ArcaMax

For a hardworking floor surface, you can’t go wrong with prefinished laminate planks. They’re affordable and easy to install, and they come in many styles and colors. Many lines of the laminate plank flooring provide a built-in underlayment — an installation shortcut that gives the surface the realistic sound of natural wood planks. Some require an adhesive for the tongue-and-groove edge that locks them together, others are glueless. You’ll find a large selection of laminate floor planks for sale at flooring and home centers and online.

A flooring installer will charge $2,465 to lay a moderately priced laminate plank floor in a 15-by-20-foot room using a floor adhesive. That’s assuming there is a sound, level subfloor or underlayment that the planks can go over. You can buy the materials for $1,275 and do it yourself, saving 48%. Manufacturers have unique installation tools, which are specified on the package and sold with the flooring. The tools include a pulling bar to help nudge two pieces together, a tapping block designed to fit the tongue and groove, V-shaped spacers or wedges that ensure a minimum gap between the flooring and walls, straps that help pull rows of planks together, and glue. Some manufacturers also offer fillers and sealants.

Pro Cost: $2,465 — DIY Cost: $1,275 — Pro time: 18.0
DIY Time: 22.0 — DIY Savings: $1,190 — Percent Saved: 8%

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To find more DIY project costs and to post comments and questions, visit www.diyornot.com and m.diyornot.com on smartphones.

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