How to Prep Mobile Home Floors for Laminate Flooring

Laminate flooring is an excellent choice to bring a stylish upgrade to your mobile home. While the installation itself isn’t too complex, properly preparing your mobile home floors is crucial to ensure its durability, longevity, and optimal performance. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to prep your mobile home floors for laminate flooring:

Step 1: Remove Existing Floor Covering

- If you have carpeting, peel it off carefully without causing damage to the subfloor.

- For other types of flooring like vinyl, linoleum, or sheet flooring, use a utility knife to score the surface, then pry it loose with a pry bar or floor scraper.

Step 2: Inspect and Clean the Subfloor

- Thoroughly inspect the subfloor for any weak or rotten spots. If necessary, repair or replace damaged areas.

- Sweep and vacuum the subfloor to ensure it’s free from debris.

Step 3: Level the Subfloor

- Laminate flooring requires a flat and even surface, so it's important to level any uneven areas.

- Use a self-leveling compound to fill any dips or indentations.

- For minor irregularities, you can also use a floor leveling underlayment.

Step 4: Install a Vapor Barrier

- A vapor barrier is crucial in mobile homes since they’re more susceptible to moisture.

- Roll out the vapor barrier over the entire subfloor, ensuring it overlaps at the edges by about 6 inches.

- Use painter’s tape to secure the vapor barrier in place.

Step 5: Install an Underlayment

- Choose an appropriate underlayment for your laminate flooring. Foam or cork underlayments are commonly used.

- Roll out the underlayment perpendicular to the direction you plan to install the laminate flooring.

- Again, the underlayment should overlap at the edges. Tape the seams firmly.

Congratulations! By following these steps, you’ve successfully prepped your mobile home floors for laminate flooring. Now you can move on to installing the laminate flooring and enjoy your new flooring!