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Original poster

Rip it up and start again ?

53 replies

Dumdidums · 12/12/2021 13:28

Hello I have been putting down flooring and i thought i would get a professional in to get the cost of doing the bay shaped bit of the room and the bit that goes under the doors. He basically said that he would have to rip it all up and start again.
What do you think of what has been done
Looking at the pictures do you agree ?

Rip it up and start again ?
Rip it up and start again ?
Rip it up and start again ?
OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
MyOtherProfile · 12/12/2021 13:30

Did they say why?

Dillydollydingdong · 12/12/2021 13:33

Tell him no, you're happy with what's gone down. He just has to finish it off. You're the customer. He should just follow instructions, not argue with you.

SmolCat · 12/12/2021 13:35

You needed to have started there. It’s going to be incredibly difficult/maybe impossible to now click the strips underneath where you’ve already done.

It also doesn’t look like you’ve butted some of the ones you’ve already done up against each other tightly enough. But as you’re part way through the job it’s not clear enough to tell.

Itslookinglikeabeautifulday · 12/12/2021 13:36

What Dillydolly said.

What you've done looks fine to me.

SmolCat · 12/12/2021 13:38

@Dillydollydingdong @Itslookinglikeabeautifulday but how now can you get the strips to sit both tightly flush to the bay and also click them under what’s already been done.

With that kind of flooring you need to start at the top left. You’ve ignored the top and just gone left.

Every strip is reliant on the previous strip to click into.

AwkwardPaws27 · 12/12/2021 13:39

It's going to be very difficult to get a good finish in the bay as they'll need to leave a gap to be able to click together the flooring. You are meant to start at one end and work across, not in the middle and out.
It's not impossible but it's not going to look as good.

AwkwardPaws27 · 12/12/2021 13:41

Also you seem to have a number of planks ending at the same length in the right of the 2nd photo - they need to be staggered.

SmolCat · 12/12/2021 13:41

Photos to help anyone not familiar with this type of flooring.

Rip it up and start again ?
Rip it up and start again ?
Original poster
Dumdidums · 12/12/2021 13:41

To be honest i was a bit surprised when he said this and all i could say is "oh really i didnt expect this" . This he asked who did it and i said that it doesnt really matter does it as all i need is a quote for doing the whole room again and he would probably not know the people who did it.
I then asked him to leave as i wanted to get out shopping . Basically i didnt ask him why he did said this though he did say before coming that he doesnt usually like to finish other peoples work so i dont know if thats why he would want to do it all again

The plan is that there will be a tv and sofa and a rug is the room. Now i dont know whether to contine or to start this again as its taken half a week for me to get so far with this so im a bit sad about it

OP posts:
Itslookinglikeabeautifulday · 12/12/2021 13:44

Oh I see Smolcat. Yes, it would be pretty tricky to finish that bay area now.

AwkwardPaws27 · 12/12/2021 13:47

It's great you've had a go, we learn by making mistakes and trying things 🙂
Do you have a jigsaw to cut the planks? If you want to DIY it it's totally doable but the right tools help.
Try youtube for lots of helpful guides.
The planks should never end at the same time as the planks next to them - you need to stagger them so will probably need to cut them.
If you are laying planks in that direction, you'd need to start at the bay. If you turned them 90 degrees you could start against the chimney alcoves.
It looks like there is a gap in the underlay in the bay - it needs to be flush, with no gaps. Also, double check it's the right way up (our laminate underlay had a foil top, yours may not, but best to check!).
Remember to leave a small expansion gap.

AwkwardPaws27 · 12/12/2021 13:49

It might worth just getting a price - he should be able to reuse the planks, they won't be wasted, & a professional fitter should get it done v quickly.

SmolCat · 12/12/2021 13:51

I’m sorry you’re sad about it. It’s hard to do skilled things when you don’t have the experience, that’s just the facts of it I’m afraid. But it is possible to achieve it if you take your time and follow the steps thoroughly from start to finish (with the correct tools).

Or, if you wanted to throw the towel in and get someone in to do it for you there’s no shame in that! DIY isn’t for everyone and laying a floor for the first time is a big step up from painting for example. You can’t expect to know something brilliantly from the very first time.

Barbarantia · 12/12/2021 13:52

It's OK to make mistakes. It's part of DIY learning for sure. Don't let this put you off.
DIY is expensive in that sense though.

Original poster
Dumdidums · 12/12/2021 13:56

so basically i should have started at the bay window ? Im not sure how that will help as there will still be a gap between the bay planks and the non bay planks

OP posts:
AwkwardPaws27 · 12/12/2021 13:57

@Dumdidums

so basically i should have started at the bay window ? Im not sure how that will help as there will still be a gap between the bay planks and the non bay planks
Huh? No there won't. You cut the planks to fit.
SmolCat · 12/12/2021 14:03

@Dumdidums

so basically i should have started at the bay window ? Im not sure how that will help as there will still be a gap between the bay planks and the non bay planks
Why will there be a gap?
SolasAnla · 12/12/2021 14:03

Unless you have nailed it from the professional it's going to be just as quick to start again. The trick to a nice floor is how it flows to meet the edges of the room.

If you have not nailed it you can do the labour and lift the boards yourself.

Why is there a odd gap around the fire heart?
How did you get that block line? It looks as if you have started a run 2-4 boards all of the same length to end in a block?
That will likely open up over time with any movement of the materials and look horrible.

The workman is only as good as his last job so I can totally understand why he wants to start fresh.

AwkwardPaws27 · 12/12/2021 14:04

@Dumdidums

so basically i should have started at the bay window ? Im not sure how that will help as there will still be a gap between the bay planks and the non bay planks
I've attached a bad diagram. First you lay all the pieces in the bay. When you get to the end, before the flooring sticks out of the bay area, you'd cut a piece out of the plank (like I've marked in green) so it comes out of the bay and then you carry on from there.

The blue circles are pointing out where you have groups of planks ending at the same point. They need to be staggered.

Rip it up and start again ?
SolasAnla · 12/12/2021 14:11

@Dumdidums

so basically i should have started at the bay window ? Im not sure how that will help as there will still be a gap between the bay planks and the non bay planks
You need to be able to cut strips off the flooring to make it fit into the run conning out of the bay window.

If you don't know how or don't have the tools a (handsaw will work) think about paying the professional

UTuber who is doing a reno And laying floors:

SmolCat · 12/12/2021 14:13

Or alternatively @AwkwardPaws27 measure and cut the first plan lengthways so the rest of the full planks line up with the line that’s already there. (But obviously only if this isn’t going to be a very thin, unstable strip.)

Rip it up and start again ?
SoupDragon · 12/12/2021 14:19

The blue circles are pointing out where you have groups of planks ending at the same point. They need to be staggered.

Yes, I noticed that too.

At least they aren't glued planks like they used to be!

AwkwardPaws27 · 12/12/2021 14:24

@SmolCat

Or alternatively *@AwkwardPaws27* measure and cut the first plan lengthways so the rest of the full planks line up with the line that’s already there. (But obviously only if this isn’t going to be a very thin, unstable strip.)
Or this! Good shout Smile
Generalpost · 12/12/2021 14:25

It's impossible to leave gaps and then ad it later. You needed to cut and fit each bit as you came to it. And needed to stagger as well . I would take it up and start again. You will be able to reuse most of what you have laid. Do you have anyone that could help you

Original poster
Dumdidums · 12/12/2021 14:48

OK i didnt realise they need to be staggered. Can someone explain why.
I guess i could take it up and start again but i am going away for christmas next week so this may have to wait until 2022.
The guy got back to me and he is worried that if he takes up the boards some may not be able to be used again and i should perhaps buy more packs of the wood

OP posts: