What would you do about laminate flooring in two adjoining rooms if you decide to take the wall down?

Question

We have a small bedroom beside the living room.that we don't need.Would like to enlarge by knocking out wall(no problem,not load bearing) problem is we have put down laminate flooring.Would we have to take the flooring up and redo it or work pieces into the gap that will be in the floor separtating the two room.It is the shaw swiftlock flooring

Answer 1

It depends whether the flooring is laid so that it runs parallel or at angles to the wall you will be removing.

If it is parallel, you can probably pull up any remaining partial pieces and piece in whole pieces of flooring to fill the gap, though you may need to cut the tongue off the last row and fasten it some other way (adhesive or small countersunk nails). You may also need to rip one row to a narrower width to make it fit. But it will likely come out ok if you're careful.

If it is NOT parallel - it butts up to the wall you are removing - then you are going to have to pick up and replace a lot of flooring, otherwise the patch will be visible and unsightly.

Answer 2

Assuming it is the same color laminate in both rooms, you could work new pieces into the gap.

Another idea would be to install some different color flooring, or trim.

You don't say if the laminate is running parallel with the wall you are removing, or perpendicular.
If parallel, then simply removing the existing pieces against the wall you are removing will give you enough room to install some new pieces.
If your laminate runs to the wall, instead of along it.... then you're in for a little more work, to make it look good. But it will be well worth it. (Im assuming you did not glue the pieces of laminate together) I would remove the flooring as needed to install new pieces, completely relaying it. That's one of the nice features of the 'locking' laminate floors... they are fairly easy to rework.

Have Fun =D

Answer 3

Knocking down a wall by definition is a messy job. You can almost count on damaging the floor. Also the floor will need some leveling as the space where the wall was will need work.

If you can get some extra laminate it is almost wisest to remove the laminate (if it really is clickable and can be reused. Check first.) and redo the floor. Even if matching laminate can not be found, almost matching also looks nice. At least I think so.

Answer 4

It all depends on how much of a gap there is, and if you think it will look good afterwards. You can get the same laminate pieces and lay them down to see if you like it after the wall is torn down. If it looks good, then you can just add pieces instead of resoing the entire floor.