Well, hello there! You wanna know about puttin’ in them newfangled floors, the kind that look like wood but ain’t really? The laminate ones, and the basketball kind, on top of that plywood stuff? Alright, I’ll tell ya what I know. It ain’t rocket science, that’s for sure. Just gotta have some elbow grease and a bit of common sense.

First thing’s first, ya gotta get that old floor outta there. Rip it up! Be careful though, don’t go breakin’ your back. And them little boards around the wall, the baseboards they call ’em, gotta come off too. Pry ’em gently, might wanna use ’em again. You don’t wanna go buyin’ new ones if you don’t have to, money don’t grow on trees ya know.

Now, take a good look at that plywood underneath. That’s your foundation, gotta be strong and flat. If it’s all beat up and bumpy, you gotta fix it. A bumpy floor means a wobbly floor, and nobody wants that. Might need to sand it down, or even put in a new piece of plywood. Don’t skimp on this part, it’s important.

Okay, floor’s all prepped and ready? Good. Now for the layin’ part. These laminate boards, they click together like puzzle pieces. Start in a corner and work your way across the room. Make sure they’re snug and tight, no gaps. You might need a little hammer and a block of wood to tap ’em in place. Don’t go beatin’ on ’em too hard though, you’ll break ’em.

• Get rid of the old floor and the baseboards.
• Check the plywood, make sure it’s flat and strong. Fix it if it ain’t.
• Start laying the laminate boards, clicking them together tight.

Now, when you get to the edges, you gotta cut the boards to fit. Measure twice, cut once, that’s what my old man always said. You don’t wanna waste them boards, they cost a pretty penny. Use a saw, be careful with them fingers! And if you’re puttin’ in that basketball floor, well, that’s a whole different story. That’s real wood, maple mostly, like them fancy folks use. That takes more skill, and more muscles too. But the idea’s the same – gotta have a good, solid base.

For the basketball floor, you’ll want professionals for that. This ain’t somethin’ you just slap together on a weekend. But if it’s the laminate kind you’re after, then you can do it yourself, save a bit of money. You know, for a rainy day.

And don’t forget about that underlayment stuff. It’s like a thin blanket that goes under the laminate. It helps with the sound, makes it softer to walk on, and keeps the moisture out. Roll it out nice and smooth, don’t leave no wrinkles. Then, start puttin’ down them boards on top of it.

Once all the boards are down, you gotta put them baseboards back on. That hides the edges and makes it look nice and finished. Use some little nails, tap ’em in gentle, don’t go splittin’ the wood. And there you have it! A brand new floor, all shiny and pretty. You did it yourself! Feels good, don’t it? To accomplish somethin’ with your own two hands.

Now, I ain’t no expert, mind you. Just an old woman who’s seen a thing or two. But I know hard work when I see it, and I know a good floor when I walk on it. And this here laminate stuff, it ain’t bad. Looks good, easy to clean, and it lasts a good long time. Just follow them steps, take your time, and you’ll be alright. You’ll have a floor so nice, you could eat off it, not that you would, mind you. But you could if you wanted to. And remember, a good floor makes a happy home. Or at least a less dusty one.

So there ya have it. That’s how you put in them floors. It ain’t so hard, just gotta put your mind to it. And if you get stuck, well, ask a neighbor. Two heads are better than one, they say. Now get to work and make that floor sparkle!