Laminate flooring is not only beautiful and durable, but can also be easily installed without the help of a contractor. With just a few simple tools and tips, you will learn how to fit laminate flooring panels in no time.

Prior to starting, there are a few items you must have in order to properly fit laminate flooring panels. If you don't have a combine vapourstop underlay, you should purchase a vapour barrier foil. What you'll need for laying laminate flooring includes tape measure, a pencil, a knocking block, a hammer, a hand saw, a pull-iron, a straight edge, spacer wedges, a carpenters square, and also a plane. Although you may not need them, you should also have a holesaw and drill ready just in case. 48 hours before you fit the laminate flooring panels, place the unopened boards in the room in which they will be installed so they can acclimate to the room's temperature. Also, in that room, you should make sure the floors are level and clean. All nails should be hammered flush with the floor, carpet underlay should be removed, and so should carpet grippers.

A piece of underlay should be used to mark any door bottoms that need to be planed. In addition, all doors should be removed and, if there is more than one, marked with its position in the room. Lay out the underlay with edges flush to one another. Tape the edges if you are using a vapour seal.

The first panel should be laid with the tongue pointing towards the wall, and spacers to be placed to make 10-15mm gaps for expansion. Fit together the short edges until the first row is finished. If the last panel requires cutting, rotate it 180 degrees and lay it next to the row so the expansion can mark it for cutting. All cutting should be done while the panel's decorative side is facing up.

The pull iron should be used to tighten the last board, and you should use the knocking block and a hammer to tap the joint into place. The first board for the second row should be cut 2/3 of its length, and the piece that is 1/3 in length should be fitted first. Install the boards for the rest of the row at 45 degree angles whilst following the tongue and groove system.

The third row is fitted like the first, however you should start the row with a piece of laminate panel cut 1/3 from the panel's end. Continue fitting each row in the same manner until you are done.

Once you've finished fitting the laminate flooring panels you can reinstall the room's doors and you can also remove any spacers. As long as you know how to fit laminate floor panels, you should be able to easily install them yourself. All thats left to do is choose the flooring you want to use for your room you can even choose real wood floor panels, these fit together exactly the same way as some of the laminate flooring types. Or there is now a large selction of wood effect laminate floors to choose from.