cover door thresholds. Ensure all moldings are fixed to the wall, not the floor, so the floor can expand and contract naturally.

⚠️Important Notes:
Skipping skirting or profiles can leave gaps visible and reduce floor stability.
Never nail or glue moldings directly to the laminate floor.
Choose profiles that match or complement your laminate’s color and style for a seamless finish.

🔧 Essential Tools:
Tape Measure: For accurate room and plank measurements.
Pencil & Straightedge: To mark cutting lines precisely.
Spacers: To maintain consistent expansion gaps around walls and obstacles.
Tapping Block & Pull Bar: To lock planks tightly without damaging edges.
Jigsaw or Circular Saw: For cutting planks to fit corners and edges.
Rubber Mallet: To gently tap planks into place.
Utility Knife: For trimming underlay and minor adjustments.
Protective Gloves & Safety Glasses: For personal safety during cutting and installation.
Vacuum or Broom: To keep the work area clean from dust and debris.

⚠️ Important Notes:
Using the right tools ensures a smoother installation and protects your flooring from damage. Avoid makeshift tools or excessive force which can damage the locking mechanism or plank surfaces.

Download: Baier Laminate Flooring Installation Manual (EN, PDF)