Has anyone installed laminate flooring themselves??

[Ozzie'sperson]

Thanks. I'll put you on my list.

I have two bedrooms to wallpaper, put in beadboard, chair rail and crown molding. Then, I am bricking the porch and the walkway.

[my2boyz]

What I like about my laminate: it's done and it looks great when it's clean.


What I hate about my laminate: it's cold, it's like walking on ice when it gets wet, my dogs slip and slide on it even when it's dry, you have to mop and dry when you clean or you get water spots, you have to use a floor cleaner and buffing pad to make it look good and you have to worry about scratching the surface.


Would I use it again? NO!

[yougetthesmiles]

yup, hubby and I did! It took us a few hours lol but we got it!
The only tricky part is cutting around the corners, etc...

[tjdmom]

My husband installed ours in our home office. The room was 12x14 and he did it in a day. We used the barrier paper 1st -it's kinda like foam and it's blue and he said you absolutely must buy the installation kit. I think the kit was $20 but maybe it was less. It looks really nice in there but I do have to say it's hard for the dogs to walk on as it's a bit slippery. I also worry since I read that water should not sit on it, you should dry it and I'm worried if the dogs pee on it, it will soak in so I'm not sure I would use it in a dogs room. We have also done ceramic tile and that's not all that hard either. Homedepot will cut the tiles for you so you don't have to do that part yourself. Good luck with your project!

[Yorkie Luv of 3]

my husband and i have done it and as long as you have the tools you need ,, its not hard at all
best of luck!

[LuvMySissy]

My hubby just installed laminate flooring in both our spare bedrooms. We bought the really inexpensive stuff from Ikea (less than $1/sq foot). But, you get what you pay for and the installation was NOT the snap and click they advertise. Definitely get the padding (like a thin styrofoam sheet) and the installation kit. If you pay a little more for the flooring and it does actually snap and click, the hardest part will be any necessary cutting.

The dogs don't slip nearly as much on the "real" pergo laminate we have in our living room as they do on the cheap stuff in the bedrooms. For those with cleaning issues, I swear by my Shark steam mop. It does a great job on these floors and doesn't leave them wet at all.

Good luck and happy shopping!!!

[cesar49]

Originally Posted by Xena'smommy

I did mine (about the same size room) with my father. Took a whole day, but we used the floating laminate. It works well for us. I will say one thing, my Yorkie slips a lot on it, cause it has very little texture. Hope that helps

i need new floors too.. i currently have white carpet in my puppy room..HELP!!! i have a rug doctor..but the floating laminate is my plan. it is foam padding underneath.. softer.. what brand floor did youy choose?

[LunasMomma]

The only suggestions that I have are:

1. Go to a flooring store, their prices are WAY below HD and Lowes. Like HALF!

2. Let the flooring sit in your house a good three days before installing. We didn't do that and now we have a 1/2" gap in my office along one wall It really DOES need to acclimate

3. Don't buy a glue-down floor, get the snap-in. Glue floors are SO hard to install and if you make a mistake, the snap in you can pull back up and re-do

Good luck, and take pics

[lilfoot]

I agree don't get the glue on...definitely get the snap on...so easy.....my husband did our living room and hallway and the steps that go downstairs in a weekend by hisself..way to go hubby...and it looks good....

some people were talking about drying their floor...I have never dried my floor. I use just warm water with a splash of pine sol....and ring my rag out really good....I have never had water spots. I do agree that my girls do slip alittle on it but not too bad...we just have to remember not to throw their toys towards our steps.....lol....

[Xena'smommy]

Originally Posted by cesar49

i need new floors too.. i currently have white carpet in my puppy room..HELP!!! i have a rug doctor..but the floating laminate is my plan. it is foam padding underneath.. softer.. what brand floor did youy choose?

I bought mine at Lowes, but sorry I cannot remember the name, it's Cherry Wood color. I've had it in for 3 years and not a scratch or anything on it (with 2 kids and a dog). I am happy with it. BTW, I was quoted $4000 to install it, but I ended up paying $950 for the flooring, and we did it ourselves.

[Ozzie'sperson]

Originally Posted by LunasMomma

The only suggestions that I have are:

1. Go to a flooring store, their prices are WAY below HD and Lowes. Like HALF!

2. Let the flooring sit in your house a good three days before installing. We didn't do that and now we have a 1/2" gap in my office along one wall It really DOES need to acclimate

3. Don't buy a glue-down floor, get the snap-in. Glue floors are SO hard to install and if you make a mistake, the snap in you can pull back up and re-do

Good luck, and take pics

All of the above is right on. Don't get the glue kind either.

And don't buy
Shaw. Good flooring, but their "new" snap system (as of a year ago) sucks. The old one was much better.

To help with sliding Yorkies, use area rugs. (Also, can bring through a main or accent color in your room.) We made sure that when we rearranged the furniture once I finished the floor that the biggest of the area rugs was in front of both the love seat and couch. That way, Ozzie had traction for getting on and a cushioned area for jumping off. I thought it would be a harder adustment for he and Toby the Cat than it's been, but it really hasn't.

[deb22]

We did it too. We used hardwood floating also. It was pretty easy, time consuming. But not so bad. But all I did was watch.LOL We are getting square tiles for our kitchen soon. I think I will just watch again. Sooo much easier.lol

[AmyChristine]

My mom and I did... also used the floating. Once we got it going it was easy. I brought the wine and she brought the saw and by the end of the day we had it finished and both felt pretty good about it too

[mojo]

Originally Posted by AmyChristine

My mom and I did... also used the floating. Once we got it going it was easy. I brought the wine and she brought the saw and by the end of the day we had it finished and both felt pretty good about it too

My mom could probably help me, but she is against me doing it myself Maybe she should pay to have it installed!

[mojo]

Originally Posted by cesar49

i need new floors too.. i currently have white carpet in my puppy room..HELP!!! i have a rug doctor..but the floating laminate is my plan. it is foam padding underneath.. softer.. what brand floor did youy choose?

White, I have to laugh.
I used to have a beige berber with color flex, now, not so beige
I am thinking armstrong, it is 20% off at lowes right now, it would be $2 something. Ifloor has it $1.77 sq. ft.

May not be everyones taste, but I like it -

lam.jpg

lam1.jpg