Andrew Ben - Laminate Floor Laying on a Budget--DIY

Forewords

I decided to make this walk in closet into a walk in closet of dreams, starting with the flooring. It might seem like a daunting undertaking to change floors. A small room like a walk in closet is a great way to start your own endeavors in floor laying. Ill show you how easy and effectful it can be to change floors, while keeping the budget to a minimum! All in all I spent 110 $ to change 2,6 square meters of flooring (28 square feet). This includes hiring a jigsaw and all of the materials needed, including the installation of baseboards. The cost is based from purchases from a large hardware store in the year 2020 in Europe.

Walk in closet before project begins.

H ere you can see what the walk in closet looked like before any work began. Who knows why this vomit colored plastic mat was installed and why they made a hole in it? It has definitely seen its better days and could have been installed as far back as the 1960s when the house was built.

Old plastic mat.

B efore we start working its a good practice to plan ahead to see what kind of equipment you need. Theres always going to be hiccups along the way, however if you planned accordingly it will just be a bump in the road and youll move on with confidence.

1. Choosing the right equipment

N ecessary equipment :

Protective mask

Ear plugs

Protective glasses

Hammer

Optional equipment:

Flat screwdriver

Since the house is built in the 1960s when asbestos was frequently used Im going to use a protective mask. The glue used in the 60s could potentially have asbestos in it, and Im not willingly exposing my lungs to that hazard. The mask Im using is made by 3M. The full name is 3M 9502V+ KN95 FFP2. This mask has the filter specification FFP2, however I do recommend getting a mask with the FFP3 classification since it protects against the finest asbestos dust. Since Im changing the mat during the Covid-19 epidemic its impossible to get ahold of a FFP3 mask, they are all sold out! The asbestos present in the removal will be in minimal amounts, if any, and I feel safe using a FFP2 mask. There will most likely be more exposure of other kinds of dust which the FFP2 mask protects against just fine.

Breathing mask for protection against dust.

I m using a regular hammer and a flat screwdriver for removal of the baseboards. The equipment you need might be different from the equipment Im using depending on the floors installed. Ill go more into detail on the actual removal in the next chapter.

N ecessary equipment :

Jigsaw with sawblade

Floor underlay

Laminate floor

Spacers (12 mm, 0,5 inch )

Baseboards

Hammer

Knife for cutting underlay

Measuring tape

Clamp for sawing

Long flat object (for checking if floor is leveled)

As youve noticed theres not a lot of equipment needed for installing laminate flooring. Most of the materials and equipment needed is self-explanatory, however Ill talk you through what floor underlay is and why its needed. Ill also do some explanation of how to choose the laminate flooring.

Floor underlay is important in order to get the best experience out of the new floor. There are different types of underlay with different functions and specifications. All kinds of underlay act as a smooth surface to lay laminate floor on top of. They are also shock absorbents, sound reducers between floors and thermal insulators to a varying degree. Some underlays also provide a moisture barrier that keeps the laminate flooring dry. All in all the underlay is a must have and usually costs a fraction of what youre paying for the laminate floors. What kind of underlay you need depends a lot on your own situation. The walk in closet Im changing the floor in already has a moisture barrier from a previous installation, so Im choosing a basic underlay to act as a shock absorbent and sound reducer between floors. Note that some laminate floors already have an underlay installed, which means that you dont need to buy a separate underlay.

XPS underlay for the laminate flooring.

S ince Im doing the floors in a walk in closet Im not willing to spend a fortune for underlays and floors. Im choosing a budget underlay and floor for this project, but dont worry. The result will be excellent! The walk in closet will not see a lot of wear and tear which makes the budget options extremely valuable. If I was doing another room such as the kitchen or living room Id have chosen a more expensive underlay since it will see a lot more wear and tear than a walk in closet. Visit your hardware store to get a feel for the floor youre buying, they usually have samples so that you can see with your own eyes and get a feel for what the floor will be when installed. Inexpensive laminate flooring will sometimes feel cold to the touch compared to more expensive laminate flooring. Explore your options and youll find a favorite!

The floor I choose was the cheapest in the store. However it is German quality.