Laminate flooring quotes from local installers
Laminate flooring supplied and fitted, including underlay, skirting and floor preparation. Tell us about the rooms and up to 3 installers quote.
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How it works
Tell us about the job
A few questions about what you need and where you are. There's no account to create.
Get up to 3 quotes
Flooring installers that work in your area contact you with a price.
Compare and choose
Weigh up price, timing and what's included. Accept the one that suits you, or none.
What laminate is
Laminate is a layered board: a dense fibreboard core, a photographic print layer that gives it the look of wood or stone, and a clear wear layer on top that takes the scuffs. The boards click together at the edges and float on an underlay, rather than being glued or nailed to the floor beneath.
That makes laminate quick to install, affordable, and good at hiding minor imperfections in the floor underneath. Its weakness is water: the fibreboard core swells if water gets into the joints, which is why it's not usually recommended for bathrooms.
Wear ratings: AC classes
Laminate is graded by how much wear the surface can take, using AC ratings. Matching the rating to the room is the single most useful thing to check on a quote.
| Rating | Suitable for |
|---|---|
| AC1–AC2 | Light residential use, such as bedrooms |
| AC3 | All residential rooms, including living areas and passages |
| AC4 | Busy homes with children and pets, and light commercial use |
| AC5 | Heavy commercial use, such as shops and offices |
Thickness and moisture resistance
Boards are commonly 7 mm to 12 mm thick. Thicker boards feel more solid underfoot and sound less hollow, but thickness isn't the same as durability: the AC rating tells you about the surface. Some ranges are sold as water-resistant, with sealed edges and a moisture-resistant core; they cope better with kitchen spills, but still aren't designed for standing water.
Preparation and installation
- A level, dry floor. Laminate needs a flat surface. High spots are ground down and dips filled with self-levelling compound. New screeds must be dry before anything goes on top.
- A moisture barrier goes over concrete floors, so rising moisture can't reach the boards.
- Underlay cushions the floor, reduces noise and smooths small imperfections. Acoustic underlays cut the hollow sound laminate can make, which matters in upstairs rooms and apartments.
- Acclimatisation. Boards should rest in the room, in their boxes, for a day or two before fitting, so they adjust to the temperature and humidity.
- Expansion gaps are left at every wall and doorway, because laminate expands and contracts. They're hidden by skirting or beading. Floors laid tight against the walls buckle when they expand.
Over tiles, under heating
Laminate can usually be laid over existing tiles, if they're firmly fixed and level, which avoids the mess and cost of lifting them. Check the extra height at doorways and against built-in cupboards.
Laminate can also go over underfloor heating, but only with boards and underlays the manufacturer approves for it, and with a floor temperature limit set on the thermostat.
What laminate flooring costs
Laminate supplied and fitted on underlay usually costs **R280 to R650 per m²** in 2026, with premium 12 mm and AC5 boards reaching about R930 per m². Labour alone runs roughly R80 to R250 per m², so the boards you pick account for most of the price difference between quotes.
- Standard laminate (7–8 mm, AC3–AC4), supplied and fitted on underlay
- R280–R650/m²
- Premium laminate (10–12 mm, AC4–AC5), supplied and fitted
- R600–R930/m²
- Laminate boards only
- R150–R725/m²
- Installation labour only
- R80–R250/m²
See the full laminate flooring cost guideGet exact prices
Estimates only, last checked 28 October 2026. Get quotes for an accurate price for your job.
Before you hire: a laminate flooring checklist
Laminate is one of the more forgiving floors to install, but most failures come down to preparation and gaps.
Get the board specification
Ask for the brand, range, AC rating and thickness of the laminate, so you can compare quotes properly.
Ask what floor preparation is included
Levelling, grinding, removing old flooring and the moisture barrier are often extras. Ask for each one to be listed.
Ask about underlay
Ask which underlay is quoted, and whether it's an acoustic one if noise matters to you.
Check how doorways and edges will be finished
Ask about skirting, beading and threshold strips, and whether doors will need trimming for the new floor height.
Ask about the warranty conditions
Laminate warranties often depend on correct installation, including the moisture barrier and expansion gaps. Make sure the installer follows the manufacturer's instructions.
Keep spare boards
Ask for a few spare boards from the same batch, so damaged boards can be replaced with a matching colour later.
Before you request quotes
The questions people ask us most.
Is it really free?
Yes. Requesting quotes costs you nothing. The providers pay to receive requests, which is how the service is funded.
Will I be flooded with calls?
No. Your details go only to the providers quoting on your job, up to 3 of them.
Do I have to accept a quote?
No. Compare the quotes, ask questions, and accept one if it suits you. If none do, you don't have to go ahead.
Are the providers any good?
More than 200 registered service providers quote through our network. Compare quotes carefully, ask for references and photos of past work, and use the checklist on each service page before you hire.
How quickly will I hear back?
The flooring installers who quote on your job contact you directly by phone or email.
What if I'm not happy with any of the quotes?
You don't have to accept any of them. If the prices are all higher than you expected, ask each provider what's driving the cost. The answers often show what the job really needs.
Is my information safe?
We handle your personal information in line with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and share it only with the providers quoting on your job, up to 3 of them. Our privacy policy explains what we collect and your rights.
Laminate Flooring questions, answered
Which AC rating do I need?
AC3 suits all rooms in most homes. Choose AC4 for busy households with children and pets. AC5 is for heavy commercial use.
Can laminate go in a kitchen or bathroom?
Water-resistant laminate can work in a kitchen if spills are wiped up quickly. It isn't usually recommended for bathrooms, because water in the joints makes the core swell. Vinyl or tiles are better there.
Can laminate be laid over tiles?
Usually, yes, if the tiles are firmly fixed and the floor is level. Check the extra height at doorways and built-in cupboards.
Why is my laminate floor lifting or buckling?
Usually because there's no expansion gap at the walls, or moisture has got into the boards from below or from a spill. An installer can find the cause.
How long does laminate flooring last?
It depends on the AC rating, the quality of the board and how it's treated. A board with the right rating for the room, correctly installed, lasts many years.
Why does my laminate sound hollow?
Laminate floats on an underlay, so it can sound hollow underfoot. A good acoustic underlay and thicker boards reduce the noise.
How long does installation take?
A typical room can often be fitted in a day once the floor is prepared. Levelling compound and new screeds need drying time before laying starts.
Related services
- Vinyl FlooringWaterproof vinyl planks and sheet vinyl for kitchens, bathrooms and busy family rooms.
- Wooden FlooringSolid and engineered wood floors, new installations, and sanding and sealing of old ones.
- TilingFloor and wall tiling for bathrooms, kitchens, patios and whole-house refits.
- CarpetsWall-to-wall carpets and carpet tiles, measured, supplied and fitted with underlay.
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