Whats under my horrible laminate flooring?

Dolly-Rocket

Hello,
As per my other thread, I really want to give my home a lovely new look.
When I bought it, it had (and still has) really horrible laminate flooring. I don't like looking at it. Its pale and plastic (one of the early editions I think). I would love to have the original real wood flooring, but have never seen under my laminate.
My question is......
First, how the heck do I get this laminate up? It feels like its glued down.
I'm hoping that flooring underneath (the house is 130 years old), will be in fairly good condition so I just have to sand and possible seal gaps.
Am I being totally naive here?
Please advise if you think I need reigning in.
I'm a single mum with no contingency fund if things go wrong!
Any advice, tips welcomed.

olias

If it is a suspended floor it could be old floorboards, in which case you may be able to sand them. Equally, however, they may be in terrible condition and have been mismatched/patched/stained etc etc.

They may have been replaced at some time with new boards which will be narrow and widely grained and not suitable for sanding/walking on (ugly and too soft)

They may even have been replaced with chipboard flooring panels

Floor may have had a concrete slab layed

Basically, you take your chance by ripping up the existing laminate. Also if the numpty that laid them has glued them down, then it may rip off the surface of the boards/gouge them etc when prising them up.

Olias

PasturesNew

Ask your neighbours, see if they know what's probably under it.

loracan1

Is this the ground floor or upstairs you're planning on? My groundfloor is plain asphalt, next doors is wooden underneath their carpet but pieced together in parts and with a stone hearth round the fire, it wouldn't have looked right sanded down.

The upstairs in mine is sanded back to the floorboards in both the front bedroom and landing. Did the bedroom some 10 years ago and it still looks lovely, they're over 130 years old so not in perfect condition but for me that's part of their appeal. The landing, I was going to have carpeted but as a quick fix over christmas I sanded it with a hand sander and drill and love it so much I can't bear to carpet over it, it's just going to have a a carpet runner for the stairs.


(I hasten to add it's quite a small landing.)

Dolly-Rocket

It's down stairs that I want to work on. Front room through to dining room.
The houses in the next street are almost identical. I was nosing recently at one a property developer is doing up. He invited me in to show me his work in progress when I noticed the gorgeous, perfect condition floorboards. Thats where my idea began. So I think I had them, just whether I still have them and what conditon they are in.
Think I have a plan now. Save a contingency of say £500. Rip up the laminate and take my chances. If they are awful then I'll pop to B&Q and buy something more tasteful
Then I'll come on here and ask how to lay it!

PROFESSIONAL_LANDLORD

First, how the heck do I get this laminate up? It feels like its glued down.

Laminate is installed 'floating' not fixed, usually installed with foam or fibre board below, it won't be glued.

Dolly-Rocket

Have managed to raise some. Looks like some grey foamy board underneath!

macman

Dolly-Rocket wrote: »

Have managed to raise some. Looks like some grey foamy board underneath!

That is probably just the underlay for the laminate. What's under that? Or are you talking about chipboard flooring?

Dolly-Rocket

Have got family over today, so will drink a few beers and try peeking later on. Failing that my step-mum is over tomorrow and loves nothing better than a good sledge hammer and a project. Will keep updated and a big think you for all replies.