All Forum Posts by: Robert Cummings

I have 4 units, duplexes, and I have moved 2 units to laminate flooring.  Best choice, I think, is to have carpeting on the bedroom floors only and laminate everywhere else but the kitchen.  If there is tile in the kitchen keep it there or that plastic stuff (forgot the name).  

Laminate flooring is very easy to repair.  Remove the baseboard and pull up pieces till you reach the effected areas then snap a new piece in place.  Took me 15 minutes to replace a gouged plank (2) that was 3.5 feet from the wall.  Carpeting can be purchased cheap if it is remnants (BTW; ONLY buy remnants and don't let a salesperson tell you about a warranty. There is no warranty on carpeting in rental properties, just single family homes. )

You can do it yourself but you will need a miter saw, mallet and some knee pads.  You cn use a furring strip to keep the laminate the proper distance from the wall.  You may also have to replace the baseboards as most apt baseboards are thin and carpeting has hidden things.  But doing it yourself will reduce the cost of installation significantly.