sup guys, my parents are looking to do about 1000 sq ft of laminate flooring for our house. i've done some research online, but i would like any advice if any of you guys have had experience with it.

1) how much did you pay or should I expect to pay? any brands i should look for or be aware of?
2) buy it local at home depot/lowes (for a higher price) or order from internet sites (cheaper)
3) use planks with the cushioning mat already on it? or lay separate mat/film and then just the planks on top?
4) problems installing? good tips to make installation easier?
5) do you guys like it? self install or professional? (i'm probably going to do diy unless someone persuays me otherwise)

i think that's it, so chime away! thanks.

 

we had them professionally installed by a contractor.
use separate mat from the wood. dont use the thin "wooden" strips...theyre softer, creak more often, and dont look as "professional" after the install. the only thing is, theyre a lot cheaper.
make sure plumbing is taken care of and be aware of any wetspots that might weaken the wood...which would lead to its staining and ultimately, replacement.
we love it.

 

I install flooring (including laminates) for a living. Laminates are a very good floor depending on what brand you buy. Any thing from Tarkett, Wilsonart, of Formica is a quality floor. Stay away from Pergo because they are crap and will chip if you drop anything on them. Also, dont get the ones with the built in pad, get the ones with the separate padding. Lamiate flooring is quite pricey, but if your doing it yourself you can save a lot of money. Just take your time and make sure that all of your joints are tight as you lay each board. Also, make sure that you leave at least a 1/4 inch gap around all the walls to allow for expansion and contraction. (this gap will be covered up by your moulding) If you don't do that, the floor will buckle. Any more questions feel free to PM me.

Brent

 

any laminate wood floors sutiable for a household with dogs?

 

yea pretty much all of them are suitable for dogs, except for Pergo because they are crap. when installed properly the seams are watertight, so the dogs shouldn't be a problem, also, their nails should not scratch the floor.

 

I call :bs: on your Pergo feedback. I installed Pergo Prodigy in my moms house
two story 1400 sq feet and they have (4) Basset hounds with long nails its been in over a year no scrapes or chips.

Cost about $55.00 a case for 19.69 Sq feet

It takes longer to remove the furniture out of the room and pulling the carpet to install.

My mom loves her Pergo flooring.

 

thanks for the comments guys. i've watched a few diy installation videos off the web, so i'm sure installing shouldn't be a problem. the big thing is choosing which brand and how much i should expect to pay. what is the best bang for the buck?

i'll post again when i get the brands from home depot and lowes. i know home depot already carries pergo, but unsure what else they carry.

btw, lots of sites claim pergo to be good. hrm....

 

The difference between Pergo and the rest is that Pergo is a low pressure laminate, meaning that it is not as "hard" as the others. Pergo tends to chip very easily and is more susceptible to water damage. We don't carry it in our store because it was a pain in the ass going back to customers houses because of problems. Wilsonart is in my opinion the best laminate flooring out there.

 

Jay you getting new floors?

When my dad was helping my aunt redo her flooring he went to home depot. The employees there helped a lot with explaining different types of flooring. They ended up tiling the kitchen but I 100% sure they can help you out on getting wood.













Hah getting wood.