How difficult is it to install wood laminate flooring?

[CoffeeCat]

I'm wondering if my husband and I could install wood laminate flooring, without destroying
our house.

I've heard people say that it's easy, but we've never done anything like this before.

Our entire first floor is wood, except for the family room--which is carpet. We've come
to the conclusion that the family room must be wood--because we are just too hard on
carpet. So, we'd like to install a black, wide-plank laminate flooring. Every flooring
store said it would be impossible to continue the wood flooring in the family room--without
it looking like a mistake, and we love black.

The room is approx 250 sq ft.

So, is this really do-able for people who are not stupid, but not experienced in doing
this?

Thanks for any insight.

[NMDemDist2]

1. i hate my wood laminate

it's slick as snake snot and the dogs can't get up off it without sliding all over and falling a couple times before they get their feet under them

as for installation, it's not bad.

[The Night Owl]

2. Installing laminate flooring is itself not difficult as long as the floor...

...you're installing over is reasonably level. Also, keep in mind that if you have baseboards you will have to tear them out and reinstall them... which takes some patience and finesse.

To cut the laminate flooring, you will need either a power miter saw with a fine tooth blade or a jigsaw. If you go with a power miter saw, make sure you wear a dust mask and try to cover stuff near where you're cutting... lots of particulates fly off these things when you cut them with a rotary blade.

On YouTube, you can find lots of videos showing demonstrations of laminate flooring installation. The first 3 or 4 rows are the most difficult because the boards are easily knocked out of place at that stage.

[sandnsea]

3. Get good quality

My kids got a cheaper quality and it doesn't hold up at all. They love the flooring, wish they would have spent a little more for Pergo or the equivalent. They just put some in one of the bedrooms and it has a rough wood feel to it as well. Check at your local restore, they may have some great stuff fairly cheap. I think you could do a pattern around the outside of the family room that blended the wood color you already have with the new and it could look like you planned it that way. I also think a talented woodwooker could give new wood an old wood patina, but that would probably be pretty spendy. Post pics when you're done!

[Wash. state Desk Jet]

4. It installs easy when there are two people

If you are doing a lot of square footage, such as several rooms three people, one to do the cutting.There are how to videos as well that manufactures give away at the stores.