Hi all

I am about the have my first go at laying laminate flooring in an odd
shaped hallway in a bungalow.

Can anybody suggest a good diy book or web site with pictures and
instructions.

I have the general idea of how to go about it but am a bit unsure
about fitting the strips between doorway architraves etc. i.e. cutting
the profile to fit the architrave detail.


TIA

Paul

"Curiosity" wrote in message
...
Hi all

I am about the have my first go at laying laminate flooring in an odd
shaped hallway in a bungalow.

Can anybody suggest a good diy book or web site with pictures and
instructions.

I have the general idea of how to go about it but am a bit unsure
about fitting the strips between doorway architraves etc. i.e. cutting
the profile to fit the architrave detail.


TIA

Paul



If you want to do the job perfectly, then start by taking all the skirting
boards and architrave off the walls. Start your laminate length ways along a
the hallway. Try to pick a the longest, straightest wall to give you your first
row of boards. Remember to leave at least a 6 mm gap around the edges, even
though you've removed the skirting.

Lay the laminate according to the instructions on the packs and you shouldn't
have any real problems.

Once you're happy with the job you've done on the floor, replace the skirting
and door surrounds and the floor should look as though it's been there from the
start.

I've noticed that it's the gap around the edges of the flooring that gives
people the most hassle, so it's best to remove the skirting and architrave and
do the job perfectly right from the start. But that's only my opinion so far.


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"BigWallop" wrote in message
...

"Curiosity" wrote in message
...
Hi all

I am about the have my first go at laying laminate flooring in an odd
shaped hallway in a bungalow.

Can anybody suggest a good diy book or web site with pictures and
instructions.

I have the general idea of how to go about it but am a bit unsure
about fitting the strips between doorway architraves etc. i.e. cutting
the profile to fit the architrave detail.


TIA

Paul



If you want to do the job perfectly, then start by taking all the skirting
boards and architrave off the walls. Start your laminate length ways
along a
the hallway. Try to pick a the longest, straightest wall to give you your
first
row of boards. Remember to leave at least a 6 mm gap around the edges,
even
though you've removed the skirting.

Lay the laminate according to the instructions on the packs and you
shouldn't
have any real problems.

Once you're happy with the job you've done on the floor, replace the
skirting
and door surrounds and the floor should look as though it's been there
from the
start.

I've noticed that it's the gap around the edges of the flooring that gives
people the most hassle, so it's best to remove the skirting and architrave
and
do the job perfectly right from the start. But that's only my opinion so
far.


Agreed.

However, when I did it, being lazy, I left the skirting etc in place and
used the
edging strip they sell to cover the gaps. Doesn't look too bad. At the door
frames, the recommended work-around is to saw off the very bottom part
at the height of the laminate and slip the last piece underneath. This also
works OK provided you use a thin bladed saw and work very carefully,
using a scrap piece of laminate as a height guide.

David

In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
BigWallop wrote:

"Curiosity" wrote in message
...
Hi all

I am about the have my first go at laying laminate flooring in an
odd shaped hallway in a bungalow.

Can anybody suggest a good diy book or web site with pictures and
instructions.

I have the general idea of how to go about it but am a bit unsure
about fitting the strips between doorway architraves etc. i.e.
cutting the profile to fit the architrave detail.


TIA

Paul



If you want to do the job perfectly, then start by taking all the
skirting boards and architrave off the walls. Start your laminate
length ways along a the hallway. Try to pick a the longest,
straightest wall to give you your first row of boards. Remember to
leave at least a 6 mm gap around the edges, even though you've
removed the skirting.

Lay the laminate according to the instructions on the packs and you
shouldn't have any real problems.

Once you're happy with the job you've done on the floor, replace the
skirting and door surrounds and the floor should look as though it's
been there from the start.

I've noticed that it's the gap around the edges of the flooring that
gives people the most hassle, so it's best to remove the skirting and
architrave and do the job perfectly right from the start. But that's
only my opinion so far.


I agree about removing the skirting boards - but *not* the architraves. With
a sharp bendy saw, and using a scrap piece of laminate (and underlay) as a
height guide, you can saw off the bottom few mm of all doorframes and
architraves, and slide the laminate underneath. Make sure that you leave an
expansion gap under the doorframes in exactly the same way as with the
walls - i.e. even though the laminate slides under so that the edge is
hidden, it shouldn't go far enough under to come up against anything solid.

The skirting board, when replaced, hides the expansion gap all round the
walls. Doing this is *far, far* better than leaving the skirting in place in
covering the gap with beading. That *always* makes it obvious that it's a
retro-fit job!
--
Cheers,
Set Square
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Please reply to newsgroup. Reply address is invalid.

On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 09:57:51 +0100, Curiosity
wrote:

Hi all

I am about the have my first go at laying laminate flooring in an odd
shaped hallway in a bungalow.

Can anybody suggest a good diy book or web site with pictures and
instructions.

I have the general idea of how to go about it but am a bit unsure
about fitting the strips between doorway architraves etc. i.e. cutting
the profile to fit the architrave detail.


TIA

Paul

Have a look here;

http://www.quick-step.com/supportcenter.aspx

some tips,dont buy cheap crap from the diy sheds,invest some money in
good quality product.

go for click loc,not glued

plan plan plan plan,think think think think,before you even get your
tools out!!

make sure you start at the right place

make sure you have the right tools especially
measuring,lvelling,squaring and cutting devices

make sure the base floor is level

joe

On Sat, 12 Jun 2004 19:00:34 +0100, tarquinlinbin
wrote:

On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 09:57:51 +0100, Curiosity
wrote:

Hi all

I am about the have my first go at laying laminate flooring in an odd
shaped hallway in a bungalow.

Can anybody suggest a good diy book or web site with pictures and
instructions.

I have the general idea of how to go about it but am a bit unsure
about fitting the strips between doorway architraves etc. i.e. cutting
the profile to fit the architrave detail.


TIA

Paul

Have a look here;

http://www.quick-step.com/supportcenter.aspx

some tips,dont buy cheap crap from the diy sheds,invest some money in
good quality product.

go for click loc,not glued

plan plan plan plan,think think think think,before you even get your
tools out!!

make sure you start at the right place

make sure you have the right tools especially
measuring,lvelling,squaring and cutting devices

make sure the base floor is level

joe
Thanks all of you for your help.

I had thoughts of using cheap laminate to start with, two reasons

a. Its on a new building site so quite a lot of grit etc will be
dragged in over the next year or so. I can lay the better stuff in a
year or two.

b. I am on a learning curve so using cheap stuff I can afford to make
a few mistakes and rip it up.

Asked for quotes for laying the flooring, they came in at 10 UKP and
12.50 UKP per M2.

Thanks


Paul

(Sorry for late reply, been away).

"Curiosity" wrote in message
news
On Sat, 12 Jun 2004 19:00:34 +0100, tarquinlinbin
wrote:

On Fri, 11 Jun 2004 09:57:51 +0100, Curiosity
wrote:

Hi all

snip

Thanks all of you for your help.

I had thoughts of using cheap laminate to start with, two reasons

a. Its on a new building site so quite a lot of grit etc will be
dragged in over the next year or so. I can lay the better stuff in a
year or two.

b. I am on a learning curve so using cheap stuff I can afford to make
a few mistakes and rip it up.

Asked for quotes for laying the flooring, they came in at 10 UKP and
12.50 UKP per M2.

Thanks


At that price it's one job that is definitely worth DIY-ing!

You're in an ideal position if you're laying a temporary sacrificial floor
until the local environment becomes more "friendly" - you can afford to make
any mistakes on this floor!

Honestly, if you have the least bit of aptitude for DIY work this is one job
that you will be able to complete successfully and satisfactorily. Once the
measuring up and careful positioning work for the first row is done the bulk
of the rest of it is very straightforward.

A jigsaw is a useful tool to have for the job, but by no means essential -
all cutting could be easily and quickly accomplished using the cheapest
wickes hand saws. The one thing that is near essential is the kit of tools
to pull and pry the boards together (can't remember offhand what it is
called).

If it's a hallway you won't have nasties like WC bowls and washbasins to fit
around.

You definitely need to leave the recommended expansion gaps around the
perimeter - these can be covered either by removing and refitting the
skirting (a pain, but the neatest finish) or by using the quadrant strip.
If you have to undercut the architraves around doors then use a flexible
handsaw pushed against an upside-down piece of the flooring, to act as a
height guide (don't forget to put the cushioning under it when doing this
otherwise you'll cut it too tight!).


--
Richard Sampson

email me at
richard at olifant d-ot co do-t uk