Has anyone installed engineered wood floors DIY? (1 Viewer)

[mario8402]

Is it hard? How much did you save installing it yourself vs paying the install fees? I have been reading and watching videos and considering doing this since it doesnt seem too complicated but would have to buy the compound miter and some other odds and ends but at least I would have some tools to show for it at the end

 

[jdeveaux]

I've been debating whether or not I want to try and do this too.. IMO Pick your smallest room and give it a try. If you don't like it then pay someone to do the rest

It really depends on how much time you have and if you're fairly handy with the tools.

 

[mario8402]

yeah I was thinking about doing the smallest area and see how it turns out, still would need a compound miter though doh! It really doesnt look that hard imo, just wondering if the cost savings is worth my time, plus it might take me 1 month to do it vs 1 day for a team of my hardworking people

 

[RocketSurgeon]

I watched someone install mine at my last house. It looked like it was a piece of cake.

Of course, professionals make most everything look easy.

I think I'm going to pay someone for my tile floors, but I'm going to attempt my hardwood.

My only question is what do I do with my stairs?

 

[DustinB]

We've installed several types of wood flooring in our house, never had an issue other than some bamboo flooring we tried. Super easy.

 

[Llama]

DIY for sure. It is super easy if you get the right stuff. Don't cheap out and get stuff that is at least 10mm thick. Be sure to get the lock and fold type. It shouldn't require any hammer action and is great to work with. We got a great deal on some 13mm stuff with lifetime war. Took my dad, brother, and myself a little over a day to install. Could have been less if we didn't let the women pick the pattern.

 

[Ostentum]

Honestly the hardest part is the 1/4 round, since the angles are pain in the rear to measure and they are *NEVER* 90 degrees. I took me forever to complete since I have ADD and get bored easily with it, but the lock and fold is super easy to lay down. Insert grove fold and lock tap with a rubber hammer to get a tight fit, next board. I could do about a box, 23sqft in about 30 mins or so when I put my mind to it. Just dont put a fish tank on it. Going to have to pull up about 30 sqft and replace it in one of my rooms. Live and Learn, I should have known better.

 

[trb]

Just did our bedroom with some laminate last week, about 300 sqft. I did the rest of our 1st floor like 7 or 8 years ago, about 900 sqft. If you have the time, it is certainly worth the savings IMO. You just need a regular miter saw, don't need a compound unless you just want to buy a new tool. The cuts don't have to be perfect, just close enough to be covered by the 1/4 round trim. The door jambs are one spot you should cut back and slide the floor under the wood. That does take some work, or get a saw with an exposed blade. I made my own jamb saw from a $20 Harbor Freight 4" grinder and a $8 4" portable saw blade. Deadly, but it works well!

Oh, and if you go the floating floor method, Get The Silencer underlayment. I got it for ours, and it is the easiest underlayment and vapor barrier they have to install. LMK if you want info or want to discuss it.

 

[jdeveaux]

yeah I was thinking about doing the smallest area and see how it turns out, still would need a compound miter though doh! It really doesnt look that hard imo, just wondering if the cost savings is worth my time, plus it might take me 1 month to do it vs 1 day for a team of my hardworking people

You can borrow mine if want. Make sure you talk to these guys for some prices...

http://www.lumberliquidators.com/

They are local to Houston and they have some of the best prices.

 

[freespool]

I am going to be doing another room myself soon. Check into a PVC material that looks like wood if it will be around tanks. Wood and Laminate do not do well with water. It is ok with small spills, but if it gets to a wall and gets under the laminate you are in for trouble. And lifetime waranty don't mean squat if company is out of business (just happend to the brand of floors in my house) Good luck

 

[RR-MAN]

DIY is ok but make sure you buy GOOD QUALITY engineered wood.

Becareful buying from Lumber Liquidators, it's not the same stuff as Home Deport unless you have some professional contractor with you that knows his stuff. Usually there is a difference in the thickness of the wood.

Have you looked at cermaic tiles/so much easier to clean. I did slate floors...it's not for everyone. Some people love it and some hate it.

 

[Llama]

I agree with RR. Be careful what you get. I didn't even like the stuff at home depot or lowes. Pergo is not the brand it used to be. There stuff is cheap.

We ended up buying from Jack's Carpet in Meyerland. They the high end stuff on deep discount, so it was cheaper than anything else of similar quality.

 

[HorseyStripe]

i did some with my dad a while back...it was easy...i vote DIY

 

[trb]

Also, I found a place in Austin that has some great wood flooring at great prices. That is where I got the underlayment that I needed to complete the bedroom. www.hardwoodbargains.com They have the engineered hardwood with the PPG aluminum oxide coatings that are really very durable. When we eventually redo our whole house in real wood, I plan to check with them first. They will beat any price on the internet. Call them and have Ben the owner/manager send you some free samples and quote you some prices. Might even be worth the drive to save on shipping.

 

[Llama]

That PPG is amazing. We have it on the floors here in the office and they take a BEATING!!!!

 

[flipside]

Dude, it's super easy! I just did mine. Let me find some pics up in here...

 

[flipside]

Terrible picture, but here it is:

From my phone... I love that I did it myself. Saved 4K off the quote from a couple of places.

 

[mario8402]

thanks for the info guys. floors look good flip!
I think yall have convinced me

 

[jdeveaux]

I finally finished another major section of flooring in our house this evening. I pulled up the carpet in all the main, non-bedroom, areas of the house and put down laminate tile.

With all the kids constantly coming through our house, little dogs, big aquariums, and my own occasional mess It made a lot of sense for us. It has a 25 year warranty and is actually much better at absorbing sound than tile is. I thought it was going to be really bad but it is fantastic and so far nobody that has seen it could tell that it wasn't ceramic until we told them.

The only thing I can tell you for sure is that the biggest pain with either option is the corners and angles. It took forever to get the hallway to the back bedrooms done. You'll see it in a few weeks or sooner if you want. I'm probably going to be around most of the day tomorrow.

Now I just need to go through and put in the base boards. Then the wife wants to paint...

Building up all the points I'll need so I can con her into a 300+ gallon tank upgrade

 

[trb]

Building up all the points I'll need so I can con her into a 300+ gallon tank upgrade

LOL! Same reason I did our bedroom floor last weekend! My next project is the 120 tank in the den.