How to lay chipboard flooring

Chipboard is a cost-effective, durable and easy-to-install flooring option, making it a popular choice among builders and homeowners, particularly for use in subfloors.

Because of its uniform nature, chipboard is relatively easy to cut and fit, contrasting with natural woods that often contain knots and other irregularities.

This means the average DIYer can typically install chipboard without the help of an expert, so long as they have the right tools and follow a high-quality guide.

Below, we outline the process step-by-step to help you achieve a professional-level result. If you don’t want to carry out the project yourself, don’t hesitate to call in a professional.

How to lay chipboard flooring

If you’re ready to tackle the job yourself, here are the steps to follow:

Materials required

• Chipboard sheets
• Saw (circular or jigsaw)
• Hammer or nail gun
• Adhesive
• Chipboard flooring screws
• Set square
• Tape measure
• Pencil
• Drill
• Spacers
• Spirit level

Step one: Preparation

First, allow the chipboards to acclimatise to the room you’ll be installing them in by storing them in there for a minimum of 48hrs. This will ensure the boards adapt to the environment and minimise any warping after installation.

Before laying your chipboards, check them to make sure they’re in good condition, with no chips or defects on the tongue and groove sides.

Next, make sure your joists or battens are level. If they’re not, you may need to sand them down or shine them up. Any signs of damp, rot or damage on the floor that appear, you should address this before laying the chipboards.

If there is a serious risk of moisture, you can lay a damp-proof membrane to act as a barrier between the floor and the chipboard.

Step two: Cut the boards

Measure and mark the boards where you plan to cut them, using a set square to ensure straight lines.

Always cut with the finished side facing up, as this will reduce chipping. When making irregular cuts or cutting around obstacles, use a jigsaw.

Step three: Lay the first sheet

Starting in one corner of the room, position your first sheet, ensuring the board fits correctly and aligns with the joists or battens.

Next, place spacers between the wall and chipboard to allow for expansion gaps. These should be around 10 to 15mm.

Once you’ve ensured the proper position and orientation, remove the chipboard temporarily so you can apply the adhesive.

Step four: Secure the chipboard

Spread the adhesive on the joists or battens where the first chipboard sheet will go and lay the chipboard back into position.

Next, secure the chipboard with screws, making sure they’re flush with or slightly below the surface. Screws should be at least 25mm from the edge and spaced about 200 to 300mm apart across the board.

Step five: Lay the rest of the boards

Fit the tongue of the next board into the groove of the first, ensuring it fits snugly.

Then, repeat the process of spreading the adhesive and fit the board into place. You might need to tap it into place with a mallet.

Finally, secure the boards with screws, following the same process as before.

Step six: Stagger the joints

Staggering the joints helps strengthen the structure and improves the interlocking of the boards.

Following the same approach as you would when laying bricks, stagger the joints by starting subsequent rows with half or a third-length board.

Step seven: Fitting around obstacles

If you encounter pipes or other kinds of immovable obstacles, measure their position carefully and transfer these measurements to the chipboard.

Cut the board using a jigsaw to fit around the obstacle.

Step eight: Add final touches and remove spacers

You might need to cut the final board lengthwise to make it fit. Take measurements and install the last piece, remembering to leave a gap for the spacer against the wall.

Once all the chipboards are down, remove the spacers. Inspect the floor for any gaps or uneven edges and fill them in or sand them down.

It’s also a good idea to install skirting boards to hide the expansion gap and give a cleaner finish. If you’ve followed these steps, you’ll understand the basics of how to lay chipboard flooring.

How to lay laminate flooring on chipboard

So, you’ve seen how to lay chipboard flooring and now you want to fit laminate over the top? No problem. The process of laying laminate flooring on chipboard is as follows

Materials required

• Laminate flooring planks
• Spacers
• Tape
• Baseboards
• Tape measure
• Pencil
• Carpenter’s square
• Circular saw
• Jigsaw
• Rubber mallet
• Pull bar

Step one: Acclimate the laminate

Before installing, leave the unopened boxes of laminate flooring in the room in which you plan to install it. This allows it to get used to the environment’s temperature and humidity, reducing the risk of it warping after installation.

Step two: Prepare the chipboard

Clean the chipboard to remove any dust or debris. Also, check for any protruding nails or screws.

Inspect the chipboard to make sure it’s free from swelling and dips, as the surface needs to be stable, smooth and level.

Step three: Plan the layout

Start by measuring the room so you know how much ground you need to cover. Most installers will lay laminate parallel to the longest wall.

It’s best to avoid having narrow planks at the wall edges, so if your calculations show this will be the case, adjust your starting point to prevent this.

Leave an expansion gap around the perimeter to allow for expansion and contraction of the laminate. Usually, 10mm is enough.

Step four: Start installing

Select a corner of the room to begin installing, ensuring the grooved side is facing the wall.

Maintaining the expansion gap with spacers, lay the first row end-to-end. You might need to cut the last piece to fit.

Begin the second row with the cut-off from the first row to stagger the seams and increase the structural integrity of the floor.

Install subsequent rows by angling the piece into place and pressing down. The tongue of one piece should fit nicely into the groove of the other.

Step five: Finishing touches

Once you’ve laid all the laminate, remove the spacers.

Install baseboards to cover the expansion gap, ensuring you’re nailing the baseboards to the wall and not the laminate.

Lastly, install transition strips at doorways or where the laminate meets other types of flooring.

Remember, if you think this DIY project is beyond your skills, you can always pop your postcode into the search box below and connect with local experts.

Here’s how much you can expect to pay for laminate flooring installation.