Laminate flooring installation in Warsaw: cost per m² and process

This page is about laying a new floor. If the old one has to come up first, see laminate floor removal. If the old floor comes up and the new one goes down in one job, that is laminate floor replacement. And if only one board is damaged, laminate floor repair is enough.

How much does laminate installation cost and what affects the price

The cost depends on the area, the state of the subfloor, and the panel type. Standard click-lock laminate is charged at one rate; glue-down vinyl planks at another. If the floor is uneven and needs prep work (levelling, priming), that increases the final amount. Removal of old flooring, skirting boards, and thresholds is charged separately. Underlay and the laminate itself are provided by the client, they install what you already have or advise what to purchase. Current prices are in the table below.

The request, step by stepFloor panel installation: a request without phone callsMark what needs doing and photograph the floor in the room. The app shows a price range at once. Then your address and a day that suits you, and the request goes to independent handymen. Each one names their price, the choice is yours. Nobody has to call anybody.Service and a photoAddress and a day that suits youOffers from handymen, you chooseStep 1 of 5FloorsFloor panel installation50–90 zł · per m²How many m²?15 m²Estimate≈ 750–1350 złPhotos: show what needs doingNext Step 2 of 5Where?Warsaw, TargówekWhen suits you?WeekdayWeekendAny dayDescriptionNeed to lay laminate flooring in the bedroomSend request 3 offersFloor panel installationWarsaw, TargówekSentSNSerhiy N.770 złBuy the underlay yourself or I’ll bring it.ChoosePZPawel Z.910 złI cut on site and clean up the dust.ChooseMKMarek K.1340 złRemoving the old floor is extra.ChoosePost a request

What it costs and how to book: apartment finishing in Warsaw.

How the on-site installation works

1. You send a photo of the room and the approximate area, the technician assesses the scope and gives you an estimated cost.
2. On site they inspect the subfloor: level, moisture, and condition of the screed. If there are dips greater than 2 mm per metre, they tell you immediately — levelling is required.
3. Tradespeople remove the old flooring if needed: linoleum, carpet, old laminate. Skirting boards are removed carefully: if they are in good condition, they reinstall them.
4. Tradespeople roll out the underlay with overlap and tape the joints. Underlay reduces noise and takes up small uneven spots.
5. Panels are installed from the far wall towards the door, with joints staggered by at least 30 cm. Wedges are placed along the walls to keep an 8–10 mm expansion gap.
6. The last panels in each row are cut with a jigsaw or circular saw. In awkward spots (pipes, thresholds, corners) they make accurate cut-outs.
7. Tradespeople fit skirting boards and thresholds. Tradespeople check there are no gaps, no creaks, and that every lock has fully clicked together.

Common mistakes people make installing laminate themselves

• Not checking whether the floor is level: panels are laid on an uneven screed, and within six months the locks crack under load.
• Forgetting the expansion gap — the laminate presses against the wall and lifts in the middle of the room.
• Putting down double underlay “for softness”: the boards begin to bend and squeak.
• Skipping acclimatisation: unpacking and laying straight away, then seeing the panels expand or shrink over the next weeks.
• Not staggering the joints — seams end up lined up, which makes the floor weak and look bad.
• Hammering panels without a tapping block: chipped locking edges, then gaps appear.
• Installing laminate in the bathroom without waterproofing, water gets underneath and the boards swell.
• Not trimming the doors — the door rubs on the new surface and scratches the finish.

What to prepare before the technician arrives

• Empty the room of furniture. The technician does not move wardrobes: that is a separate service.
• The laminate should stay in the room for at least 48 hours before installation — acclimatisation.
• Check that you have enough panels: the recommended spare is 5–10 % of the area for offcuts.
• If old flooring needs to be removed, say so in the order beforehand, it affects the schedule.
• Identify the subfloor type: concrete screed, wooden floor, plywood. This decides the underlay.
• Buy the underlay if the technician has advised a specific one. Standard thickness is 2–3 mm.
• Have skirting boards and thresholds ready: best to install them right after laying.
• Make sure there is a power socket nearby for the tools.
• If you have underfloor heating, mention it in the request: a special underlay is needed.
• Provide the intercom code and parking details.

A real case from Warsaw: laminate flooring installation

A client in the Bemowo district bought a second-hand flat — 55 square metres, with old linoleum over concrete throughout. He wanted laminate in every room apart from the bathroom. The tradesperson began with demolition: the linoleum came up, revealing adhesive residue plus a screed with up to 4 mm of unevenness. Two rooms needed a self-levelling compound; in the third, sanding was enough. A day later, once the compound had cured, the underlay was rolled out and the laminate installed. In total: 48 square metres over two working days. Three doors that would not close after the new floor was laid were trimmed, skirting boards went in around the perimeter, and thresholds were fitted in every doorway. The client moved in the next day: the floor is flat, nothing creaks, and the doors close properly. Three months later he wrote that everything was still perfect.

Classen, Kronopol, Quick-Step and Tarkett laminate: how they differ when laid

Classen (a German laminate maker), Kronopol (a Polish brand found in most DIY stores) and Quick-Step (with its Uniclic joint) all lock the panels together without glue. That means a single board can be replaced later, but the joint only holds on a flat base. Over a bump or a dip in the screed the panel flexes with every step and starts clicking within a few weeks.

Collections differ in wear class and moisture resistance. Some Quick-Step and Classen ranges suit a kitchen or a hallway, but not all of them, so check your collection’s specification on the box before laying it near the sink.

Tarkett makes both laminate and vinyl, among other things, and the two are easy to confuse in the shop but are laid differently. Laminate has a fibreboard core and does not tolerate standing water. Vinyl copes better with moisture, but it is thinner, and every grain of sand underneath it shows on the surface later.

For repairs, for example Kronopol that has swollen by a balcony door, the hardest part is finding a match: collections are discontinued and a new batch can differ in shade. A spare pack or the label from the original installation helps a lot.

Frequently asked questions

What laminate should I choose?

For a flat, class 32 is enough; for an office or hallway, choose class 33. An 8 mm thickness is the best middle ground. Vinyl planks are a good choice for kitchens and rooms with higher moisture.

Does the floor need levelling?

If the deviation exceeds 2 mm per metre — yes, absolutely. Otherwise the locks will stay under stress and sooner or later break.

How long does installation take?

A standard room of 15–20 m² takes around 3 to 4 hours on a level subfloor. With demolition and levelling, allow a full day.

Can I lay laminate over old linoleum?

Yes, as long as the linoleum lies flat with no bubbles or waves. It works as extra underlay. But removing it is the better option: there may be moisture or unevenness underneath.

What if the laminate buckles?

Most often the reason is a missing expansion gap. Remove the skirting, trim the panels 8–10 mm back from the wall, and let the floor settle. If the buckling comes from water damage, the affected panels need to be replaced.

Do tradespeople install vinyl planks as well?

Yes, they install both vinyl (LVT/SPC) and classic laminate. Vinyl needs a smoother subfloor but holds up longer in damp areas.

Do tradespeople work on weekends?

Yes, Saturdays and Sundays included. Book in advance if you can: weekends are their busiest days.

Are materials included in the price?

No, materials ( laminate, underlay, skirting) are bought by the client. Tradespeople help calculate quantities and can recommend a brand.

How much does it cost to lay laminate per m²?

The price per m² depends on the laminate type (click or glued), the pattern (straight, diagonal, herringbone), the subfloor and whether the old floor has to come up. Current ranges are in the table above; the handyman gives the exact figure in the offer.

Who does the work and how a job runs

Installation is done by technicians with hands-on experience in floor coverings — laminate, vinyl, parquet. Tradespeople do not send beginners: the person who comes out knows the difference between a Click and a Lock joint, understands why the expansion gap matters, and can cut a panel neatly around a pipe. Tradespeople cover all of Warsaw and the nearby suburbs: Bemowo, Wola, Mokotow, Ursynow, Wilanow: distance is not a problem. You agree a time with the tradesperson you choose.