Laminate Flooring

[BrandonH]

I'm needing some input from anyone that had laminate flooring installed or actually installs it. We're currently shopping around for laminate to replace the flooring in my Grandmother's house. So far we have only got a price from one place and I am curious if the price is decent. I'm not too concerned with the base cost per sq ft for the laminate, more concerned about the labor costs. We were quoted .$99/sq ft for install, $.14 for moisture barrier, $.17 for demo of old carpet, $1 linear foot for quarter round. The laminate already has padding and is 10mm if it matters. Cost of laminate is $2.29. What am I missing and is there anything specific we need to pay attention to?

Do these labor costs seem good?

Thanks,
Brandon

[312InchMagnum]

If your really wanting to save money. Demo of carpet is very easy

[TxKronik]

Prices are competitive and I'd say even on the lower end its what my brother in law is paying was the best e could find his guy starts Tuesday

[Texas Deerman]

That's a good deal. I just did it myself after several estimates.

[EdO]

I'm needing some input from anyone that had laminate flooring installed or actually installs it. We're currently shopping around for laminate to replace the flooring in my Grandmother's house. So far we have only got a price from one place and I am curious if the price is decent. I'm not too concerned with the base cost per sq ft for the laminate, more concerned about the labor costs. We were quoted .$99/sq ft for install, $.14 for moisture barrier, $.17 for demo of old carpet, $1 linear foot for quarter round. The laminate already has padding and is 10mm if it matters. Cost of laminate is $2.29. What am I missing and is there anything specific we need to pay attention to?

Do these labor costs seem good?

Thanks,
Brandon

All I can say is that I'm glad I did it myself. Labor is probably reasonable, but it's a snap to do yourself if you have the time. It's amazing how quickly it goes down. It took me longer to clean the slab (from the sloppy job the dry wallers did) than laying the floor and moisture barrier. I guess it's just a matter of your time against their time.

[BrandonH]

I know it's not hard to do, but it won't be me doing it. This is for my Grandmother's house and she lives 70 miles from me, so my schedule will not allow for the time and travel it will take. I'm not too concerned with the cost, mainly want to make sure this deal is on par with others or should we shop around more.

[ted_kennedys_liver]

FYI - if you hire Home Depot, someone over 18 has to be present during install. They never advised us of this fact. Had to take off 2 days of work short notice. Not good. However glad I did. Was able to stop some major issues BUT ONE BIG ONE. So I assumed job of installing shoe mould. Went around house today and these jake legs left gaps as large as 3/4" between laminate and wall - 7/16 shoe just falls in crack in some spots. Now having to use quarter round instead of shoe. Luckily the areas wher we have existing shoe are so separated that you cant really tell the difference.

All in all - stay away from Home Depot and Lowes if at all possible. There is always trouble involved and something goes bad. Try to find one good story. I couldnt. Only reason I did it was "TIME" and the only flooring that remotely matched our existing was on sale for .68 sf.

[Texas Stalker]

I'm a contractor. That's a low end price in my opinion. It's either gonna turn out great and you'll have gotten a good deal or gonna get what you paid for. Hopefully the first one. Hope it all works out.

[M-2]

I'm a contractor. That's a low end price in my opinion. It's either gonna turn out great and you'll have gotten a good deal or gonna get what you paid for. Hopefully the first one. Hope it all works out.

I've heard good things about your work.
I don't mean to hijack the OP's thread, but we're trying to decide between laminate and hardwood. We have a dog, and always will have at least one, so we want something durable, and have heard laminate is near scratchproof, but doesn't have the "foot feel" that wood does. Is it possible to get a higher quality laminate (thicker? Better underlayment?) that would match the way hardwood feels?

[Floor Man]

I'm needing some input from anyone that had laminate flooring installed or actually installs it. We're currently shopping around for laminate to replace the flooring in my Grandmother's house. So far we have only got a price from one place and I am curious if the price is decent. I'm not too concerned with the base cost per sq ft for the laminate, more concerned about the labor costs. We were quoted .$99/sq ft for install, $.14 for moisture barrier, $.17 for demo of old carpet, $1 linear foot for quarter round. The laminate already has padding and is 10mm if it matters. Cost of laminate is $2.29. What am I missing and is there anything specific we need to pay attention to?

Do these labor costs seem good?

Thanks,
Brandon

That is a very good price for labor. We don't do much laminate but just guessing we would charge at least double that.

[mikeb1206]

The 2 most common mistakes I see in installs are as stated above with the shoe molding and then arond door way trim where there is no shoe mold. Installers will not put fllor under trim but try to cut the boards to mstch curve.

[ken]

This is at the low end price wise. Make sure they are going to take care of the floor prep and not gowge you on that. If you put laminate over an uneven floor, it will not lay flat and every time you walk over a low spot the laminate will move under your foot.

[pblaetz]

The 2 most common mistakes I see in installs are as stated above with the shoe molding and then arond door way trim where there is no shoe mold. Installers will not put fllor under trim but try to cut the boards to mstch curve.

This^^^^

Make sure they are going to under cut door trim and jambs. It looks like crap if they don't. Also make surte they are only going to use T-moldings were required, not in every doorway. It makes for an easier job, but again doesn't look great.

[Texas Stalker]

I've heard good things about your work.
I don't mean to hijack the OP's thread, but we're trying to decide between laminate and hardwood. We have a dog, and always will have at least one, so we want something durable, and have heard laminate is near scratchproof, but doesn't have the "foot feel" that wood does. Is it possible to get a higher quality laminate (thicker? Better underlayment?) that would match the way hardwood feels?

Pm sent M2.

[Slick8]

Good info above.

Be sure to have the floor checked and corrected for any low or high spots. You'll hate walking on it if you don't.