Laying over existing laminate

[diy_fun_uk]

Here's the scenario.

Bedroom. Has laminate flooring, sound enough. I want to carpet it. Tempted to just leave the laminate down and get underlay/carpet put on top.

Lounge. Has laminate flooring, sound enough. I want to put new laminate down. Tempted to just leave the existing and get underlay/laminate put on top.

Usually I would lift the existing flooring down to floorboards, however is it really that bad to leave the existing stuff in-situ? Yes I'm getting more lazy with all this stuff as I get older

 

[Wayners]

Just the height could be a problem. Cutting more off doors or having height difference problems going from double laminate to no laminate.
Takes an hour to lift floor and easy enough.

 

[johnny2007]

Pay a couple of neighbour schoolboys £20 each to remove existing laminate.
No more than an hour job and their parents will thank you.
Besides, laying laminate is a lot more tiring than removing it, so be prepared.

 

[diy_fun_uk]

Thanks for the replies. Doors not a problem, existing ones have been removed and new ones going in.

 

[diy_fun_uk]

Pay a couple of neighbour schoolboys £20 each to remove existing laminate.
No more than an hour job and their parents will thank you.
Besides, laying laminate is a lot more tiring than removing it, so be prepared.

In this day and age, no WAY I'd be doing anything like that, unless the boys were from a family I knew very well. Good idea in principal though.

 

[johnny2007]

In this day and age, no WAY I'd be doing anything like that, unless the boys were from a family I knew very well. Good idea in principal though.

Why?
Please explain.
Unless you live in those over populated streets of London where nobody speaks to you, surely you know your neighbours.

 

[diy_fun_uk]

Why?
Please explain.
Unless you live in those over populated streets of London where nobody speaks to you, surely you know your neighbours.

No youngsters like that around my immediate neighbours. Anyways, if I'm ripping it up, I'm as well doing it myself and saving the £20

 

[dazlight]

Just take it up and do it properly. 15 min job each room.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

No youngsters like that around my immediate neighbours. Anyways, if I'm ripping it up, I'm as well doing it myself and saving the £20

2x £20 =£40

If it's a concrete floor, I would be tempted to leave it down, it will provide a tiny bit of extra insulation, and help bridge the slight unevenness.

 

[johnny2007]

2x £20 =£40

If it's a concrete floor, I would be tempted to leave it down, it will provide a tiny bit of extra insulation, and help bridge the slight unevenness.

Bodger alert...

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Idiot alert!

 

[johnny2007]

Idiot alert!

Idiots lay flooring on top of existing flooring until they have a 6 foot headroom.
Then they sell the property, not knowing how to fix their bodge...

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Idiots lay flooring on top of existing flooring until they have a 6 foot headroom.
Then they sell the property, not knowing how to fix their bodge...

Nobody suggested on top of another, on top of another - endlessly. Just one single layer, on top of another, which has the benefits already pointed out.

 

[foxhole]

Laminate will not grip the underlay resulting in puckered carpet as well as a floor that may end up creaking .
Terrible idea to leave it down .
Pinning carpet gripper all round will remove any expansion the laminate has so you could also end up with ridges in carpet .

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Laminate will not grip the underlay resulting in puckered carpet as well as a floor that may end up creaking .
Terrible idea to leave it down .
Pinning carpet gripper all round will remove any expansion the laminate has so you could also end up with ridges in carpet .

Carpet, carpet grippers all round. No one mentioned carpet, or carpet grippers. The OP's question was whether it would be OK to lay some laminate flooring, on top of an existing layer of laminate, not multiple layers, just one single layer, which will be absolutely fine, absolutely no reason why it should creak, or groan when walked on, providing the appropriate gaps are maintained. .