Laying laminate flooring around obstacles Help, advice, information, answers and tips on all types of flooring from laminate and carpet to timber and vinyl

[Gondolier]

I was interested to read a previous posting about a problem which I have encountered regarding laying laminate flooring around obstacles. However, neither the replies to that posting nor buying the CD referred to has answered the problem. That is, to quote the previous posting mentioned, "when you are laying the final boards against a door frame, even if you have sawed off the bottom of the frame, leaving space for the board to fit underneath, the board still won't fit. This is because each board is first angled into its receiving groove, before it can be pushed flat. As you try to push it flat, the door frame gets in the way and you can't reach the bit at the bottom where you've cut your groove." The same thing will happen when laying boards around a toilet: the first board with a semicircular shape cut out to fit will go down successfully. However, the next board with the other half of the shape of the toilet cut out will have to first be angled up against the previous board before being pushed down to click into place. This is not possible because the toilet itself is in the way. There would be no problem with boards which simply knock together whilst flat on the floor, but with boards which have to be angled and click together, such as the ones I am using for a bathroom which are water-resistant and 12mm thick, they will not knock together from a flat position on the floor. An expert's advice on how to get over this problem would be gratefully appreciated!

[thedoctor]

Sometimes its necessary to fit and cut round an obsticle, then take the section up again a bit further back to fit round the obsticle and then remake the joint you stripped back to. Having trouble round obsticles is more about where you start the job than trying to work round impossibilities. Look carefully at the job before you start and find the obvious difficulties before you begin. Its not uncommon to see a pro start in the middle of the floor to give him room and the correct angle for obsticles. Its not the manufacturers fault as some have tried to say, its not looking at the job properly and assuming that because it comes out of a diy store, its an easy job.