Hi,

We're about to lay laminate floor in our louge and dining room.

In fact, it's more of a 'dining area' -- an extension of about 9ft x
9ft at the back of our lounge, with an archway about 4ft wide between
the two. The archway is through the former external wall of the house,
so about 10inches thick. It's not a doorway (no jamb or anything).

Here's the issue... We would like to be able to floor the dining area
first, then the lounge. This is for practical reasons (namely, we
haven't been able to move everything out of the rooms, so we're
dealing with one room at a time). The problem here is that all the
advice talks about fitting complete rows at a time, which we would not
be doing if we used this method.

Our flooring is the clickety-click stuff - glueless, so obviously
there has to be access to the groove side of every plank in order to
fit the next.

Now, common sense would suggest that as long as we stagger the edge
between the dining room and lounge so that the 'tongue' side of the
planks is always longer than the 'groove' side, we should be OK... ie.
there'll always be more visible 'groove' than 'tongue'... so therefore
enough space to fit the next set of planks.The problem is, this is
entirely a theory in my head and I've never fitted a floor before, so
I'm hoping some one can help before I start.

I'm sure the standard advice would be to remove all our furniture from
the room completely, but this throws up no end of difficulties, so I'd
like to avoid if possible.

So, two questions really:

1) Is the above theory OK? Is it viable to fit one part of the room at
a time rather than full rows at a time?
2) Is it safe to walk and put stuff on the part of the room with the
floor fitted, while we fit the rest of the room?

Hope someone can help.

Thanks,

Andy

"Andrew Thelwell" wrote in message

So, two questions really:

1) Is the above theory OK? Is it viable to fit one part of the room at
a time rather than full rows at a time?
2) Is it safe to walk and put stuff on the part of the room with the
floor fitted, while we fit the rest of the room?

Hope someone can help.

Thanks,

Andy

A flooring person would not expect the rooms to be devoid of furniture and
the like when they come to fit the flooring,they will shift furniture to one
side and put it back when enough flooring is down to accomodate it and space
to fit in the next row of flooring.

HTH

"George" wrote in message
om...

"Andrew Thelwell" wrote in message

So, two questions really:

1) Is the above theory OK? Is it viable to fit one part of the room at
a time rather than full rows at a time?
2) Is it safe to walk and put stuff on the part of the room with the
floor fitted, while we fit the rest of the room?

Hope someone can help.

Thanks,

Andy

A flooring person would not expect the rooms to be devoid of furniture
and
the like when they come to fit the flooring,they will shift furniture to
one
side and put it back when enough flooring is down to accomodate it and
space
to fit in the next row of flooring.

HTH


Tip - use a vacuum to ensure no bits of grit are in the tongues - otherwise
you may end up with bumps where it joins up. I think cleanliness is
important to ensure a really close joint.

Andrew Thelwell wrote:

Hi,

We're about to lay laminate floor in our louge and dining room.

In fact, it's more of a 'dining area' -- an extension of about 9ft x
9ft at the back of our lounge, with an archway about 4ft wide between
the two. The archway is through the former external wall of the house,
so about 10inches thick. It's not a doorway (no jamb or anything).

Here's the issue... We would like to be able to floor the dining area
first, then the lounge. This is for practical reasons (namely, we
haven't been able to move everything out of the rooms, so we're
dealing with one room at a time). The problem here is that all the
advice talks about fitting complete rows at a time, which we would not
be doing if we used this method.

Our flooring is the clickety-click stuff - glueless, so obviously
there has to be access to the groove side of every plank in order to
fit the next.

Now, common sense would suggest that as long as we stagger the edge
between the dining room and lounge so that the 'tongue' side of the
planks is always longer than the 'groove' side, we should be OK... ie.
there'll always be more visible 'groove' than 'tongue'... so therefore
enough space to fit the next set of planks.The problem is, this is
entirely a theory in my head and I've never fitted a floor before, so
I'm hoping some one can help before I start.

Are you forgetting that each piece of flooring has to join up with the
other pieces at either side of it. If so, you will not be able to join
the the new flooring to the first laid flooring. Each piece of flooring
will have at least 3 sides of it joined to adjacent pieces. I hope you
understand what I am trying to say here. Staggered longitudinal joints
that form a blank U shape will not take another piece of flooring.

Do as a another poster says and start in the dining area and continue
into the lounge until you meet a wall and build out to either side
walls. Moving furniture as required.

Dave

"Dave" wrote in message
...


Are you forgetting that each piece of flooring has to join up with the
other pieces at either side of it. If so, you will not be able to join the
the new flooring to the first laid flooring. Each piece of flooring will
have at least 3 sides of it joined to adjacent pieces. I hope you
understand what I am trying to say here. Staggered longitudinal joints
that form a blank U shape will not take another piece of flooring.

Do as a another poster says and start in the dining area and continue into
the lounge until you meet a wall and build out to either side walls.
Moving furniture as required.

Dave

Andrew's staggering approach makes sense to me if he means staggered like a
set of stairs, not a series of U shapes. Wouldn't that work? (He would
need to start with staggered board lengths.)

Ed.

Andrew Thelwell wrote:

Hi,

We're about to lay laminate floor in our louge and dining room.

In fact, it's more of a 'dining area' -- an extension of about 9ft x
9ft at the back of our lounge, with an archway about 4ft wide between
the two. The archway is through the former external wall of the house,
so about 10inches thick. It's not a doorway (no jamb or anything).

Here's the issue... We would like to be able to floor the dining area
first, then the lounge. This is for practical reasons (namely, we
haven't been able to move everything out of the rooms, so we're
dealing with one room at a time). The problem here is that all the
advice talks about fitting complete rows at a time, which we would not
be doing if we used this method.

Our flooring is the clickety-click stuff - glueless, so obviously
there has to be access to the groove side of every plank in order to
fit the next.

Now, common sense would suggest that as long as we stagger the edge
between the dining room and lounge so that the 'tongue' side of the
planks is always longer than the 'groove' side, we should be OK... ie.
there'll always be more visible 'groove' than 'tongue'... so therefore
enough space to fit the next set of planks.The problem is, this is
entirely a theory in my head and I've never fitted a floor before, so
I'm hoping some one can help before I start.

Or run across the rooms instead of along??

Ed.

Ed Munton wrote:

Andrew Thelwell wrote:


Hi,

We're about to lay laminate floor in our louge and dining room.

In fact, it's more of a 'dining area' -- an extension of about 9ft x
9ft at the back of our lounge, with an archway about 4ft wide between
the two. The archway is through the former external wall of the house,
so about 10inches thick. It's not a doorway (no jamb or anything).

Here's the issue... We would like to be able to floor the dining area
first, then the lounge. This is for practical reasons (namely, we
haven't been able to move everything out of the rooms, so we're
dealing with one room at a time). The problem here is that all the
advice talks about fitting complete rows at a time, which we would not
be doing if we used this method.

Our flooring is the clickety-click stuff - glueless, so obviously
there has to be access to the groove side of every plank in order to
fit the next.

Now, common sense would suggest that as long as we stagger the edge
between the dining room and lounge so that the 'tongue' side of the
planks is always longer than the 'groove' side, we should be OK... ie.
there'll always be more visible 'groove' than 'tongue'... so therefore
enough space to fit the next set of planks.The problem is, this is
entirely a theory in my head and I've never fitted a floor before, so
I'm hoping some one can help before I start.


Or run across the rooms instead of along??

I was always told to run the long run of the floor from the window.

Dave

"Andrew Thelwell" wrote in message
...
Hi,

We're about to lay laminate floor in our louge and dining room.

In fact, it's more of a 'dining area' -- an extension of about 9ft x
9ft at the back of our lounge, with an archway about 4ft wide between
the two. The archway is through the former external wall of the house,
so about 10inches thick. It's not a doorway (no jamb or anything).

Here's the issue... We would like to be able to floor the dining area
first, then the lounge. This is for practical reasons (namely, we
haven't been able to move everything out of the rooms, so we're
dealing with one room at a time). The problem here is that all the
advice talks about fitting complete rows at a time, which we would not
be doing if we used this method.

Our flooring is the clickety-click stuff - glueless, so obviously
there has to be access to the groove side of every plank in order to
fit the next.

Now, common sense would suggest that as long as we stagger the edge
between the dining room and lounge so that the 'tongue' side of the
planks is always longer than the 'groove' side, we should be OK... ie.
there'll always be more visible 'groove' than 'tongue'... so therefore
enough space to fit the next set of planks.The problem is, this is
entirely a theory in my head and I've never fitted a floor before, so
I'm hoping some one can help before I start.

I'm sure the standard advice would be to remove all our furniture from
the room completely, but this throws up no end of difficulties, so I'd
like to avoid if possible.

So, two questions really:

1) Is the above theory OK? Is it viable to fit one part of the room at
a time rather than full rows at a time?
2) Is it safe to walk and put stuff on the part of the room with the
floor fitted, while we fit the rest of the room?

Hope someone can help.

Thanks,

Andy




Andy,
Hi, Just done my whole house as I have a dog.Get your first row down, with
good underlay.Then overlap your joints on the next row by at least 10"As was
said earlyier keep joints clean.
When you get to the far side of your room you will need a fitting bar (
comes in a kit from B&Q.)
If you have a big room you may need two pairs of hands.
Make sure you leave a 10mm gap all the way around, mistake I made.
Oh and make sure your blades are fine cut and bloody sharpe.

Hope this helps.

Kind Regards.

Micky Savage . Leeds. W.Yorks.

If you walk on your floor part finished be careful of the open joint dont
damage it.

If you need any more advise mail me.

Enjoy.

On Aug 26, 10:56*pm, "Ed Munton" wrote:
"Dave" wrote in message

...



Are you forgetting that each piece of flooring has to join up with the
other pieces at either side of it. If so, you will not be able to join the
the new flooring to the first laid flooring. Each piece of flooring will
have at least 3 sides of it joined to adjacent pieces. I hope you
understand what I am trying to say here. Staggered longitudinal joints
that form a blank U shape will not take another piece of flooring.

Do as a another poster says and start in the dining area and continue into
the lounge until you meet a wall and build out to either side walls.
Moving furniture as required.

Dave

Andrew's staggering approach makes sense to me if he means staggered like a
set of stairs, not a series of U shapes. *Wouldn't that work? *(He would
need to start with staggered board lengths.)

Ed.

Exactly... Like a set of stairs, never allowing any 'U' shapes to
form... so row 1 is always longer than row 2, which is always longer
than row 3 etc.

Only problem then is, getting from the dining area to the lounge,
which is wider, therefore taking me into row 0, -1 and -2...

On Aug 27, 12:41*pm, Andrew Thelwell wrote:
On Aug 26, 10:56*pm, "Ed Munton" wrote:





"Dave" wrote in message

...

Are you forgetting that each piece of flooring has to join up with the
other pieces at either side of it. If so, you will not be able to join the
the new flooring to the first laid flooring. Each piece of flooring will
have at least 3 sides of it joined to adjacent pieces. I hope you
understand what I am trying to say here. Staggered longitudinal joints
that form a blank U shape will not take another piece of flooring.

Do as a another poster says and start in the dining area and continue into
the lounge until you meet a wall and build out to either side walls.
Moving furniture as required.

Dave

Andrew's staggering approach makes sense to me if he means staggered like a
set of stairs, not a series of U shapes. *Wouldn't that work? *(He would
need to start with staggered board lengths.)

Ed.

Exactly... Like a set of stairs, never allowing any 'U' shapes to
form... so row 1 is always longer than row 2, which is always longer
than row 3 etc.

Only problem then is, getting from the dining area to the lounge,
which is wider, therefore taking me into row 0, -1 and -2...- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I've put a floor plan up he
http://www.andythelwell.com/FloorPlan.gif

All our furniture is currently in the lounge. The dining area is clear
and we've begun laying the underlay (as well as popping a few packs of
laminate in their to acclimatise).

Any further opinions appeciated, especially on whether this 'staggered
stairs' approach is ok or not!

Cheers,

Andy

"Andrew Thelwell" wrote in message
...
On Aug 27, 12:41 pm, Andrew Thelwell wrote:
On Aug 26, 10:56 pm, "Ed Munton" wrote:





"Dave" wrote in message

...

Are you forgetting that each piece of flooring has to join up with the
other pieces at either side of it. If so, you will not be able to join
the
the new flooring to the first laid flooring. Each piece of flooring
will
have at least 3 sides of it joined to adjacent pieces. I hope you
understand what I am trying to say here. Staggered longitudinal joints
that form a blank U shape will not take another piece of flooring.

Do as a another poster says and start in the dining area and continue
into
the lounge until you meet a wall and build out to either side walls.
Moving furniture as required.

Dave

Andrew's staggering approach makes sense to me if he means staggered
like a
set of stairs, not a series of U shapes. Wouldn't that work? (He would
need to start with staggered board lengths.)

Ed.

Exactly... Like a set of stairs, never allowing any 'U' shapes to
form... so row 1 is always longer than row 2, which is always longer
than row 3 etc.

Only problem then is, getting from the dining area to the lounge,
which is wider, therefore taking me into row 0, -1 and -2...- Hide quoted
text -

- Show quoted text -

I've put a floor plan up he
http://www.andythelwell.com/FloorPlan.gif

All our furniture is currently in the lounge. The dining area is clear
and we've begun laying the underlay (as well as popping a few packs of
laminate in their to acclimatise).

Any further opinions appeciated, especially on whether this 'staggered
stairs' approach is ok or not!

Cheers,

Andy

Hi
Are you doing the stairs ? big mistake if you are.

If I have got this wrong I am sorry.


Micky.

"Andrew Thelwell" wrote in message
...
On Aug 27, 12:41 pm, Andrew Thelwell wrote:
On Aug 26, 10:56 pm, "Ed Munton" wrote:





"Dave" wrote in message

...

Are you forgetting that each piece of flooring has to join up with the
other pieces at either side of it. If so, you will not be able to join
the
the new flooring to the first laid flooring. Each piece of flooring
will
have at least 3 sides of it joined to adjacent pieces. I hope you
understand what I am trying to say here. Staggered longitudinal joints
that form a blank U shape will not take another piece of flooring.

Do as a another poster says and start in the dining area and continue
into
the lounge until you meet a wall and build out to either side walls.
Moving furniture as required.

Dave

Andrew's staggering approach makes sense to me if he means staggered
like a
set of stairs, not a series of U shapes. Wouldn't that work? (He would
need to start with staggered board lengths.)

Ed.

Exactly... Like a set of stairs, never allowing any 'U' shapes to
form... so row 1 is always longer than row 2, which is always longer
than row 3 etc.

Only problem then is, getting from the dining area to the lounge,
which is wider, therefore taking me into row 0, -1 and -2...- Hide quoted
text -

- Show quoted text -

I've put a floor plan up he
http://www.andythelwell.com/FloorPlan.gif

All our furniture is currently in the lounge. The dining area is clear
and we've begun laying the underlay (as well as popping a few packs of
laminate in their to acclimatise).

Any further opinions appeciated, especially on whether this 'staggered
stairs' approach is ok or not!

Cheers,

Andy

I presume those packs have been opened and stacked on each other to
acclimatise?

The only logical way to do this start at the patio doors and when you come
to the opening between lounge and dining room you will have to do the dining
room wall upto opening opposite the fireplace otherwise you will run into
problems of fitting the planks together.

On Aug 27, 1:14*pm, "Micky Savage" wrote:
"Andrew Thelwell" wrote in message

...
On Aug 27, 12:41 pm, Andrew Thelwell wrote:





On Aug 26, 10:56 pm, "Ed Munton" wrote:

"Dave" wrote in message

...

Are you forgetting that each piece of flooring has to join up with the
other pieces at either side of it. If so, you will not be able to join
the
the new flooring to the first laid flooring. Each piece of flooring
will
have at least 3 sides of it joined to adjacent pieces. I hope you
understand what I am trying to say here. Staggered longitudinal joints
that form a blank U shape will not take another piece of flooring.

Do as a another poster says and start in the dining area and continue
into
the lounge until you meet a wall and build out to either side walls..
Moving furniture as required.

Dave

Andrew's staggering approach makes sense to me if he means staggered
like a
set of stairs, not a series of U shapes. Wouldn't that work? (He would
need to start with staggered board lengths.)

Ed.

Exactly... Like a set of stairs, never allowing any 'U' shapes to
form... so row 1 is always longer than row 2, which is always longer
than row 3 etc.

Only problem then is, getting from the dining area to the lounge,
which is wider, therefore taking me into row 0, -1 and -2...- Hide quoted
text -

- Show quoted text -

I've put a floor plan up hehttp://www.andythelwell.com/FloorPlan.gif

All our furniture is currently in the lounge. The dining area is clear
and we've begun laying the underlay (as well as popping a few packs of
laminate in their to acclimatise).

Any further opinions appeciated, especially on whether this 'staggered
stairs' approach is ok or not!

Cheers,

Andy

Hi
Are you doing the stairs ? big mistake if you are.

If I have got this wrong I am sorry.

Micky.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Nope, definitely no stairs! What gave you that impression?

On Aug 27, 1:25*pm, "George" wrote:
"Andrew Thelwell" wrote in message

...
On Aug 27, 12:41 pm, Andrew Thelwell wrote:





On Aug 26, 10:56 pm, "Ed Munton" wrote:

"Dave" wrote in message

...

Are you forgetting that each piece of flooring has to join up with the
other pieces at either side of it. If so, you will not be able to join
the
the new flooring to the first laid flooring. Each piece of flooring
will
have at least 3 sides of it joined to adjacent pieces. I hope you
understand what I am trying to say here. Staggered longitudinal joints
that form a blank U shape will not take another piece of flooring.

Do as a another poster says and start in the dining area and continue
into
the lounge until you meet a wall and build out to either side walls..
Moving furniture as required.

Dave

Andrew's staggering approach makes sense to me if he means staggered
like a
set of stairs, not a series of U shapes. Wouldn't that work? (He would
need to start with staggered board lengths.)

Ed.

Exactly... Like a set of stairs, never allowing any 'U' shapes to
form... so row 1 is always longer than row 2, which is always longer
than row 3 etc.

Only problem then is, getting from the dining area to the lounge,
which is wider, therefore taking me into row 0, -1 and -2...- Hide quoted
text -

- Show quoted text -

I've put a floor plan up hehttp://www.andythelwell.com/FloorPlan.gif

All our furniture is currently in the lounge. The dining area is clear
and we've begun laying the underlay (as well as popping a few packs of
laminate in their to acclimatise).

Any further opinions appeciated, especially on whether this 'staggered
stairs' approach is ok or not!

Cheers,

Andy

I presume those packs have been opened and stacked on each other to
acclimatise?

The only logical way to do this start at the patio doors and when you come
to the opening between lounge and dining room you will have to do the dining
room wall upto opening opposite the fireplace otherwise you will run into
problems of fitting the planks together.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Hello George,

Can you clarify what you mean? I'm not sure what you mean by 'opening
opposite the fireplace'

Thanks,

Andy

"Andrew Thelwell" wrote in message
...
On Aug 27, 1:25 pm, "George" wrote:
"Andrew Thelwell" wrote in message

...
On Aug 27, 12:41 pm, Andrew Thelwell wrote:





On Aug 26, 10:56 pm, "Ed Munton" wrote:

"Dave" wrote in message

...

Are you forgetting that each piece of flooring has to join up with
the
other pieces at either side of it. If so, you will not be able to
join
the
the new flooring to the first laid flooring. Each piece of flooring
will
have at least 3 sides of it joined to adjacent pieces. I hope you
understand what I am trying to say here. Staggered longitudinal
joints
that form a blank U shape will not take another piece of flooring.

Do as a another poster says and start in the dining area and
continue
into
the lounge until you meet a wall and build out to either side walls.
Moving furniture as required.

Dave

Andrew's staggering approach makes sense to me if he means staggered
like a
set of stairs, not a series of U shapes. Wouldn't that work? (He would
need to start with staggered board lengths.)

Ed.

Exactly... Like a set of stairs, never allowing any 'U' shapes to
form... so row 1 is always longer than row 2, which is always longer
than row 3 etc.

Only problem then is, getting from the dining area to the lounge,
which is wider, therefore taking me into row 0, -1 and -2...- Hide
quoted
text -

- Show quoted text -

I've put a floor plan up hehttp://www.andythelwell.com/FloorPlan.gif

All our furniture is currently in the lounge. The dining area is clear
and we've begun laying the underlay (as well as popping a few packs of
laminate in their to acclimatise).

Any further opinions appeciated, especially on whether this 'staggered
stairs' approach is ok or not!

Cheers,

Andy

I presume those packs have been opened and stacked on each other to
acclimatise?

The only logical way to do this start at the patio doors and when you come
to the opening between lounge and dining room you will have to do the
dining
room wall upto opening opposite the fireplace otherwise you will run into
problems of fitting the planks together.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Hello George,

Can you clarify what you mean? I'm not sure what you mean by 'opening
opposite the fireplace'

Thanks,

Andy

Start at the patio doors in the dining room and continue through into the
lounge on the same wall as the patio wall,there is no other way to do it.
That is why when laying flooring you have to shove all furniture and the
like on one side of the room ie shove everything on the chimney breast side
of the room then when you have reached halfway you shove all the furniture
on the finished flooring side of the room to complete the rest.

"Andrew Thelwell" wrote in message
...
On Aug 27, 1:14 pm, "Micky Savage" wrote:
"Andrew Thelwell" wrote in message

...
On Aug 27, 12:41 pm, Andrew Thelwell wrote:





On Aug 26, 10:56 pm, "Ed Munton" wrote:

"Dave" wrote in message

...

Are you forgetting that each piece of flooring has to join up with
the
other pieces at either side of it. If so, you will not be able to
join
the
the new flooring to the first laid flooring. Each piece of flooring
will
have at least 3 sides of it joined to adjacent pieces. I hope you
understand what I am trying to say here. Staggered longitudinal
joints
that form a blank U shape will not take another piece of flooring.

Do as a another poster says and start in the dining area and
continue
into
the lounge until you meet a wall and build out to either side walls.
Moving furniture as required.

Dave

Andrew's staggering approach makes sense to me if he means staggered
like a
set of stairs, not a series of U shapes. Wouldn't that work? (He would
need to start with staggered board lengths.)

Ed.

Exactly... Like a set of stairs, never allowing any 'U' shapes to
form... so row 1 is always longer than row 2, which is always longer
than row 3 etc.

Only problem then is, getting from the dining area to the lounge,
which is wider, therefore taking me into row 0, -1 and -2...- Hide
quoted
text -

- Show quoted text -

I've put a floor plan up hehttp://www.andythelwell.com/FloorPlan.gif

All our furniture is currently in the lounge. The dining area is clear
and we've begun laying the underlay (as well as popping a few packs of
laminate in their to acclimatise).

Any further opinions appeciated, especially on whether this 'staggered
stairs' approach is ok or not!

Cheers,

Andy

Hi
Are you doing the stairs ? big mistake if you are.

If I have got this wrong I am sorry.

Micky.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Nope, definitely no stairs! What gave you that impression?

Don't know man,
I am going mad.


Micky

On Tue, 26 Aug 2008 06:03:40 -0700 (PDT), Andrew Thelwell
wrote:

Hi,

We're about to lay laminate floor in our louge and dining room.

Here's the issue... We would like to be able to floor the dining area
first, then the lounge.
Andy

I'm not an expert - only recently did a nice rectangular room.
However, I'd do both rooms together. Start in the lounge from the
hallway/kitchen door side - I found doors a right pain.
When you get to the dining area opening start the dining area. I found
it possible to slide around a fairly large section of laminate
flooring. So I think you could get your full length sections of
laminate to join up without much of a problem. (by moving the dining
area part - as it's smaller)

I found there was a definite technique to joining the sheets,
especially when doing several pieces. You need to get the angle you
join them correct and 'shouldn't' need to hit them too hard with the
fitting tool.

As others have said - take great care of the edges. Hoovering is a
good idea. If you do as I suggest you MUST make sure that the laminate
is lying in straight rows - for both rooms - otherwise it will get
harder and harder to click together as you go.

HTH

Before you start, I'd lay the laminate on top of one another & stagger them (like the sides of a pyramid) to expose the joints/edges. Give the exposed joints a light spray of WD40. The bare edges will soak this up. This will make the pieces click together more easily with less risk of breakage. Also makes less prone to water damage if any spillages occur on your floor.