Laminate flooring advice / tips?

[Steven Campbell]

I wonder if someone could help me with the following? The laminate I am laying is slate tile effect 2ft x 1ft. I take it these should be staggered exactly in the middle to make it look more of a tile effect?

I'm struggling for which corner to start in. Its a kitchen / diner I'm doing with a breakfast bar in the middle of a wall. I was hoping to start on the radiator wall as it would be much easier but think I would struggle when it gets to the other side of the breakfast bar but if I start at the opposite wall the CH Radiator will look terrible!!

I've drawn a very rough plan here

at section A from left to right would help with the pipes under the radiator but I would struggle at B especially to get the laminate sitting in to the kickplate properly. Or when I get to B I suppose I could then start with the section between the breakfast bar and floor units?

Anyone any good sites for advice?

[Mr Pounder]

No, but when you mop it do not soak it. It will show up every little mark - like the footprints of a pet. Carpets absorb dust, you will be gobsmacked by the amount of dust you will find in your home. Good luck.

[Rick Hughes]

Your description with drawing does not help that much .... you should try & start at longest wall (poss wall units) click full length row together, then at least another 2 rows onto that, then trim fit the first row, either by simply wedging, or cutting, this first row needs to be parallel, as it sets the way all other rows will run.

[Dave Liquorice]

Don't start ina corner start along a side, preferably the one that is most visible when you enter the room. I suspect there is a door opposite then end of the breakfast bar? So the first run needs to be neat along the door radiator wall (cut around the protrusion from the door work across the narrow width of the room. Having said don't start in a corner, make corner AC (right of the rad) as neat as possible. How square is that corner? Corners A and C themselves are "hidden".

Remove the kick plates, lay lamiante under the units, trim kickplates and refit.

[Man at B&Q]

If it's clock lock stuff then starting at A will make it very difficult to work backwards down the section between the units and the b-bar.

I would start along the long wall opposite the double doors. I would remove and trim the kickplates and take the laminate under the units. You'll get a much better looking finish than trying to fit the laminate up against the kickplates.

We have tile effect laminate in the kitchen and it has been very durable, surviving a good saoking when the w/machine drain blocked and overflowed. It's a lot more robust that some people give iot credit for. I would still rather have real tiles but CBA ATM

MBQ

[Steven Campbell]

If it's clock lock stuff then starting at A will make it very difficult to work backwards down the section between the units and the b-bar.

I would start along the long wall opposite the double doors. I would remove and trim the kickplates and take the laminate under the units. You'll get a much better looking finish than trying to fit the laminate up against the kickplates.

We have tile effect laminate in the kitchen and it has been very durable, surviving a good saoking when the w/machine drain blocked and overflowed. It's a lot more robust that some people give iot credit for. I would still rather have real tiles but CBA ATM

MBQ

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Thanks. After having slept on it I kind of decided that as well. My major concern was under the radiator and trying to fit it round the pipes with it being the last board it would make it even harder. But now I think about it, nobody sees in there so I could just rip the fixing lugs and lay it hard against it with some sort of silicone below to hold it.

Cheers.

[Steven Campbell]

I'm really limited to where I can start as the boards are click and lock and I have to run from left to right. So I will have to start in either A or C. My diagram is pretty poor now I look at it again as corner AC has double doors as well but these lie flush with the wall rather than sitting in the room. Yes you are correct there is a door opposite the breakfast bar. Its the back door and is set slightly in. Your absolutely right re kick plates. I've already taken these off to fit underneath. What I meant to say was I will struggle with the end panel at C down where the kick plate is as the boards obviously have to go in at an angle.

Thanks for your advice.