On Jul 16, 10:52*pm, Frank wrote:
"Don & Lucille" wrote in et...

What skill level required to do laminate flooring? Can the average home
woner tackle this job? Any tricks? Hints?

Read the instructions that come with the laminate, it will contain most
critical information to do the job. Get the installation kit with spacers,
tapping block and a side puller. The edges could easily be damaged even
using a tapping block so you need to developed a feel of how much force to
use and at what angle to snap those boards in without damaging it. First row
must be perfectly straight, otherwise you won't be able to snap the next row
in. Get an extra pair of hands to lay long rows until you learn how to do in
alone. Be extra careful cutting boards to wrap around doorways, especially
in hallways with multiple doors. Helpful to have table and sliding miter
saws. If you have areas with complex geometry, it will be helpful to trace
it on a paper template and then cut it on the laminate with a jigsaw, than
use a file or drum sander for fine adjustments.


Certainly can be done by anyone with reasonable carpentry type
skills. However, I agree with the advice to consider going with
either an engineered wood or solid wood product. A lot depends on
what room it's going in, what other homes in the area have, what the
use will be, etc. I can see putting it in a basement room for an
office or kids use. But if you put it in the living/dining room of a
house in an area where many homes have real wood, then I'd say you're
making a mistake. When you put up a house for sale, no one ever says
it has laminate floors.