Question for DIY... re: laminate flooring

[Brookenstein]

Well we finally finished the fence yesterday.  I thought that meant the end of major projects for a while.  Then I did our taxes last night and to my shocking surprise we are actually getting money back.  The man claimed married 8 so we were worried about owing... anyway looks like I have enough to do my floors.  Yeah!  But, I (along with the man) will be the installers as we didn't get enough back to actually pay someone to do it.

So couple questions... our house is just over 1200 sq ft.  We want to do the entire house minus the bathrooms.  Any idea how much of an undertaking this really will be?  I know now that its glueless it should be a bit easier than it once was.  I plan to take off the molding and then eventually replace those as well (we've done that before so I know we can do that pretty easily).

How long realistically will a project like this take?  We will basically just have weekends, plus Little League is starting up so that will limit 1/2 day every Saturday.

Also any advice on where to buy the materials.  Is Depot or Lowes is as good as any?  Anyone have experience with the stuff from Sam's Club?  What about discount flooring places?  The only thing I know is I plan to buy the kind with built-in underlayment.

Any feedback from BTDT appreciated.

[Vinny]

What a women ... Tubs, flooring, fencing, TAXES and everything else ... All I can say is WOW!!!!

As for laminate flooring, stick with the major brands: Wilson Art, Pergo and there's a few others. I personally have a Wilson Art floor in the family room and it wears like iron. Stay with floors that have a hardwood backing (Pergo used to have flake board). I wouldn't buy the lower end stuff from HD or Lowes. The good stuff goes for about $3.79 per square foot here in NJ.

It seems relatively easy, my floor is the older glue style and I'm glad I had it installed. We are planning to have the kitchen done with laminate too but since I have to remove a layer of flooring and have cabinets on top of the floor, I'm going with an install job.

If you're doing planks, offset each row so that the seams don't match each other. It seems to cut nicely with a circular saw. The installers had a 4" saw they used. I would think that if there aren't too many cuts the floor would go in pretty quickly once you get the movement correct to snap the into place with each other. I think you could get a couple of rooms done in a day or so, 2 rooms definately within a weekend. Heck you might get half a house done as the "wood" planks" are about 1' x 3' and unlike hardwood floors there really isn't a pattern to worry about. Just remember that they are photos of things and the photos do repeat - that's the only worry.

But as a FYI, the install price is $2.00 sf so if you get into a crunch, a couple of rooms wouldn't cost too much.

[Gomboman]

Brook, I would try this place out http://www.lumberliquidators.com/. I think there is one in your area. I know a few people who were going to go the Pergo route and ended up buying real engineered wood for less money from Lumberliquidators.

I personally like laminate floors but generally real wood floors will increase your re-sale value more than laminate. Just my two cents.......

[JcDenton]

Hi Brooke!

I think I can add some advice here. We recently tore out our carpets from two levels of our home and replaced it with laminate flooring. Overall, about 700 square feet of the stuff. I had never installed laminate before. I didn't do it all at once, but rather in sections - and here's my best advice.

First - as suggested by Gomboman - if you want something long-term that really boosts the value of your home and you can afford it - go with hardwoods. They're a much nicer product in the end.

However, if you are like me and think you might change the floors again in say 10-12 years - there are many decent laminates out there for purchase. The most important criteria (in my opinion) is the thickness of the laminate. The cheaper stuff is pretty thin and can mark alot easier than the thicker stuff. For example, originally to start out - we placed the thin, cheaper stuff in our kitchen first (never done it before at this point). Once completed I dropped a can-opener or something and it gouged the floor and left a mark.

Secondly - if you are planning on laminating a stairwell you might want to think again - the specialty pieces are quite expensive and unlike wood, with the glueless flooring you have to maintain a specific width of board or you start to lose the integrity of the floor. I.e. - you can't cut the it too narrow.

If your room is relatively square, then you can polish it off in a full day if you know what you're doing. If you have to go around corners it can become a little tricky as each board has a specific orientation and cannot be flipped or reversed after cutting.

The only other advice I can think of is make sure you really snap/rubber mallet each piece together well. After several months I've noticed small gaps between certain pieces and it kinda ticks me off. However, considering the massive swing in temperature up here its a wonder the entire floor doesn't split!

We are happy with our floors in the end. We ripped out the kitchen and replaced it with thicker stuff and it seems to be holding up quite well. We've also extended the stuff right into our master bedroom!

The key is to have a sharp saw and start where there's the least traffic - get a feel for it in a place that nobody will notice if you make a small error.

Anyways - good luck and I hope this helps!


Jc

[Bonibelle]

HI Brooke,  You go girl... I will also give you my little bit of advice.  We did the engineered wood floors about 3 years ago. As Gombo says, they are beautiful but not forgiving and mine have many scratches and bruises. If my children were younger, I would not have considered the real wood. (My 110+lb.  dog has caused most of the marks on my floors)  If you do want to take a look at how the engineered wood is installed anyway, Family Handyman has an article in the February issue. That magazine is a fantastic resource and probably one of my all time favorites, you would probably enjoy it too.
Lowes and Home Depot offer how to classes and even if you don't buy from them, you would get a hands on class and have a better idea of how you can realistically do this project with the least amount of problems. I admire your spirit, it is hard to get projects done with little ones underfoot.  You must have a secret! Good luck and let us know how your project progresses!

[Brewman]

I know it's more expensive up front, but at least consider hardwood.
The traditional kind isn't very easy for the novice to install, it needs to be sanded, finished, sealed, etc..
Installed, it would likely cost at least double or tripple that of self installed laminate.  But you'd get a better floor, and it'd be the last one you'd ever need.
At the very least look into the pre finished hardwood.  That product is way better looking than the laminate, and isn't much harder to install.  Probably costs a bit more than Pergo, but looks better longer.

[Brookenstein]

Thanks for the feedback everybody.  Unfortunately we are on a very limited budget (much like my hot tub shopping days, but I don't think I will find used flooring at an incredible discount that is as good as new).  We are looking at fairly inexpensive laminate at Depot or Lowes.  I also went to 2 wharehouse flooring stores yesterday as well.  One benefit of using Lowes is that when I file I can buy gift cards for Lowes instead of getting cash back on my return and get 10% free.

At this point my carpet is so nasty looking... I mean I don't let people in the house because it looks so bad and I'm always worried if ever I have to call 911 for something that they will send CPS over, lol.  So at this point anything, even cheap cheap laminate that only lasts 10 years would be a huge improvement.  We also thrash stuff, hence why we don't want carpet anymore... so I think laminate may hold up better for the time being than wood that can dent, bruise,  and whatnot.  We can always replace with good stuff when we can afford it later and the kids are older and take care of stuff...

I'm curious JcDenton what mm of stuff you initially put down in the kitchen and then what you replaced it with.  Most of what I'm looking at is 8mm with 25 year warranties.   Our favorite is actually a 10mm with a 30 yr at Depot but it is out of our budget at $3.77 sq ft.  We are trying to be closer to $2 sq ft.  We don't have any stairs to worry about, but the house does have some unique shapes, cut outs to it.

Bonibelle,

My husband doesn't do much at the house... his job is to work and bring in an income, my job is to do everything else.  We don't have any extra $ so when it comes to things getting done, I have to find a way to do it myself.  Luckily the little one takes a good 2 hour nap a day, so that helps a lot.  My oldest never took naps so that 2 hours a day free is like winning the lotto.    Also I hate cleaning, I would much rather be doing projects than doing dishes, vacuuming or cleaning toilets.

[Bonibelle]

Brooke, You are the MAN! I am right there with you! My husband is a scientist and I grew up with a work-aholic bricklayer for a Dad. My sister and I mixed mortar and were carrying block and building all sorts of things growing up. Like you, I am the project manager and the worker. My husband just enjoys the results. I will never forget the look on his face when he came home from a business trip to find the toilet in the hallway.   I kept telling him that I wanted to re-do the bath and that meant new floors..he wasn't interested so I just went ahead and did it myself.  Like I said, if you check out Family Handyman, you will get good ideas and a great resource for help.  I totally agree that I also hate housework and would rather seal the driveway, or do a construction project  anytime. I have made a very determined effort to be sure my boys learn all they can about the crafts so they can become my helpers (since my husband is so consumed with his job and has no real experience fixing and building). Good luck  
Ask Home Depot about 10% off if you spend so much money, they run those specials and you may be able to take advantage...

[JcDenton]

Our original kitchen flooring was I think 7.3mm - the new stuff we've put in was 8.3mm. We were on a fixed budget as well so we comprimised a little - I would have preferred something a little thicker but so far so good.

Final piece of advice? If you decide to go ahead with the purchase, make sure you have enough for the entire job! Can you believe that I ran out of boards with less than two feet to go? Better yet- the manufacturer had long since stopped making that type of laminate!  

After contacting the manufacterer directly, I was able to get some guy to ship the last two boxes they had!  ;DThat was too close as we would have had to tear up that last room and start again!

Jc

[Vinny]

Our original kitchen flooring was I think 7.3mm - the new stuff we've put in was 8.3mm. We were on a fixed budget as well so we comprimised a little - I would have preferred something a little thicker but so far so good.

Final piece of advice? If you decide to go ahead with the purchase, make sure you have enough for the entire job! Can you believe that I ran out of boards with less than two feet to go? Better yet- the manufacturer had long since stopped making that type of laminate!  

After contacting the manufacterer directly, I was able to get some guy to ship the last two boxes they had!  ;DThat was too close as we would have had to tear up that last room and start again!

Jc

This is excellent advice ... it's better to return than to not have enough!

[Brewman]

Does this stuff have dye lots, like wall paper?
Where if you don't get the same lot number, the color may not match?

If so, that's another really good reason to order more than you think you'll need.  

Plus having a few leftover pieces may come in handy a few years down the road in case any repairs are needed, assuming that it's possible to replace damaged pieces.

[luvmytub]

Brookenstein, my husband sells and installs laminate in his glass/garage door/flooring business.  He and I replaced almost all the flooring in our house with it.  We did it together, same as you, on weekends, etc.  The toughest parts are around doorways, last edge in the room, etc.  It goes together easily and you can knock out the big open center sections of a room quite quickly.  My husband sells Witex brand, and we installed their top of the line option.  We have been quite pleased with it, so far.  If I had my choice, I would prefer to have the real hardwood, but price was a consideration at the time for us, also.  It WILL scratch, and a little easier than they make it sound, but overall we have not been sorry we put it in.  We have two dogs that run in and out and when we spill a drink, no problem!  Just mop it up.  I have not missed carpet!  Anyway, feel free to PM me with any questions that DH or I might can answer for you.  My computer at home crashed this weekend, but I have access to the board here at work and check every so often.  Also, I hope to have my computer at home up and running again sometime this week.  

[socal]

brrok

another project?? wow, you are the WOman!!! as far as advice/info......i am sooo not the one to ask! lol. just wanted to say good luck. but from your other endeavours, i know you will do just fine.
when its all done, how about posting a pic so we can all admire your handy work. maybe i will sub contract you out if i know anyone looking to remodel  

[Brookenstein]

brrok

another project?? wow, you are the WOman!!! as far as advice/info......i am sooo not the one to ask! lol. just wanted to say good luck. but from your other endeavours, i know you will do just fine.
when its all done, how about posting a pic so we can all admire your handy work. maybe i will sub contract you out if i know anyone looking to remodel  

Can't I just work at the showroom on the weekends?

[socal]

Can't I just work at the showroom on the weekends?

sure. just let me get the Epic back up and running (had the reward going until we sold it). im sure you will show hanna what a "knockout" baithing suit is   did i say that outloud???