How easy is it to lay laminate flooring?

notanewuser

wallbash wrote: »

Noticing that there is far more negative posting in the DIY section .......everything is too difficult , leave it to the processionals. not a job for a novice. No wonder its the older members of society that can still wire a plug/ hang wallpaper , cure a dripping tap or paint a door. We had to do when we were younger, and grateful now that we did.

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I'm 36. I can, and do, do all of those things.

-taff

It's not that the job is particularly difficult. Cutting, planning and finishing is moderately difficult, it's not a job for a novice DIY-er and have a good result at the end.
That's not to say it can't be done [ I did a downstairs entirely with 3 doors, no door strips and an upsatirs, 2 bedrooms with door strips]
Looked ok but not great, but that was also down to the cheapness of the laminate used.

It's just that even when i was 6 years younger, I was still knackered after doing it.

So, it can be done by someone with arthritis, but expect to be absolutely shattered and have hands, knees and back hurting by the end of it.

missprice

wallbash wrote: »

Noticing that there is far more negative posting in the DIY section .......everything is too difficult , leave it to the processionals. not a job for a novice. No wonder its the older members of society that can still wire a plug/ hang wallpaper , cure a dripping tap or paint a door. We had to do when we were younger, and grateful now that we did.

Now I will attempt nearly everything , not plastering. Bricklaying is painfully slow and hanging a heavy front door is not for a wimp like me.
Carpet yes, Vinyl no .

In my early 40s and female too, will do plastering, bricklaying, laminate floor, wallpaper, painting, plastering, basic plumbing, kitchen fitting.
Won't do leccy, terrifies me can't see it/smell it. Carpets and vinyl too tricky for me, happy to labour though.

zaksmum

Thanks for the advice.

Elsien, the dogs would have to be kept well out of his way if he has a go at laying the laminate! They know not to bother him in his "creative moments"...not that he has many!

The room is a through lounge measuring 27ft by 13ft so quite a big job. B&Q have an ad up instore charging £18.95 a square metre for fitting laminate which is ridiculously expensive I think.

But you can get fitting a lot cheaper than that when you buy the laminate as part of a deal which includes fitting and underlay.

Going to have another look around the shops in a bit to make our minds up.

Norman_Castle

The room is a through lounge measuring 27ft by 13ft so quite a big job.

The room size is a bit irrelevant. Fitting full boards is quick and simple. Having one person fit while another moves the boards into place saves standing up repeatedly. Good knee pads are worth investing in. The edges take time. Is your husband good with a jigsaw?.

http://www.screwfix.com/p/jsp-gel-knee-pads/99250

zaksmum

he's good with a jigsaw

paddyrg

zaksmum wrote: »

My husband wants to save money by fitting laminate flooring himself.

notanewuser wrote: »

Do you have boobs?

Hopefully this won't apply in the OP's husband's case...

Norman_Castle

zaksmum wrote: »

he's good with a jigsaw

Great. I'm struggling with a 3D Taj Mahal, ask him to pop round

zaksmum

I'll get him to do your taj mahal if you do our flooring!