How difficult is it to install laminate flooring and tile?

thermal2844

...for someone who is a complete and utter DIY novice? Is this something we could tackle ourselves, or should we hire someone? We're purchasing a bit of a fixer and trying to save money where we can, but within reason of course. Ideally we'd like to buy a higher quality of materials and offset it by saving on labour costs.

The laminate flooring would be in the living room, upstairs landing, and two bedrooms. The flooring is already bare and ready to go.

The tiling work that needs doing is the entryway, kitchen floor, kitchen backsplash, bathroom floor, and a small portion of bathroom wall tile. All of these areas have existing tile that would need to be taken up.

We also need to put in a new worktop in the kitchen, and a new sink (same location just replacing it). It currently has an aging laminate. We are thinking to put in Quartz. Is this something we could tackle or better left to the experts?

spadoosh

The hardest part as a DIYer is getting the perfect finish. Theres a good chance you wont get one so if youre after (close to) perfection better getting someone else to do it.

That said, laying laminate is about as simple as DIY gets. Just a case of clipping the planks in row by row. Watch a few youtube videos and it should cover the basics.

Tiling requires a bit more skill. As a novice youll struggle to get the perfectly straight lines, youll struggle if the surface isnt flat and youll probably waste a lot. MIght be better for the proffessionals. It could be quite expensive first time round due to buying the tools for the job. But going forwards it mainly material costs.

The worktops (particularly quartz) is not really a DIY job. WHilst it can be done, you need decent tools and cutting discs. You will also be completely responsible should you break what is an incredibly fragile material. I used to work for a DIY shed and they wouldnt supply quartz worktops because there was countless problems with customers (usually tradesmen) breaking them.

Im a big fan of DIY. Not only because it saves you money but you develop skills which are useful all around your home and will be useful for every future bit of DIY you do. The more you do it, the better and more capable you tend to be.

Wassa123

Laminate flooring is easy, they clip into each other. You can use special laminate underlay and you may require an anti moisture sheet if you're putting it on concrete. The tricky bit depends on what you're doing for the edges as you need to leave a gap for the laminate to expand/contract with the changes in heat/humidity. Ideally you hide it under the skirting board but that may mean taking it off and putting it back on at the right height. Alternatively just use the edging strips to hide the gap.

The basics of tiling is easy, but getting it flat and all the tiles straight is a bit tricky without experience.

Worktops all depend on whether your walls are straight and whether you have access to the tools required to cut out the holes for the sink and hob. If you're paying for someone to cut these out, you pay as well get them to fit it while they're at it.

thermal2844

Thank you both, very useful advice and much appreciated.

getmore4less

Ideally we'd like to buy a higher quality of materials and offset it by saving on labour costs.

if you want to go quality for the flooring drop the laminate and go wood or LVT.

It is a lot easier and neater if you are going to replace skirting and door architrave.

if you use edging strips it will look like a cheap DIY job.

Also consider the thresholds and material change

missile

Laying laminate and tiling are both easy for a competent DIYer. Not easy for a novice:-)

Preparation for both is vital to achieving a good result and you could save money by doing the preparation then hiring a tradesman.

Do not skimp on materials, good laminate will last for many years and quality underlay is important.

Norman_Castle

Ideally we'd like to buy a higher quality of materials and offset it by saving on labour costs.

Ideally that would be great but cheap materials fitted well can be better than expensive materials poorly fitted.