Laminate flooring help needed

[wolf63]

I am currently waiting on work being done to my roof and when it is done, and no further water comes in through the wall, I am going to redecorate my bedroom.

I have decided to put down laminate flooring as one of my cats is asthmatic and it might cut down on the dust. The floor below the living-room is part of my flat also.

My bedroom measures about 24foot by 18foot - can anybody give me an idea how much the laminate will cost for a room of this size. Ideally I would have liked to strip the original floorboards - but they creak, groan and move when I walk on them so I think that they are in poor shape.

Of course this plan depends upon how much the roofing guy is going to charge us for the work that is needing to be done.

Thanks

Susan

[Count-A-Strong]

If you're not sure how much you will have to spend it's a bit pointless giving you advice. Laminate flooring is like everything else, there are different standards and different prices and generally, you get what you pay for. The creaky floorboards may just need screwing down at closer points.

[The Builder]

Just what I was thinking Count.
Susan, cheap or badly laid laminate can creak worse than old boards sometimes. I would rather spend (less) money on the original boards. Split, or broken pieces can be easily replaced, and the rest simply screwed down as the Count suggests.
Looks great when it's finished.
Otherwise, Google for laminate flooring. There are loads of sites with prices per sq. metre.

[wolf63]

Thanks guys - I was going to get a joiner to fix the floorboards and put the laminate down.

Is it safe to put the laminate at the top of a flight of stairs?

[Count-A-Strong]

I would avoid laminate at the top of stairs.

[wolf63]

I was thinking of when the kitties from hell were racing around the house at three in the morning - they would be like a couple of Lemmings committing suicide by leaping off of the top landing.

;-)

[Clanad]

Actually, you can put laminate not only at the top of the stair, but you can install it on the stair treads and risers as well. Most laminate flooring makers also make matching bull nose edging that will go over the actual edge of the star from the riser to the tread... at least here in the U.S.
Rather than just screwing or nailing the subfloor to eliminte squeaks, you may be better off putting down 1/4 inch or even 1/2 inch plywood as a new subfloor. It's reasonably inexpensive and should give you a squeak free floor thereafter.
For a floor with a real difference, be sure to look at the laminate made from bamboo. A wondrful color and very durable for a product that's basically grass.
In addition to laminate, there's also "engineered" hardwood (again, here in the U.S.) where the top layer of the laminate is thicker and more durable. I see some varities of "engineered" in our DIY that's more economical than plain laminate.
Best of luck!

[katerich48]

I have been looking online at laminate recently and quite of few of the places have a section where you put in your measurements and it tells you how much you need to buy...