Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - Laminate flooring (trafficmaster) - how long will it take?

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emies
10-30-06, 12:18 PM
I have abut 350 sq/ft of flooring to lay. None of it has tricky/weird angles. I'm wondering three things:

1) Any idea how long it would take your average DIY'er?

2) Can I walk on it if it it isn't finished? I was hoping to do it in smaller chunks but if I do I will need to walk on it. I was hoping to get a jump start on it this week by putting in an hour or two W, TH, and Fri nights and then finish it up Saturday and be installing the last of the base boards Sunday

I will be suing trafficmaster flooring...

3) Can I push the furniture to one side, lay the flooring, then put the furniture on the flooring and finish the other side?


twelvepole
10-30-06, 12:41 PM
How long it would take the average DIYer to complete 350 SF depends on how slow or fast you go and if you have any help. When doing it in small chunks it will take longer. And, one never knows unforeseeable interuptions, etc.

You should be able to walk on the finished section and move furniture to the completed side in order to finish the other side of the room.

It is extremely important that you read and follow all manufacturer's instructions re: subfloor prep, acclimation of the product, and installation in order to avoid warranty issues. While manufacturer offers a warranty for its product, it does not warranty failure of the product due to jobsite conditions and improper installation.

emies
10-30-06, 01:04 PM
Thanks twelvepole, I'm a relitivly handy guy, have all the right tools (the install kit, tabel saw and mitre saw) and plan to put our dog in daycare (i.e. "unforeseeable interuptions") so I think my bases are covered as much as I can. Barring any flash floods or other acts of god - is it possible to to bang this out in a day? Or is it a weekend project? Week?

My Parents are comming up in two weeks and If i start, i want to make sure I can finish before then. I doubt it will take the full two weeks but want to make sure. Everyone I talked to said "ohh its a peice of cake", " I did our's in a few hours" etc. etc. but just want to make sure.

At least I knwo I can put in an hour or two afterwork durring the week to help get it done in time.

We bought it on Sat afternoon and it has been stacked (log cabin style) in our living room (where it is going) ever since. Will probably start to lay it tomorrow or Wednesday night. The guy at HD said a minimum of 48 hours - is the any advantages to waittign any longer then the 72-96 I plan too?


timoty007
10-30-06, 04:17 PM
I laid about 410sq ft in about 3 days, it was the first time for me also and I had to make alot of cuts. Also make sure you use a new blade on your saw, one that can handle cutting through the laminate. I burned up my first blade pretty quick. The hardest part for me was begining, one you get the first couple of rows laid the rest is messure and cut...... Good Luck