adnanshah247 Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 hey folks, over the weekend im hoping to help my girlfriend finish her loft conversion. builders are taking the pi$$ so me and her have decided that seen as the buildersare not doing the laminate or painting the walls we should make a start. now the room is 2.93 x 2.17. i believe 2 packs of laminate should be enough for this room. i have never done laminate flooring before so thought id seek some advise. my questions:- 1. does all laminate flooring just join together without the need of glues? i just align the pieces together and apply pressure to join them, like a big 3D puzzle. 2. is underlay important? i have researched and found out that they should all be put down in a certain pattern way:- that they are never the same lengths and there ends shouldnt meet. is it easy of difficult? what should i be aware of? any specialist equipment needed? i have jigsaws etc. im not a novice at building work. my dad owns a few properties that im constantly re-decorating. i can plaster, paint, strip (blackie dont get excited), fill and a lot more. i just have never tackled laminate. all advice would be brilliant! thanks guys, really appreciate all the help. Adnan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwayne Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 use a worktop blade if you are marking the face cos it chips 1. depends what type, the most common being a tongue and groove design 2. you will probably regret not using it so its best to. i have and havent and it makes a real difference to how cold it feels under foot stagger the joints (not forgetting expansion gaps) and lay it in rows length-wise and not side by side it probably says all that on the pack somewhere but i hope that helps a bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adnanshah247 Posted August 14, 2009 Author Share Posted August 14, 2009 yes i will be using the tongue and groove design, have watch a few videos online and it seems pretty straight forward. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Don't just use a crappy saw bud, it makes a massive difference to the cut. You want an oscilating one with good speed and a fine blade to do the job right. I used a table saw with a fine blade Made short work of it all, started chipping towards the end of the living room though so i swapped to the jigsaw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adnanshah247 Posted August 14, 2009 Author Share Posted August 14, 2009 i dont have a circular saw, i have a really good jigsaw, will that do? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abz Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Adnan, if u can take a clutch apart this will be piss easy! I done my living room & passage it was fairly easy. I'd suggust you use underlay. If your stuggling & I am close by I am happy to pop round....& make u some tea Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adnanshah247 Posted August 14, 2009 Author Share Posted August 14, 2009 lol, thanks abz. if i have done a job before then im ok, but if i havent im always out trying to learn as much as i can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Raven Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Ad, you have a wickes near you? They do a cracking underlay cheap too, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronttuk Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 i just put laminate over the existing carpet cant see the piont in lifting carpet to put somthing similar under laminate its very easy to lay stagger joints usuallly by starting with the last piece uce cut off if uve got an old gas pipe sticking up put the hole betwen 2 joints ive seen some people cut a 2ft long groove and replace the piece they cut out it looks crap even if filled with laminate repair mastick you can rent a compound mitre saw for about £20 it makes the job loads easyier and better Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Raven Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 i just put laminate over the existing carpet cant see the piont in lifting carpet to put somthing similar under laminate You will. The carpet will bubble sooner or later it its felt backed. Made the same mistake in my rental. Ended up ripping it all up after 8 months Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ric Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 you will need roughly a pack more for offcuts etc don't forget Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Don't laminate over the loft hatch, else you'll be trapped up there forever. A bit like the bloke at the end of Saw, but in a far more dull way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adnanshah247 Posted August 14, 2009 Author Share Posted August 14, 2009 just got the underlay and 5 packs of laminate. going to try have a crack at it tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snake Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 it is really easy to do,just stagger the joints and cut them to length with a decent handsaw [if you don't have a jig/chop saw].The last board you cut on one end will be the start of the next row. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abz Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Just sent you a PM dude... I'll be freeish tomorrow morning\early afternoon so if you need a hand I am happy to pop by as mention before.....to make the tea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adnanshah247 Posted August 14, 2009 Author Share Posted August 14, 2009 Just sent you a PM dude... I'll be freeish tomorrow morning\early afternoon so if you need a hand I am happy to pop by as mention before.....to make the tea! really appreciate the offer Abz but i have enough help now and im sure ill be ok. true club spirit! thanks bud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abz Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 really appreciate the offer Abz but i have enough help now and im sure ill be ok. true club spirit! thanks bud. No probs dude, yeh true club spirit... I was only going to spike your tea and swap your Supe with mine and hope you didnt notice it was a different colour, you lost the clutch and you now have Twin Turbo's! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adnanshah247 Posted August 14, 2009 Author Share Posted August 14, 2009 No probs dude, yeh true club spirit... I was only going to spike your tea and swap your Supe with mine and hope you didnt notice it was a different colour, you lost the clutch and you now have Twin Turbo's! lol! little rat! ive spent too much money on my car, i think i would notice if something was a lil different! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abz Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 lol! little rat! ive spent too much money on my car, i think i would notice if something was a lil different! Funny you should say that... I was born in the year of the rat and my sisters last night was saying how determined we are and get everything we want! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ronttuk Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 You will. The carpet will bubble sooner or later it its felt backed. Made the same mistake in my rental. Ended up ripping it all up after 8 months Ive done loads of floors ive left carpet under quite a few inc my own its been down a cpl years as long as its fitted with correct gaps for expansion theres no problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bens747 Posted August 14, 2009 Share Posted August 14, 2009 Measure the width x length gives the area of the room in metres. Divide that area by the metre coverage shown on the box of laminate. That gives you how many boxes you need. If you are cutting under the door jams as you should do then use a piece of underlay and turn a laminate board upside down and saw the door jam. Personally I have gone through too many saws doing this because of clout nails. I use a grinder with a 4" diamond cutting wheel. Have done many flooring jobs like this so i know it works well. It does created a bit of smoke so turn ur smoke detectors off. I wouldn't put flooring over carpet. I has too much give in it. Creates to much spring in the step and puts to much stress on the laminate joints. If u get stuck with what to do about rad pipe I've sent you a PM with me fone number. Hope this helps and if you need any more help just shout. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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