We can not get the last row (2.5 inches wide) to lay flat. The piece does not snap in. We are using a Shaw laminate that is approx. 7.5 in wide and 47.5 in long. We have tried using a mallet and bar to no avail. Is there a trick that we are not using? Should we trim off the bottom part that snaps in and use some sort of glue?

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Originally Posted by mom4two

We can not get the last row (2.5 inches wide) to lay flat. The piece does not snap in. We are using a Shaw laminate that is approx. 7.5 in wide and 47.5 in long. We have tried using a mallet and bar to no avail. Is there a trick that we are not using? Should we trim off the bottom part that snaps in and use some sort of glue?

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You are obviously not in a good position to apply pressure towards the grooved edge because you are so close to the wall. Try using a flat nail bar against a piece of wood to protect your wall. By doing this, you can apply strong pressure towards the wall, and the flat bar will exert an equal pressure in the opposite direction. Let me know how it goes

Pat.

I am far from being a professional at laying laminate flooring but I did just finish a 12x12 bedroom with "snap in" laminate. The instructions included with the brand that I purchased required figuring the number of rows of planks that would fit into the room and required that first and last rows be a certain width in order to lay flat. If I remember right, it was 4 inches. This may be why your 2 inch row won't lay down, just too small.

Jaimie

PS... another thought just came to mind... by some chance did your last row pieces get turned around and you are trying to insert the "groove" into "groove" or "tongue" into "tongue"?

Remove the last 7.5" piece and snap the 2.5" piece into that 7.5" piece, then take that (10") piece and snap it into the second to last 7.5" piece.

I'm laying tongue & groove laminate & the 3rd row will not lay flat. The 1st 2 rows are flat & when I add the 3rd row it becomes unlevel. The pieces are snapped together well.

Is the floor level?? Have you tried another piece? Maybe the board is warped.

Make sure you have a 1'4 inch space left for expansion. This gets covered with shoe molding later.