{
  "id": "laminate-flooring",
  "url": "https://diy-app-beige.vercel.app/guides/laminate-flooring.html",
  "category": "flooring",
  "title": "Lay laminate flooring",
  "summary": "Confirm the subfloor is dry, flat and sound, then plan the board direction, expansion gaps and thresholds.",
  "difficulty": "intermediate",
  "duration": "One to three days for a typical room",
  "riskLevel": "check-first",
  "visualGuidance": {
    "level": "recommended",
    "format": "layout-diagram",
    "reason": "A measured layout identifies narrow last rows, awkward door cuts and the best board direction before opening packs.",
    "brief": "Draw the room perimeter, doorways, board direction, starting line, expansion gap and predicted first and last row widths."
  },
  "materials": [
    "Laminate from one batch with the maker's cutting allowance",
    "Compatible underlay and moisture barrier where the system requires them",
    "Expansion spacers",
    "Threshold bars and edge trim",
    "Replacement skirting or matching beading if planned"
  ],
  "tools": [
    "Tape measure, pencil, straight edge and square",
    "Moisture-testing method suitable for the subfloor",
    "Laminate fitting kit with pull bar and tapping block",
    "Suitable saw with the correct blade, support and dust control",
    "Knee protection and task-appropriate protective equipment"
  ],
  "preparation": [
    "Read the flooring instructions for acclimatisation, room limits, underlay and expansion gaps.",
    "Remove obstructions and confirm the subfloor is dry, clean, sound and within the flatness tolerance.",
    "Measure the room and plan the first and last rows so neither is impractically narrow.",
    "Check door clearance and how the floor will meet every adjoining surface."
  ],
  "safety": [
    "Do not trap a floating floor under fixed units or ignore the maker's expansion requirements.",
    "Check for pipes and cables before altering doors, skirting or thresholds.",
    "Control cutting dust and use the saw only with its guard, support and instructions."
  ],
  "steps": [
    {
      "title": "Approve the subfloor",
      "instruction": "Record moisture and flatness checks and correct the subfloor using a compatible method before laying boards.",
      "stopIf": "Stop for active damp, movement, major unevenness or an unidentified old floor material."
    },
    {
      "title": "Plan transitions and rows",
      "instruction": "Set the board direction, expansion perimeter and adjusted first-row width on a measured sketch."
    },
    {
      "title": "Lay the underlay system",
      "instruction": "Fit only the layers required by the floor and subfloor makers, with joins sealed as specified."
    },
    {
      "title": "Build the field",
      "instruction": "Connect boards in sequence, stagger short joints to the stated minimum and protect the locking edges."
    },
    {
      "title": "Finish edges and doors",
      "instruction": "Maintain the expansion gap, fit thresholds and fix trim to the wall rather than pinning down the floor."
    }
  ],
  "professionalCheckpoints": [
    "Get specialist advice for persistent moisture, asbestos-suspect old tiles or adhesive, underfloor heating uncertainty or structural movement."
  ]
}