How to Install Laminate Floors on Walls? (5 Steps)

Except on floors, you can install laminate on walls too. So, how to do it?

To install laminate planks on a wall, you must smoothen the surface, apply laminate glue on the bottom parts of the planks, and then press them against the wall. Also, you must nail and lock the planks to prevent them from falling off. 

You must start from the bottom of the wall to create a base for the planks to be mounted on. The surface must be clean and smooth for the planks to stick. Also, you can only install laminate floors on indoor walls as they can’t cope with outdoor weather elements.

Things To Know Before You Start

You can install laminate planks on walls only if they are clean, even, and have no imperfections. Laminate is a floating floor and can be installed on any surface, as long as it’s even and clean.

However, installing them on walls is harder because mounting the boards on a vertical surface is more difficult than laying them on a horizontal surface.

So, you must use glue and nails to install planks on a vertical surface. That’s because laminate floors’ click-and-lock mechanism isn’t strong enough to keep the planks in one place on a vertical surface.

Also, you shouldn’t use laminate planks for outdoor surfaces or to cover holes in walls. The outdoor surfaces are exposed to water and moisture that can damage the boards. So, if you install them outdoors, the planks will start to lift and buckle. 

Also, laminate floors won’t stick to a wall with wallpaper. That’s because the glue will stick to the wallpaper instead of the surface. So, if the wallpaper starts to peel off, the boards will start to drop out off the surface. So you must remove the wallpaper first, then install the boards.

Types of Laminate To Use

You must use laminate planks without an underlayment on walls. These planks are lighter and won’t put much weight on the surface. Also, it’s easier to glue and nail lighter planks without an underlayment.

There are two types of laminate floors; those with an underlayment (or foam padding) and those without one. The underlayment (or foam padding) protects the boards from water and moisture. However, it also adds too much weight to the floors.

If you install laminate boards with an underlayment on walls, they will be too heavy and will put more stress on the surface. Also, the underlayment will make it hard to nail the boards.

However, if there’s a water leak (or moisture) on the walls, you must use a waterproof underlayment under the boards. That’s because the underlayment will prevent water from penetrating the boards.

How To Install a Laminate Floor on a Wall?

To install a laminate floor over a wall, you’ll need the following tools and supplies:

• A knife
• Nail gun
• Nails
• A rubber mallet
• Pull bars
• A power saw
• Tape measure
• Laminate Boards
• Laminate glue (for the type of wall you are working on)
• A pair of work gloves
• Rags
• A screwdriver

1. Prep The Wall

First, remove all the attachments, frames, and pictures from the walls. Also, remove light switches, sockets, and other extensions. The surface must be even and have no extension that can prevent the boards from sticking. 

If the surface has holes, broken boards, or damaged areas, you must fix those before installing laminate. Once everything is removed, wash and clean the surface.

2. Take Your Measurements

You need to know which planks will go where. To do this, you must accurately measure the width and length of the wall with your tape measure.

When you get the measurements, arrange the planks one after the other without locking them in place. This is to know if the planks will fit or if you need to trim them to size. You should remove grooves on the ends of the planks as they need to be square to stay flush against the wall.

3. Put Laminate Glue on The Planks

You must glue the laminate planks to the wall. The glue must be compatible with the wall material and laminate. For instance, you need stronger glue for concrete and brick walls than for wooden walls. You must apply the glue on the back of the planks.

You can install laminate floors on a wall without adhesive, but the adhesive will help them stay in place and close the gaps between them. If you don’t use glue, you must use more nails to nail the planks and keep them in their place.

4. Install The Laminate Planks

Apply the glue for each plank, and place them against the wall. Laminate planks have locks on the side of the planks, so ensure to place them in the right direction. 

After you place the planks, use the lock mechanisms to lock them together. If the locks don’t click, you haven’t locked them properly or used the wrong plank. The right plank will give a click-and-lock sound when installed.

5. Nail The Planks To The Wall

Once you install one plank, nail it to the wall immediately. The nails will keep the planks in place and allow the glue to adhere to the walls. If you don’t nail planks immediately, the glue won’t be strong enough to hold the planks.

After you install the floor, leave it to acclimate or adjust for 2 days.

How Long Will The Flooring Last?

A laminate floor can last up to 25 years on indoor walls if nailed. That’s because the planks won’t be exposed under heavy pressure or weight. However, it’s important to know that if you don’t nail planks, the laminate won’t stay for more than 5 years on indoor walls.

Laminate planks won’t last more than 3 years for outdoor walls due to weather elements (rain, snow, dust). The rain (water) will penetrate the boards and will wash off the glue. This will weaken the adhesion between the board and the wall, and the floor will fall off.

To make the floor last longer, you must inspect it every few months. For example, if one plank is loose, you can apply an extra nail to keep it in its place. Also, after a while, the laminate plank color will start to fade, so you must paint them to make the floor look better. 

Types of Walls

Concrete Walls

You can install laminate planks on a concrete wall, but installing them is hard. That’s because the concrete surface is harder, so it’s difficult to glue and nail the planks into the concrete surface. 

To install laminate planks on concrete walls, you must use strong glue. Also, you need a nail gun to nail the planks into the concrete. Nailing them manually is hard. 

Garage Walls

You can install planks on a garage wall. However, you must clean the surface and remove the items before installing the floor.  

Also, the planks (on the wall) can’t handle too much weight, so you can’t hang heavy tools or equipment on them. The planks will collapse if you hang heavy tools.

Kitchen Walls

You can install laminate planks on a kitchen wall, but laminate isn’t the best material to use on it. That’s because the kitchen walls are exposed to constant water and moisture. As a result, the wall laminate will be damaged by moisture and water.

Final Words

You can install laminate planks on indoor walls as long as they are clean, even, and has no imperfections. However, you must nail and glue them to prevent them from falling off. 

It’s important to know that you shouldn’t use laminate on outdoor walls.