Laminate Flooring Installers in Christchurch

Laminate flooring in New Zealand costs $40 to $100 per square metre for supply and installation. Budget laminate costs $40 to $60 per square metre installed. Mid-range laminate costs $60 to $80 per square metre. Premium laminate (wider planks, textured surface, longer warranty) costs $80 to $120 per square metre. Installation labour alone costs $15 to $30 per square metre. Underlay is essential and costs $5 to $15 per square metre on top. A 40-square-metre living area costs $1,600 to $4,000 fully installed.

Laminate flooring has a photographic image layer over a high-density fibreboard (HDF) core. Unlike vinyl, laminate is not waterproof — the HDF core swells when wet. Unlike timber, laminate cannot be sanded and refinished. However, laminate is harder and more scratch-resistant than most vinyl and is cheaper than solid timber. Choose laminate for dry living areas and bedrooms. Choose vinyl for wet areas (kitchens, bathrooms). Choose timber for a premium natural floor that can be refinished.

Laminate flooring uses a click-lock floating floor system — the planks click together and sit on an underlay without being glued or nailed to the subfloor. An expansion gap of 8 to 10mm must be left around all edges to allow for natural expansion and contraction. Scotia or skirting covers the expansion gap. Laminate can be installed over concrete (with a moisture barrier), timber floors, and existing hard floors. The subfloor must be level to within 3mm over 1 metre.

Laminate is low maintenance — vacuum or sweep regularly and damp-mop with a laminate-specific cleaner. Never wet-mop or steam-clean laminate as moisture damages the HDF core. Wipe up spills immediately. Use felt pads under furniture legs to prevent scratching. Place mats at entrances to catch grit. Laminate cannot be sanded or refinished — once the wear layer is damaged, the planks need replacing. Individual damaged planks can be replaced without replacing the entire floor.