Laminate flooring

[GMONEY]

Anyone had their floors done with laminate and have any problems? I have been checking in to doing mine, but have heard some people tell me they have problems with it pushing up on the edges???????? Maybe it was the installer, but just checking before I do it..

[F16 1UB]

We had laminate floors installed in a new home 8 years ago due to owning dogs and newly seeded yard. We've not had any problems with corners/ends turning. It's also warranted for 15 years. Have noticed dimples on the floor from where the couch sits so you may want to take that into consideration and place something underneath.

The worst part is whenever the dogs come in you now have little foot prints. For cleaning we use a canister sweeper and a damp mop or the latest advertized item called Swiffer or something like that. Our TV home we had Floormasters install ceramic tile in the LR to match the entry way and kitchen area.

[Boomer]

Good Morning, GMONEY,

Mr. Boomer has installed several rooms of laminate for our daughter. At our house he installed prefinished hardwood, 5" planks, tongue and groove, throughout our entire house, except for the bathrooms and laundry.

He likes doing that and, besides, he got to buy a whole bunch of power tools for that hardwood job, here at the house, 5 years ago. And he used a lot of those tools when he installed the laminate at Boomette's house. Not the pneumatic nailer though because laminate is not nailed or even glued. It floats. It clicks into place. Kind of fun to do and easy.

Laminate, hardwood, whatever, the key is the subfloor and the installation.

The subfloor must be sound and level. The floor you are talking about that pushed up at the edges -- That could be a problem with the subfloor or it could be that no room was left for expansion. Temperature and humidity changes can play havoc with an installation of hardwood or laminate if room for expansion is not left along the walls. Usually it is about 1/2 inch (the manufacturer should specify). The gap is then covered with a toe strip of quarter round at the bottom of the baseboard.

The underlayment is also important. It is a vapor barrier, deadens sound, and provides a cushion.

Well, G, that's probably more than you ever wanted to know about the installation of laminate floors and I had better get to work. Laminate floors are easy care floors and durable. Good luck.

(btw Mr. Boomer is not a professional installer.)

Boomer

[Boomer]

GMONEY,

This is Part II to my dissertation on laminate floors earlier in this thread. (I think there is also an old thread, very old, in the archives here somewhere, where I went on and on about floor installation. I can't seem to help it.)

Anyway, Mr. Boomer just arrived here in the kitchen, and I said to him, "Hey, you went over top of old vinyl when you installed the laminate in Boomette's kitchen, didn't you?"

He said he did.

So just in case you need to know about that part --

He used a screwgun, right through the old vinyl, where the floor was squeaking. He also used leveling compound in a few places.

Now, I will stop thinking about floor installation and try to move forward with my life. I have company coming tonight and I have to cook.

Bye.

Boomer

[Boomer]

Part III.

I have got to move this computer out of the kitchen. I am poaching chicken -- on the stove, not on somebody's farm -- And I keep looking in at TOTV while I am waiting for the simmer to come to an end.

Anyway, G, even though you may not be doing this installation yourself, I hope you know that if you are a retired guy, you will certainly need to "supervise" any work being done at your house. I think that is in the rules for being a retired guy. Mr. Boomer has been supervising an electrician lately. And today he has a garage door installer and a retractable screen door installer to supervise. Life can get pretty busy for a retired guy.

Bye -- again.

Boomer

[GMONEY]

Part III.

I have got to move this computer out of the kitchen. I am poaching chicken -- on the stove, not on somebody's farm -- And I keep looking in at TOTV while I am waiting for the simmer to come to an end.

Anyway, G, even though you may not be doing this installation yourself, I hope you know that if you are a retired guy, you will certainly need to "supervise" any work being done at your house. I think that is in the rules for being a retired guy. Mr. Boomer has been supervising an electrician lately. And today he has a garage door installer and a retractable screen door installer to supervise. Life can get pretty busy for a retired guy.

Bye -- again.

Boomer

it is always good to get info. I do Appreciate it alot!! I will check into it. I have talked to a few companies that do it. one new place in Buffalo Ridge next to Bonefish and one on 301 going south into Wildood on the left. Again thanks for the info from all including the PM I got.. :thumbup:

[Mikitv]

I just put an engineered wood floor in my office at home and it is the type that floats and has an underlayment. The floor is laid on a concrete slab. When I was looking for a floor I did compare cost and looks of wood, engineered and laminate. The engineered had the best look for the money. Just my preference and to date no problems with the floor and I roll my desk chair all around on the floor.

[ditzyfitzy]

How does the laminate hold up with the dogs? I am thinking about replacing my carpet with laminate---and I also am thinking about getting a small Yorkie. Are they compatible? What happens if the puppy has an accident--does it leave a stain or does it easily wipe up?
Thanks,
Lynn

[F16 1UB]

How does the laminate hold up with the dogs? I am thinking about replacing my carpet with laminate---and I also am thinking about getting a small Yorkie. Are they compatible? What happens if the puppy has an accident--does it leave a stain or does it easily wipe up?
Thanks,
Lynn


No problems with any liquids spilled or dogs. Never stains.

[faithfulfrank]

How does the laminate hold up with the dogs? I am thinking about replacing my carpet with laminate---and I also am thinking about getting a small Yorkie. Are they compatible? What happens if the puppy has an accident--does it leave a stain or does it easily wipe up?
Thanks,
Lynn

The Yorkie will be compatible. Actually, the long haired version will help you as it acts as a dust mop all over when walking on the floor.......;)

The OP states he lives in The Villages, so I will assume that the floor is concrete slab. As long as it is installed according to the manufacture's destructions, with proper barrier and cushioning, and with the proper gap around the parameter, you should have no problems. I have installed many floors of this type and have never had any issues.

Frank D.

[Sgt Mac]

We are having Paradise Flooring put down some on the 27th I will tell you
how it gos?
Da Sgt :shrug:

[GMONEY]

We are having Paradise Flooring put down some on the 27th I will tell you
how it gos?
Da Sgt :shrug:

Please do, this is one of the places we checked with. Like to know how their work is. I have looked at a floor done by Floor Masters.

[faithfulfrank]

In my earlier post, I used the phrase "OP". That was a shortened version of "Original Poster", referring to the person who started the thread. I now realize that might have been confusing, and I apologize.

I will try not to use abbreviations, as I understand they are confusing.....it took me awhile to realize you all were talking about "The Villages" when I'd read "TV". My bad.

Thanks, Frank D.

[tony]

Would it be a great gesture if we all typed The Villages instead of TV? New posters would have no question in their mind about what we mean.

[ditzyfitzy]

Frank,
Problem with the LONG hair--is that it is mighty hot here in the summer. My previous Yorkie had the long hair--and you are right--GREAT dust-mop! NOW, does anyone have a good recommendation for someone to install laminate flooring?
Thanks again,
Lynn

[redwitch]

If they do as well with laminate as they do with diagonal tiles, which ain't all that easy, I'd go with All-in-One-Flooring (223-3036). Hard workers, reasonable prices and they are also subcontractors for TV (which means they've been background checked, if nothing else).

[GMONEY]

The Yorkie will be compatible. Actually, the long haired version will help you as it acts as a dust mop all over when walking on the floor.......;)

The OP states he lives in The Villages, so I will assume that the floor is concrete slab. As long as it is installed according to the manufacture's destructions, with proper barrier and cushioning, and with the proper gap around the parameter, you should have no problems. I have installed many floors of this type and have never had any issues.

Frank D.

Yep its a Villages house, thanks for the info

[Sgt Mac]

Gmoney and all,
We did get the Laminate Floor put in yesterday by Paradise Flooring.
4 young men arrived at 9 as they said We put our floor in on a 45 deg. it is in
the Dinning,Living,Kitchen and Hall They did a great job cleaned as they went a long all of the 1/4 round, door ways etc look good and the floor looks Great
Yes we would do it again
Da Sgt

[GMONEY]

Gmoney and all,
We did get the Laminate Floor put in yesterday by Paradise Flooring.
4 young men arrived at 9 as they said We put our floor in on a 45 deg. it is in
the Dinning,Living,Kitchen and Hall They did a great job cleaned as they went a long all of the 1/4 round, door ways etc look good and the floor looks Great
Yes we would do it again
Da Sgt

Thanks for the info, I will stop by there and see them this week. Sounds good :coolsmiley:

[annsz]

Your post dated Sept 2008 awhile ago... I'm wondering, if you'll tell me
what you paid for your floors ??? I just signed contract to have mine
done at a cost of 5140.00 I have approx. 650 sq ft. I know there are
different prices, but the more I think about it ... I think I'm getting ripped
off ! What say you ?
Tks Annsz

[faithfulfrank]

Well, that comes to $7.91 per square foot.

Without knowing that quality (and more accurately cost) for materials, how could anyone answer your question?

Did you pick expensive laminate, or cheap laminate? There are MANY grades of flooring. Also, are they taking up the old floor and disposing of it? Are they having to install an epoxy moisture barrier? (I always would). Do they have a lot of difficult cuts, where there would be a lot of waste?

At the risk of sounding rude, (and I am really not a rude person at all), isn't the time to ask this question BEFORE you signed a contract? You signed a contract.....so your question seems moot at this point. If you had gotten at least 3 estimates beforehand, you would now know the answer to your question.

Frank

[sunny46]

We are planning on installing laminate flooring and the more we look, the more confused I get. Can some of you recommend a certain installer and would you go with matte or polished? Also which way to install, i.e. front to back or side to side?

[jaringg]

several problems develop. The humidity in the ground causes moisture to form underneath the flooring.
another is that the concrete pad is uasally cracked in several places and not level.
Tile is the only way to go. Just had mine done by a guy that is a tru artist