How To Install Laminate Flooring On An Accent Wall

Do you want to add some style or maybe some contrast to an existing room? Well installing laminate flooring on one of the walls can do just that. Painting an accent wall is good and all but using laminate as the accent can be a superior looking alternative to give a room some pop you may not have thought of before.

Laminate wall coverings can set a room apart and give you tons more options than up some paint. There are countless options when using laminate flooring instead of paint and it is much easier than you ever imagined.

–Some Things To Consider–

Choosing The Correct Laminate

There are many different types of laminate out there so you will need to choose one that best suits your needs. Do some research and get a sense of what will work for your room, as far as material, thickness, color and finish. Avoid laminates with a built-in underlayment, since this will be a problem when trying to glue it to your wall. The color and finish will have no effect on the gluing process but be sure to choose the correct adhesive for the job. For instance, a vinyl laminate will require different adhesive than a wood laminate. Also, I tend to lean toward a laminate that is not too thick when using it for an accent wall, as thicker laminate is heavier and can be more difficult to tap together.

Acclimate Your Laminate

Let your laminate flooring sit in the area you plan to install it in for 24-48 hours before you start your project so that it adjusts to the rooms temperature and humidity. This step is important because it will reduce the risk of shrinking and expanding that can cause gaps and other problems in the future.

Avoid Overhead Or Slanted Walls

Something you want to avoid are walls that are slanted or directly above your head as they can be much more difficult to work with. The laminate will be bonded with glue and if it doesn’t have adequate time to dry or cure, it can easily fall off and will cause nothing but headaches and make the job much more difficult.

Stagger Or Step

Decide your pattern, what I mean by this is that you need to determine what stagger you prefer on your wall. There are multiple options to consider here, from a simple H pattern, to a stair step pattern, or even a random stagger if that’s what you prefer. It’s completely up to you!

Size The Wall

Determine the area of the wall you want to use by dividing the width by the height to give you the square footage needed to cover your new accent wall. Once you know the square footage, allow for some waste so that you don’t underestimate the amount of laminate needed. It’s never good to run out of material in the middle of a job! In general, 5% – 10% is a good amount of waste to consider.

Lets Get Started!

Do Some Prep Work

Trim Removal

When using laminate as an accent wall you should remove the base trim from the wall. If you have crown molding it needs to be removed as well. Be careful when removing these as you will be re-installing them after your accent wall is complete. After removing the trim be sure to double check that there are no nails or other fasteners left behind that will get in the way when you start to install you laminate planks. (Tip: this is a good time to clean up your trim, be careful if you have to scrape any painters caulk off the trim so that it’s ready when you need to put it back up. Something also worth noting is that your trim will need repainted as well.)

Clean

You should clean your work surface before you start your project, using a damp rag or tack cloth usually does a good job of removing any dust or contaminates that may work against your adhesive and give you a weak bond.

Adhesive Selection

Many would recommend a silicone based adhesive for applying laminate to walls, some prefer something along the lines of a Liquid Nails product. Whatever adhesive you choose is up to you but keep in mind the surface you are adhering to and make sure the adhesive you use will bond to them. A trowel is sometimes recommended to spread the adhesive on each board. If you choose not to use a trowel make sure to apply the adhesive in an “S” pattern on each board. Also be sure to choose an adhesive that will not set up too quickly as to allow working each of the boards into place.

Starting Boards

You will need to figure out the correct size starting pieces. Lets go into some more detail on this. You will want to ensure that you don’t end with a piece that is too small as you finish each row of laminate you install. What you can do to avoid this is to figure up the total length of each wall and divide it by the length of one piece in that corresponding direction. You may end with a number that has a decimal after it. As a general rule this decimal needs to be larger that .33 inches (1/3 the length or width of a single piece of laminate) or you will need to cut enough off of your starting board to be sure that you do not end with a finish board that is too small.

Here is a sample to help you better understand this part. Lets do some math…….for this example we are going to use a board that is 47 inches long and 6 3/4 inches wide and we will be running the planks horizontal. Now lets say you have a standard 8 foot tall wall, to make this simpler we will convert the feet to inches (8ftx12inches=96inches) now that you have done this you can take the height of your wall (96 inches) and divide it by the width of one piece of laminate (6.75 inches) and you will come up with 14.22. This means you will use 14.22 rows of laminate on this wall. Since you don’t want to end with a board less than 1/3 or .33 of a full size piece you will need to cut enough off of your starting laminate piece to offset this measurement. In most cases you can cut the decimal amount off of your starting piece because that amount will be added to the finish piece. You will need to figure this up for both directions of your wall. If you need more information on this or have any questions please feel free to contact me at chargis@home-edits.com.

Measure And Draw A Level Line

Now that you know your starting piece size you want to measure from where the bottom of your first piece will rest which is typically 3/16 away from any corner and the existing floor to where the top of your first board will be. Make a mark on each end of the wall and snap a chalk line , double check your line with a long level. Alternatively you can make multiple marks along the wall and use a level to draw a line. Both of these methods will ensure that your first or starting row is level along the wall.

Tools Needed

Wood Saw

Laminate Tool Kit

The Install Begins!

Removing The Bottom Tongue

With each piece you install you will need to remove the bottom tongue. To do this you can score the tongue a few times and it should easily snap off. This will help you easily tap each piece together without having to use the interlocking feature on most laminate flooring.

The First Piece

Using the measurements you took during your prep work for your starting piece, cut your starter to size and make sure the cut sides are towards the floor and the corner you are starting with. You will now use the wedges from your laminate tool kit and check to make sure your first piece lines up with the level line you made on your wall. Do this before applying any adhesive on your first piece.

Assuming your first piece matches up to your level line you can apply your adhesive on the board you will be installing and use your adhesive trowel to spread the adhesive evenly if that is the method you chose to use, now you can place your first piece of laminate on your wall. Work the piece a bit before pressing it firmly against the wall and into the 3/16 wedges that should be placed along the floor and in the corner you are starting with. Using your level double check that your first piece is level. (Tip: allow some time for the adhesive to set up on this first piece)

Finishing The First Row

You will cut down the next piece/pieces to the same width of your starter piece. Before installing each piece of the starting row check that they will each line up in the same manner as your first piece before applying adhesive. Once you have checked and they line up you can apply your adhesive, spread it with your trowel, and install it on the wall in such a way that you can use the tapping block to tap the the seams together. Firmly press the piece against the wall and against the bottom wedges. Double check that the piece is level and repeat this step until you get to your finish piece of the row.

Last Piece Of The First Row

Once you can no longer use a full length piece of laminate you will have to cut down your finish piece. When taking the measurement of the last piece allow for a 3/16 gap between the corner you will finish with and the end of your cut piece. Install the same way as the other pieces and double check that this piece is also level and all of the seams are tight.

Securing The Starting/Bottom Row

Once your first row is finished, glued, and level you can run a drywall screw into the studs through the laminate along the bottom of the wall ONLY, and your first row is complete. 

Second Row And All Other Rows

When starting the next rows make sure your first piece is cut to a length as to make the seams offset by at least 8 inches. Remember to remove the bottom tongue. Start with a 3/16 gap, apply your adhesive, spread it with your trowel, and install it on the wall in such a way that you can use the tapping block to tap the seams together. Firmly press the plank onto the wall. Repeat this step for all rows until you reach the ceiling. Double check each piece when installing to ensure seams are tight.

Final Row

Cut all planks in the last row to the required width to finish your installation, use the same steps as before to secure the last row to the wall. Keep in mind you will need to also end with a 3/16 gap like all the other end pieces. You will need to use the pull bar instead of the tapping block for this row to make sure you close up the seams here.

Trim It Out

Base Trim

Install the floor trim that you removed at the beginning of your project. Use trim nails to secure the trim to your new accent wall. Use a nail set to drive your trim nails slightly into your trim pieces. Use painters caulk to fill in the small holes left from sinking the new trim nails and also to fill in any holes left from removing the trim. I also use the painters caulk on the top edge of the trim to give it a better finished look. Paint to match existing trim. 

Matching Laminate Trim Pieces

Many laminate flooring manufacturers will offer a matching quarter round that you can use to finish your corners and cover the 3/16 gap that was needed for installation.

**When using matching trim you will need to cut each piece to length and fit them together in the corners. Use trim nails to fasten them into the corners. In my opinion this is the best looking finish to a laminate flooring accent wall. 

Other Trim Options

There are other finish trim options available as well, such as paintable quarter round or cove moulding among many others. Choose one you like and secure them to your corners.

**When deciding to use these trim types you will need to cut them to length and fit them in the corners. Use trim nails to fasten them to the wall, use a nail set to drive the nails slightly into the trim. Use painters caulk to fill in the small holes left from sinking the trim nails. Paint trim to match your existing trim.

Admire 

Stand back and admire your work. Take some pics and share them with your friends and family. Brag on social media for a job well done. Then subscribe to our newsletter , add a comment. or message us some projects you would like us to cover. 

Thanks for reading our blog! We hope you got some great information and your project goes well. Feel free to reach out if we can help with anything and we hope to see you again! Good luck with all your future Home-Edits!