Remove and re-lay laminate?

[rochmove]

Hi all. In my quest to have our current radiators relocated to a different wall, I've figuratively hit a brick wall with our downstairs rads. Basically, there is already laminate flooring laid and thus my options (I'm told; had a couple of plumbers to visit, another via correspondence) are limited to either (1) going via the ceiling and pipes then coming down, which is our least preference (2) run the pipework under the whole floor via access through foundation, or (3) bite the bullet and remove and relay laminate flooring.

In case of (2) not being feasible, is option (3) workable within a £200 budget? Understandably, none of the tradesmen wanted to undertake (3), but I was wondering whether I could commission the removal-reinstall separately to a relevant tradesman and if that would be sensible? So in total, about £200 for the project--does this sound about right or have I underestimated the cost and the job?

 

[Belboz]

Lot of factors here such as:

(a) What is the area of the laminate? [square m]

(b) What type of laminate? Is it the type which easily taken up and re-fitted? Is it fitted under the skirting or fitted with edging e.g. quadrant?

(c) If fitted with edging, what type of edging does it have? (to cover the expansion gap)

All these will have an impact on costs. Even assuming most of the laminate can be taken up and re-fitted and, if appropriate, the edging can also be taken up and re-fitted, you will need some further planks to fill in where the old cut ones were [e.g. where your rad pipes came up on the original wall] You may also need further edging if the edging is pinned and cannot be removed without some pieces being damaged.

The main issue here will be labour costs.

IMHO, even if the area is relatively small and the task straightforward, £200 isn't a lot to cover both extra materials and the labour involved in the task.

As I said, there are several questions which need answering before anyone can give you a better idea.

Hope that helps.

B

 

[rochmove]

Hi, Bilboz. I have very little to no knowledge of DIY but I'll try my best to answer your questions.

(a) The two rooms are 4.1 x 3.3m each.
(b) Not sure what type they are, but I think they were fitted under skirting.

Your answers indeed gives me a much better idea of what costs to expect. At this point, option (2) looks the least expensive if pipes on display are a concern. Or is it? The trouble now is getting someone prepared to crawl under the floor, of which I'm not even sure there is space or access. Anyone with any similar experience running pipes through said route? Which tradesman should I get for such work?

J

 

[Belboz]

That's not a large area but still big enough to make it more than a small job. If your laminate is under the skirting, chances are that the skirting may need to be removed then replaced. Even if not all of it (if the majority of the laminate can be slipped out after one wall is done) needs removing, re-using the laminate would require cutting pieces to size and using quadrant. Even then you would lose some skirting height.

The above is, of course, on the basis that the laminate is removable. If it is glued or of a type not easily dismantled then you may be looking at having to buy new stuff.

Any tradesman coming to re-do the rad pipes won't be crawling under floorboards [even if there was space which I very much doubt in a UK house] They will seek to lift enough floorboards (or sections thereof) to gain access to the pipes which feed the rad and to run new pipes over to the other side. Plumbers can remove flooring - it doesn't need a specialist - but they will expect the top layer to have been removed else it will cost you even more for them to take that up.

In short, it will cost you more than you think if you go down that route.

IMHO, I think you have three choices if you want to keep costs and aggravation down viz.

(1) Leave the rad where it currently sits

(2) Drop the pipework from the ceiling and spend the money on getting nicer pipework such as chrome pipe and fittings to make it look nicer

(3) Prepare for a larger cost to have the works completed

BUT...those are my views and one of the experts here may give you better advice.