With a little patience and steady progress, even a novice do-it-yourselfer can complete a laminate flooring installation. The result is a home improvement project that adds comfort and value to the property.

Moisture can often destroy a quality laminate flooring installation , so it’s important to be sure that your site is perfectly dry. Use a moisture meter (such as the Protimeter prong test) to check for moisture levels. They should be no higher than 12%. If they are, you will need to lay a vapor barrier before installing your laminate floor.

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Most laminate floors come with a foam underlayment as a vapor barrier. However, you can also install a cork underlayment for added moisture resistance.

Begin by opening several boxes of the laminate you plan to install. This will give you a chance to mix up the color and pattern variation of the various pieces. Next, lay out the available pieces to get a feel for how they will look in your room. Make sure to stagger the seams across adjacent rows so that they don’t line up, as this would create a “locked” appearance.

Finally, be sure to measure the room properly and account for doorways as well as transitions to other types of flooring materials. Failure to do this could result in a room that isn’t properly proportioned and, more importantly, won’t be structurally sound. Lastly, don’t forget to let the flooring acclimate to your room for 24 to 48 hours prior to installation. This will allow the floor to adjust to your climate and avoid moisture-related problems down the road.