Can I re-use laminate flooring?

fraggle7581

I have laminate flooring in my lounge and dining room fitted by the previous owners. I want to put carpet down instead, but don't want the old laminate going to waste.

I was hoping I could re-use it in two of the bedrooms. If I'm really careful with dismantling (fingers crossed it's the 'click-n-lock' stuff and not glued), is it possible to re-lay it in other rooms?

Many thanks in advance.

startrekker

As long as its the click system you can re-use it a number of times. Too many times will result in the tongue and groove becoming worn....so yes go ahead....

cheekyweegit

Hiya,

Yes if your careful lifting it and don't split the "tongue and grooves" so to speak there is no reason why you can't lift it and put it down again in another room.

Have fun - oh when laying it, it's well worth taking the skirtings off if you can and laying the laminate (remember the 10mm gap round the edges) underneath the skirting as I personally think it looks much better than having the edging stuff round the room.

Skirting doesn't need to cost that much and you would be pleasantly surprised just what a lift fresh skirting gives to a room. If you do damage your paper doing this and don't want to decorate, all we did was put skirting on which was a little higher than the last lot.

Tools - rubber mallet, a normal hammer might damage the laminate if you "miss"

the fitting kit with spacers and block thingy (about £10 but you can usually borrow / scrounge one from someone)

screwdriver for the ackward bits

electric jigsaw for cutting the bits at doors etc

normal saw / chop saw for cutting the straight bits

a drill for drilling a hole in the laminate if you have radiators, before using the jigsaw to cut the straight bits out to meet the hole (it's quite easy honest)


patience and plenty tea and biscuits, oh and elastoplasts for those cuts which you WILL get!


Oh and you might need fresh underlay but it would be worth asking on your local freecycle board as quite often folks need just a little out of a second roll of the stuff and have it lying around. This would save you the expense of buying it.

Oh and it will be noisy, going down and afterwards if you have kids in the house. It sounds like a herd of elephants when my teenage sons are in their rooms at times with the laminate, but I have no regrets at putting it down as it has helped my son who is asthmatic.

fraggle7581

My goodness, what a really helpful reply, thank you so much Joyce, really do appreciate your advice. :T