So I get a call from a gal referred to me, that wants me to take 2200' of Laminate out of her house( before the bank takes it), and install 1800' of it, in the house she's in now.

It's a discontinued top of the line ( click) Wilsonart. She says she can get transitions even though Wilsonart isn't manufacturing Laminate Flooring.

Well I've always been told...Laminate can be re-installed up to 3 times. What do guys think?

Iv'e also been told laminate needs to acclimate in the boxes.......( If there's a big RH difference between the houses...the t&g profile may swell, And I'm in trouble?

Maybe I'm, gonna get in trouble anyway if the bank takes over the house before I pull the floor out

What all do you guys think I'm up against...just got back from the house she's in.

If she still owns the house then she still owns the floor also. I would ask for the removal payment right away in case there is a problem trying to put it back together. If you can take the floor apart without to much wiggling around the should be fine, as long as they weren't glued together also. I used to do that on larger Wilsonart jobs as I didn't trust their tap and lock joints.

Glue may not be a bad idea for some insurance on the reinstall.

Thanks guys...good points. I'm about to sit down and figure this thing. I think that's a great idea to figure glue. I don't need this thing moving apart after install.

I imagine as long as she still owns the house, and there's no legal papers in the windows. The bank probably changes locks right away also.

Tryin to figure out what to charge for takeup, stacking, transporting, acclimating.....

Funny ...I was told when Laminates 1st came to the U.S., that folks in Europe take their floors with them when they moved. Still don't know if that was some Reps line or not.

Shoot...Now my mind is playing devil's advocate...maybe I'll sleep on it, and figure it tomorrow.
All the "what if's"... Who knows how it was installed....any damage to t&g, etc. etc...Am I being over cautious, or a whimp?

I dont think their will be any issues with reinstalling the laminate into another house. The only issue might be getting your money from the girl who is getting her house taken.

Howard, that stuff locks really tight, better take a Board Bully. Their core material is hard as nails too. So you should be good puttin git back together. FYI, I think they even had something in their warranty about the first buyer/enduser moving it. I'll have to see if I saved their literature.

Keeping the laminate in good shape from one house to the next is one of the biggest challenges. We all know how easily the edges like to chip. Good thing you have an extra 400 sf to work with. What an interesting job. Get some pics

Yes, should be interesting. I'm figuring on setting up 2 saw horses, and wrapping the bundle ends with shrink wrap. Trying to avoid the planks sliding around and chipping during transport, and don't want just a pile of planks. Plus warping issues,etc.

Still having a little tough time moraly...the idea of pulling the floor out of that house.

she in a rental now?

dont feel bad for the bank...they never stop making money...and they the reason crap is like the way it is now..

Until the sheriffs lock her out..its hers and everything in it

also seems rediculous...when you think the cost of laminate today..

the cost to remove, slavage,transport and reinstall cant be saving her anything..guess she really loves that floor

That's the first thing I thought...just buy more Laminate. But It's a top of the line Wilsonart handscraped. So I guess it was a few bucks, when she bought it. Yea...she loves it too, and it's discontinued. It's not gonna cost her nearly as much to pull it out of there. Plus I think there's sentimental value . ( She owns 2 houses...losing 1 )

Do you have the correct tapping block for that Howard? You can borrow mine, only used it a couple times.

Been years since I installed Wilsonart. "Correct" taping block . I figure I'd bring some home while it acclimates, and make something up if need be. It takes a different tapping block? I think last time I installed Wilsonart..It was a glued t&g.

Yea I bet you could build one, the one I have fits the joint top and bottom perfectly. Not sure if you can still get the blue fusion adhesive though.

Can't really find a picture of that block, this is all I can find.

http://www.wilsonartflooring.com/produc ... nglish.pdf

Thanks Stephen , that helps alot. They did show a picture of a little "end block", but I like using the longer blocks with the handle. Figure I'll just run one through the table saw. I figure I'm goin to go over there and pull 25' of plank or so, before I dive into this completely. Do a bunch of testing in my shop. Hopefully they didn't use too much of that Blue Fusion, on the original install, ( she told me they didn't acclimate, so who knows what they did ). I'm figuring on gluing all t&g with Titebond, but gonna test it first. Appreciate your offer on the tapping block...may take ya up on that.