Has anyone put in there own?

Just starting to figure out the process for my rental that I want to put flooring in to get rid of the carpets that need replacing.

I have been looking at www.ifloor.com which has been helpful but I don't know if I want something cheaper without underlayment and to buy that separately or to buy the one with the underlayment pre-attached and if the trade off in cost is worth it.

I also want to look into redoing the cabinets in the kitchen myself as well. But that may be a whole other thread.

Anybody DIY or all hiring the pros?

 

Laminate/floating floors are cake to put down. A good circular saw blade and you're pretty much there. The laminates will either come with the foam layer attached or you lay it down before the laminate wood; hence why they call it a floating floor. There are no nails, etc. The pieces just snap together. It goes real quick.

There are a few out there that look pretty good actually. However, if you're gonna do it, spend the money and get the real 3/4" stuff.

I've seen a hardwood install done and it doesn't look too bad. Depending on the type of hardwood, it'll either go down with nails or glue (or both). You spend all day on your knees and it's a bear of a job.

At some point I'm going to put some real nice hardwood floors in. And I'll be paying someone to do it. But that's me. It certainly is something that you can do yourself.

 

Oh and...

http://www.lumberliquidators.com/home.jsp

 

If you're really leaning towards laminate, I'd get one that already has the foam on it. One less thing to worry about.

The new Pergo stuff they have out (at Lowes) looks pretty good, actually.

 

I know I want to get a floating laminate, and it is a rental so I don't want to spend killer $$$ but I want something resistant and something that will look good.

I just don't know whether to buy it with or without the underlayment already attached, because the price is roughly the same that I have seen.

Looking at the ~$2/sqft type stuff. I have the sweet stuff in my place now.

And if it was for the place I was living in I would probably have someone do it, but for this I feel like I need to keep it cost effective. Just my brain playing tricks.

 

I haven't seen this type before... Looks pretty fookin nice. No nails or glue and is 1/2" thick.

http://www.lumberliquidators.com/cat...ubCategoryId=0

 

That's what I was thinking, but I didn't know if there was a disadvantage I don't know about, seems like it would just be easier. Plus its just going on concrete, so I have to use a floating floor wood/laminate.

 

I was looking at

http://www.ifloor.com/item_310910/la...ak-yellow.html

or

http://www.simplefloors.com/products...FlooringID=380

but the second one seems too cheap.

 

I've seen this stuff put down and it looks pretty nice. I saw it on sale today for $1.59 a sq ft.

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

 

I sell new homes for a local home builder and we just put a laminate floor in the basement (over concrete) of our very expensive model home. It looks fantastic. I actually like the look of it better than the solid wood floor on the main level. I attached a link to the brand which is Tarkett Scenic Plus. We used Heritage Walnut and I could provide photos:


http://www.fastfloors.com/lp_17534,0...roduct.htm#NAV

Good luck!

 

Wait... you said it's a rental? Is it a condo you're renting from someone, or an apartment? You may wanna doublecheck with the ppl you're renting from - they may not like this.

 

It is a rental, as in I own it and am renting it out to someone else.

Which is why I want to keep my costs down and don't mind putting in laminate so that I don't have to get pissed if someone does something dumb and scratches it up.

 

That looks nice, and is the price I am hoping to shoot for. Where was it on sale?

 

ok... I misunderstood

 

A local store here... But you can find it pretty much anywhere... Including ifloor.com

http://www.ifloor.com/group_399/lami...c-700-7mm.html

 

i recently put down about 600 sq in my one bedroom condo. I paid .75 a sq. its not the nicest, but its pretty nice, durable and was easy enough for a first timer to put down. This is my first place and didn't have much money......... in the future i'd do real hard wood, but for a rental it would be perfect.

 

If it's a rental, this is a guarantee.