Solid Hardwood, Engineered and Laminate Flooring - Laminate Project...

I am a new homeowner and I want to rip old carpet up and install laminate . We currently have slab underneath the carpet. I have 3 bedrooms and a hallway to do, about 500 sq. ft.
My question is how difficult will this project be. I am fairly good with my hands and pay close attention to detail. Also, if I paid to have it installed what would it cost per sq. ft. One final question, the carpet we have know if fairly thick, will the laminate tuck under the baseboards or will there be a gap between the top of the laminate and the bottom of the baseboard. (then I guess quarter round would have to be used)

Thanks for the help.

It's fairly easy (especially if you just have a square room :)). If you follow the installation directions and read, read, read and ask, ask, ask-when you're not sure what anything means, get the right tools and take your time...you'll be fine. Read up on the "how to install" on any laminate you choose BEFORE installing. You ARE talking about laminate wood right?

Take out your carpet and padding. You have a choice to remove the existing baseboards, install the laminate wood and then replace your baseboard (or new ones if you want) OR using quarter rounds. If you choose to use quarter rounds, you install the laminate wood, leave the gap required between the baseboard and laminate wood and the quarter round covers that gap.

Thanks for the reply. I do want to keep the baseboards as they are in good shape and just painted.

What types of tools do I need. I have a table and mitre saw, what else besides that.

And yes it is wood laminate.

You'll need to do a moisture test, so a moisture meter.

Here's a previous thread about that:

http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?t=299476&highlight=moisture+meter

If you have doorways (which seems like the route you are going b/c of the bedrooms and hallway, you'll need to undercut the door jambs. Use an undercut saw. Since you don't put quarter rounds there, the laminate wood will fit right underneath the jamb. Remember you still need to leave the required gap in there.

Here's another previous thread about that:

http://forum.doityourself.com/showthread.php?t=284976&highlight=undercut+door+jamb

There are actually a lot of good previous threads you can read here if you use the search engine. Just type in some key words and it'll take you to some. It's REALLY good stuff. That's what I did before buying and installing laminate wood. You'll see mistakes that were done and a lot of do's and dont's. That way you don't make the mistake either.

A lot of manufacturers sell installation kits such as tapping block, crowbar, and spacers. It all depends on what kind of laminate wood you get. Some also have videos on the "how to", which I found very helpful for a 1st timer, DIYer.

Weird...I can't think of anything else.

I'm sure others will chime in so check back.

Oh yeah...forgot to mention...I am no pro. I just installed laminate wood flooring once but I did all this, read and followed directions. ;)

Thanks for the help, I will start reading