GARETH T

http://www.darrenevansflooring.com/index.html

mrjenrst

Mate that statement has just proven how small minded you really are, carpet fitters and floor layers are completly different.

Carpet fitters fit CARPETS!!

Floor layers work on every different aspect of floors.

Just cos your a chippy doesnt mean you know every aspect of how to lay a solid wood floor as you've proven.

So if for arguement's sake i knew a chippy who fitted wood the same way as i've described would that be wrong too?

Do you actually know of the different methods for fitting solid wood?
As you've said all the oak you buy is the same size boards, which i imagine is 5" wide?

How would you fit the random length board's?
Why wouldnt you use elastilon with the board's you supply and fit?!?

TiB

iTrader: (1)

I really cant be arsed quoting everyone on this thread that has a proffesional opinion, the thing most people seem to of missed is its all money related..

Real wood floors that are at a decent laminate price are best fitted via manufacturers guidelines due to it being the best way for the quality of that particular material so the floating/elastalon method is perfectly acceptable and certainly NOT classed as 'not the proper job',

Rhys has said he is on a budget for this hallway so how about trying to advise him for his situation,

Rhys... i would personally go for a good laminate floor or a karndean floor for your budget as the real/engineered woods of that price range are right at the low end of the range and quite frankly wont give the fit and forget peace of mind.

A good modern laminate will last you easy 10yrs+ and with the new styles available it will look good too,

Kardean is also pretty hard wearing for the money but requires better prep work to make it look spot on but it is more versatile and can be more personal as you can design you own design (borders etc)

Lee

ps if you want to put some pics up or email them to me of your concrete floor i'll tell you want i think is required to make good.

Hope this helps a little.

MikeR

Thats interesting because l think it looks like shit, there are loads or gaps under the skirting board were the mainate appears to rise and fall, l would not be happy paying for a job like that,

Lee Ivant, l am not trying to have a pop i just dont like the job you have shown, and no l am not a chippy or floor layer

Mike

matts1

Rhys, if you go lam, as I said before get something like uniclic, decent stuff, and get the bevel edge stuff.

I did the lounge dinner at my house and fitted it myself, looks ok, yes not as good as solid floor, but still look really nice and not cheap unlike the standard flat laminate. Mine was a light oak with a grainy texture so doesn't have that horrid mirror shine lol

Get a fitter into to do it if there are a few doors as it will be a pain if you have never done it, most likely 100 - 150 quid fitting, days work tops.

My floors was shonky in places but stuck a decent damp proof membrain down and it hasn't moved at all and no bounce even on the rough bits. You could always self level in any really low spots to build it back up.

Really depends, if you want it down and mint for life go wood, if you want a pretty floor for 5 - 10 years on a budget, stick down the lam.

Had you been closer or been having more flooring done, I would have suggested letting me see what discounts i could have got from my mates who run shops, but on the amount you need it wouldn't work out cheaper with travel etc.

morcheen

i done some solid oak strip flooring pre-varnished type,about 20mm thick,just glued it no pins,cut under the frames,it was slightly bevelled,looked very good and hard wearing.laminte is ok when selling a place on

matts1

not a great pic but the office floor in a dark ok bevel

fuzzy

theres no wrong way and no right way. as in all things joinery related there can be half a dozen different ways of achieving the same end result . whatever suits you and your specific application is the way to do it.

Rhys

That looks nice Matt.

I would love a solid wood floor and always planned it, but building work has over run and i still need to carpet whole house, but cooker, firdge, hob and decorate the house yet. SO budget is getting tight an unfortunatley i hagve to start cuttting back. Bit of a shame but i think thats life. Tim i will get some pics of the floor area up in a bit before i go out to watch the rugby. Will show exactly what its like.

Still thanks for you help everyone appreciate it. If money was not an option it would be a close case and would be solid floor

Lee Ivatt

iTrader: (1)

Couldn't have put it better myself.

Hate it when people come along and say "you dont want to do it like that"

The right way is the way that best suits you the materials and the job.

dojj

iTrader: (3)

so my laminate that i put down with some basic instructions over 6 years ago and hasn't had any problems is just sheer luck right?
2 kids with all their toys on it and the floor was the first thing that went down before anything else downstairs was done so it's also survived an extension being done, cealings and walls etc

i'd never done anything like it before so maybe i'm just naturally talented right

graeme

Very interesting subject i run a floor laying/sanding and polishing business
Here in Australia we have VERY strict rules to go by as far as laying floors are concerned and Lee Renalds way is the only way that is allowed over here.
Very interesting to hear of other methods, out of interest what sort of square metre rate is normal in the uk

thanks
Graeme

TurboShed

Personally I find laminate isn't that resilient. As soon as a drop of water goes anywhere near it it's knackered. Ok it doesn't just fall apart, but it starts looking shit within a couple of years.

That patch in Ikea, which says has 10000000 people walk over it every week. Go pour a bucket of water on it and leave it overnight, then see how good it looks a week later.

Rhys

Right then folks here pics of said area:

From Kitchen to front door:


Bit of ground view:


Area by front door/bottom of stairs:


Looking from front door towards kitchen area:


Cupboard area which i have not included in floor space. I will just get extra meter sq to do this:


And pic of worst of the concrete:


Hope this helps

Lee Reynolds

One of the very first places i actually saw a large showroom being done like this was in OZ funnily enough! Didnt know it was the only way allowed over there though!

We are not strict with regards to building laws here mate, any bugger can do just about any trade other than gas and electric!

Not gonna continue with the thread, everyone has their own ways of doing things, be it wrong or right, its each to their own.

Lee Reynolds

Whatever you chose Rhys the concrete isnt a problem mate self levelling compound will sort any undulations out! It all depends what you want mate, youve heard the views now make your choice

TiB

iTrader: (1)

Looking at that floor.. it looks fine for laminate, put a damp proof membrane down and then use felt boards just in case of any slight lumps..

I could supply and fit a good quality laminate for the 400 budget you have that would look good (better than the old style laminate) and would last you for many many years.

Shame your not nearer cos by the time i'd made 2 trips (1 to measure and show samples 2nd to come and fit) the fuel costs would kill the job.

TiB

iTrader: (1)

Although... if your going to central day i could show you samples there as i'll be in the van with the trailor for the car.

Rhys

Tib wont be going to central day this year. Plus want to ideally get it order this week. Any recommendations for make of laminate? Going to search on the net later, someone said Balterino are alright?

For £430 i could have solid wood but thats not fitted so would have to add that ontop again, so hopefully im look at £300 for laminate. Going to have scout on net this afternoon.

fuzzy

if you were getting laminate it wouldnt come to £150 for the materials. b+q do a wide range of solid timbers to give an idea and £30 ish a sq metre is decent enough stuff. its just a residential hall not a club dance floor so doesnt have to be the best/dearest stuff on the market.

Rhys

Thats what i was thinking Fuzzy its going to be 1/3 of the cot maybe less when taking into account fitting of solid wood. So its quite a difference, and was down my mates house which i was impressed with his laminate. So kinda of swaid me. Not done many cut back on the house but this is now going to be the one. I spend 3 times what i wanted on Bathroom kind of blinged it out as only small lol.

TiB

iTrader: (1)

PERSONALLY... i wouldnt buy B&Q stuff as it may be hardish wearing in ideal envioroments but not brilliant.

Balterio laminate is pretty good in general but again stay away from the cheaper end stuff, Uniclic is a good laminate with plenty of choice and has won awards most years for best on the market for value for money.

Rhys

Cool cheers Tib, will do a search on them aswell The floor is not that uneven in the hall. The kitchen is (but thats another day). You thinking just get some good underlay?

fuzzy

b+q use the same stuff you can get at merchants but theres a stigma attached to the b+q name as somehow being inferior. some is shit but most is actually decent.
a lot of the laminates available nowadays are good enough that unless you inspect them closely you wont be able to tell theyre not real wood.

TiB

iTrader: (1)

I'd still avoid B&Q to eliminate the risk..

Rhys... Get some fely boards.. also known as fibre boards, dont forget the damp proof membrane just to be safe.

dojj

iTrader: (3)

you need to put the dpm down over the concrete
then the fibre boards
then the laminate or whatever you chose

if i had my camera i'd take some shots of the laminate from b&q that's been down for 6+ years in the house to show that it's not gone "wrong" even with wet feet, kids dropping drinks on it and all sorts of wear and tear issues

Rhys

Hmmm Quite like this..... http://www.ukflooringdirect.co.uk/La...al_UL_995.html

Now it will go with kitchem suite aswell so might laminate the hall into the kitchen! urgh never simple.

mrjenrst

balterio isnt bad gear and is water resistant, ie there 25 year guarantee on some of there ranges includes bathrooms

But tbh on the area you've got and the shape i'd not use balterio because of the fitting system as it's wank for a diy job.

Quick step is the market leader, for a reason

Piece of piss to fit and looks the bollocks when down.

Rhys

Choices choices been to Wickes now and quite like some there lol.:

http://www.wickes.co.uk/Laminate-Flo...ng/invt/199885

12mm thick too which is unusal for Laminate as most are 8mm

foreigneRS

i used 'beveloc' bought from b&q and am very pleased with the finish. the bevel in the joins makes it look more real and the wide and long plank look has made the hall look significantly larger than it did before when it had cheap laminate with the small 'block' look

Rhys

Nick that looks great

foreigneRS

thanks Rhys. i'm pleased with it. just need a few finishing touches to the hall now as it's a bit bare. put a small mirror up by the front door this afternoon. probably going to get some of my pictures printed out large and framed along the main wall to personalise it

Ginge !

i didnt want laminate and im far far too poor to get a real wood floor so i tiled the WHOLE downstairs with floor tiles,,, mop the whole lot in one go but fuck me grouting is one thing i will NEVER get over,, nor carrying 20 boxes of tiles up to my flat either !!!!

as said before though,, no matter what you drop it explodes on impact no matter how gentle the drop,, wine glasses are almost thought of/treated like paper plates in this house

Rhys

Nick, how you find the 8mm Lam? B&Q Have 12mm oak effect but its two plank effect and is quite nice. But looking at that i like the single plank effect, just fancy 12mm thickness as fancy it may be a bit more sturdy?


Ginge nothing is ever 100% proof. I have tiled bathroom floor. My Bathroom looks very bling even though only small. I will get pics up of house once its all done.

foreigneRS

got no problems with 8mm. we also have a concrete floor that just needed those thin sheets of foam on top. there's only 2 of us in the house so it doesn't get a lot of stick anyway. the missus wears heals on it, but it's not a problem.

personallly i think you're over complicating it what with all the advice from the pro's. it would be nice to have the best of the best, but it's not necessary and you should buy to your budget. it will last 10 years by which time you'll either be gone or want to change it anyway.

Rhys

Well bought some today! Shows how bad my floor is, i have put the thick underlay down and theres a bump next to the stairs resulting in a 4mm ish gap in the board! Argh doh.

Got builder going down tomorrow to sort somthing else out so said can he have a look. Might just get him to fit it.

mrjenrst

I really wish you was closer mate, i'd do it for you.

Hope you get it sorted

fuzzy

cant you remove the thick underlay from the high point in the floor but put a couple of layers in the low point to even it out?

cossiebags

my dads got solid oak flooring in his frontroom and he regets it beacause it leaves marks everywhere especially from ladys high hill shoes but the good thing is you can sand them down but its not worth the hassel

Lee Ivatt

iTrader: (1)

Marble reveals and tops as promised, Had some left over oak from the skirting so made it in to the unit fronts and toilet back.

All works well with the laminate flooring and the marble.

This little square used to be the cupboard


excuse mirror, its only tempoary untill the new mirror glass is cut for the oak frame.


double sink


new window with marble surround


and the rest of the marble




the tiles are actually a spanish ceramic, 18x12 lovely to work with and such a close match to the marble tops and reveals




toilet flush cut into the marble


Marble Around the door reveal as well. (had to push the door frame 3" into the bedroom to get the 27" pannel door to swing fully open)






new celing, welded my trowel to the celing when plastering it, due to the light wires still being live


anyway sorry for thread stealing, thouhgt it show you the laminate can work/flow if you pick the right materials to compliment it.