- 1). Level the subfloor before installing the underlayment. Any rises or dips will transfer through the material and cause the laminate flooring to be uneven as well, resulting in cracks or breaks. Run a level bar over the floor, shining a flashlight under it to note the areas where the light shines through as voids in the subfloor and the areas where the bar rises at a point as high areas in the subfloor. Mark each with chalk for leveling.
- 2). Level off high points in the subfloor using a floor grinder for concrete and a floor sander for wood subfloors. Fill in voids by pouring self-leveling compound into the low areas and allowing it to dry overnight.
- 3). Place a piece of the laminate flooring onto a piece of the underlayment. Push the two pieces against any doorjambs that the laminate flooring will pass under. Mark the height of the combined pieces onto the doorjamb with a pencil, and then undercut the jamb with a handsaw at the marked level to provide room for the laminate to pass beneath.
- 4). Sweep the subfloor clean and mop with a pH-neutral cleanser. Rinse with water and pat the subfloor dry.
- 5). Cover concrete subfloors with a layer of vapor barrier sheets to keep moisture from leaking through the concrete and into the underlayment. Overlap the rows of sheeting 7 inches where they meet on the floor and run the edges up the walls 2 inches. Cut the sheeting with a utility knife when necessary. Place a strip of masking tape on the edges of the sheeting where the overlap occurs to keep the sheets secure.
- 6). Roll out a strip of foam underlayment onto the floor beginning in a corner of the room and rolling along the length of the wall. Keep the foam butted closely against the wall. Cut the underlayment at the end of the room with a utility knife, and then begin the next row, with the two rows also butted tightly against one another. Cover the joint where the rows meet with a strip of duct tape to prevent the edges from working apart. Continue to cover the floor in rows until you complete coverage of the entire room.
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