Depending on many aspects the cost of laminate flooring can vary greatly. There are plenty of elements to consider when you are looking to replace your laminate flooring as each of these can either increase or decrease the cost overall.

Liminate Type

Wood or stone finish are popular designs for laminate in the modern age. These give the impression of a much more sophisticated flooring without the additional cost of the materials. They create a great look for your space. 

They are often one of two types of laminate, glue or click. The click version is quite self-explanatory, they click into place like the pieces of a puzzle. Glued laminate has a stronger bond to the floor beneath but has a much higher installation cost in comparison. Pre-glued laminate planks are another option, where some of the planks come pre-glued together but again do not have the same grip that you get from the initial glued laminate. 

Texture of the Laminate

The texture of the laminate dictates how the flooring will feel beneath your feet. There is quite a large variety in textures of laminate, ranging from the smooth version to ones which exhibit a deep wood-grained finish. The smooth version of the laminate flooring will be the easiest to clean and is easy to look after once installed. It will of course not have a rough texture underfoot. The other options include hand-scraped, brushed, oiled wood textured planks which give a realistic wood finish with a rougher feel below. They are slightly harder to match up and require a little more care and maintenance once in place. As such, they are also slightly more expensive too.

Floor Size

Evidently, the size of the floor will have an impact on the cost to lay the laminate in your home. You need to also take into consideration the door frames and uneven edges that may be present in your floor before installation. If there is more cutting, measuring and fitting required then this will in turn increase the cost of laying the laminate in your home

Quality of Design

If you require a much more intricate design, such as in your foyer area, then you can expect the cost to increase as well. It will require an installer with heightened artistic abilities and these specialists may charge more than $100 per square metre depending on your design.

The Cost and the Material

The type of laminate flooring that you choose will greatly impact the price of installing the flooring. Wood laminate flooring can cost between $25 and $80 per square metre. There are various materials and the creation and design come into play when pricing is set. Timber laminate flooring is much more expensive than other wood finish laminate. Installation alone will cost around $30 to $40 per square metre.

Removal of the Existing Floor

Removing and replacing your existing flooring can add significant labour costs to the installation of your new laminate flooring. It will depend on the amount of time and effort it takes to remove the old flooring and prepare the space to lay the laminate down. This could take anywhere from 1 to 3 days to complete, depending on the size of the job and the existing floor. For existing laminate flooring this could cost around $75 per square metre for both the removal and the replacement with your chosen flooring. 

If you are looking to replace your carpets with laminate then you can expect to pay around $10 to $30 per square metre for removing the carpet. This requires a lot less labour and time so it is significantly cheaper to replace. It may depend on how the carpet was installed and also how many impurities are left on the floor below which may need repairing. 

The type of laminate flooring does of course impact the pricing, but this does not just include the finish of the flooring. Just as timber flooring has different quality levels and requirements for installation so does laminate. Waterproof laminate flooring will also be a little more costly to install than others. It will include a water resistant sealant which is placed over the top layer. 

This is especially necessary if you are installing laminate into a room which is likely to have a lot of water in the area and on the floor. This of course includes the bathroom and kitchen. It is still recommended that spills be attended to as soon as possible on laminate floors with or without waterproofing but it is much less likely to cause any damage to the floors. 

The Tradie Quote

Not all installers of laminate flooring are equally qualified in the field. There are a few things that you should consider when hiring someone to install your laminate flooring. Get a range of estimates and when you find a price you are happy with look into the reviews left by other customers. This is especially easy online, and you can see if they have satisfied customers ready to back up their service or not. To get an accurate quote you will need to measure the area and give an idea of what kind of laminate you wish to use in the space. Ask your prospective installer whether pricing is per metre or by hour. 

You may also wish to ask whether the disposal of the old flooring is included in the price or listed as a separate cost. You will need to know their licence and qualifications and even ask how many years they have been in the business. All this information is imperative to getting your new laminate flooring installed properly and of course make sure that your installer has liability insurance just in case something goes wrong.

You can save money by tearing up the floor yourself, removing the debris and cleaning the area before they arrive. Installers generally charge for these services and if you are happy to do it yourself then you can save a few dollars!