How easy to install laminate flooring?

[dakotadangerdog]

Personally I'd pay someone to do it, if it ends up looking shitty that would really really suck!

[bullygirl979]

Okay, first of all, it will cost you an arm and a leg to pay to have someone install.

Second, what time of laminate? Like pergo?

[dakotadangerdog]

Is there a hot contractor you could pay to do it with sexual favors?

[bullygirl979]

I would say it would depend on you and your friend's abilities. My XH and I installed it in our house but he did most of the "hard stuff" (i.e. using the saw). It is fairly easily as long as you are comfortable with power tools.

[udscoobychick]

My dad has put down laminate in several rooms of my parents' house, and I helped him. I don't recall it being difficult, especially the ones that are tongue-in-groove floating floors. Definitely need to be able to use power tools, though.

[dakotadangerdog]

Yeah I think for the tongue in groove type stuff you just need to be able to cut the pieces to size,and make sure you have whatever you are installing on top of set up properly.

[achase123]

XH and a few of his friends installed ours. He's not particularly handy. It required a Friday night and all day Saturday. Plus a lot of beer.

I think the hardest part was underneath the bricks by the fireplace and in the doorways. Can you pay some guy friends to do it?

[BookLover]

My dad with the help of my mom put laminate in the kitchen. It took about 3-4 days, but it got done. It looks great in the end, however, there were several areas that made my dad want to pull his hair out, the tricky spots around doors and the connecting area of rooms and under cabinets.

[bullygirl979]

Bump for Starry.

[formerlyak]

My brother used home depot install for his carpet and was not happy at all with the service.

Is it the tongue and groove type laminate? If so, I know my brother installed that in his dining room and kitchen himself and said it is very easy to do.

[prettyinpearls]

XH installed the tongue and groove laminate in our bedroom and it was done in 3 hours. But, you do need to be handly with power tools, like a circular saw. I was 7 months pg when he did it, so I was of no assistance to him...other than to bring him more beer.

[messykitchen]

I have actually done all three floors of my house, mainly by myself. I had to buy a table saw, and cursed a LOT. Doorways and transitions and keeping things level and in line sucked ass. Plus I had carpet before, and I had to remove all the baseboards to get the flooring flush to the wall, and then all my baseboards were about 1/2 an inch lower to the floor leaving a stripe of unpainted wall above them in every room that had carpet. So I then had to paint. I hate painting.

Buy at least one more box than you think you will need. You will cut things wrong. Use a good padded under layer (and I have dogs, so I also did a layer of waterproofing under layer for accidents)

The first room I did took about 3 days. After that I can do a room now in a day and a half. I hired someone to do the stairways though, cuz there was no way.

You will scream, curse, pull your hair out, and I don't drink but if I did, I would advise some wine. After using the saw! And then when you get a room done you can sit back and think holy shit, I just did that MYSELF.

ETA: My house was built in 1905. If you live in a newer home, I am sure it wont be as frustrating as none of my rooms are truly square and no floors are really level. That was really the hardest part, working the crazy angles and cut outs.

[starryfish]

$400 for install? That doesn't sound right, HD charges $2 a square foot and that's just for laying the floor, not the prep work or molding, etc. I just laid 400+ sf myself this weekend. PM for More details, I did a lot of research and learned a lot