How to install a laminate floor to a front door

When you're installing a laminate floor, finishing the floor to other areas such as adjoining rooms and outside doors is a vital part of the installation process. If a laminate floor is not finished correctly, the expansion gap may be compromised or the seal of the floor may be gapped, allowing the floor to buckle or warp and voiding the manufacturer's guarantee in the process. You'll be relieved to learn there's a particular process for installing a laminate floor to a front door, and it's not too complicated to do.

Install the flooring, ending one 1.2 cm (1/2 inch) from the edge of the front door.

Measure the doorway and cut a piece of laminate end moulding to fit, using a mitre saw and box to get an exact cut.

Squeeze a 6 mm (1/4 inch) bead of 100 per cent mildew-resistant silicone sealant along the bottom edge of the end moulding and a second 6 mm (1/4 inch) bead of silicone along the flat side of the moulding.

Set the moulding into the 6 mm (1/2 inch) gap, taking care to butt the flat side tight against the doorway and press firmly to attach the bottom bead of sealant onto the subfloor. The tapered flat side of the end moulding will overlap the raw edge of the laminate floor, with the required expansion gap hidden beneath the end moulding.

Run another bead of sealant along the top edge of the end moulding where it meets the front doorway, taking care to fill in any gaps and air pockets. Wipe away any excess to achieve a uniform seal.