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Hi ,
I'm looking to raise my living room floor by up to 20 cm and would appreciate any advice you could offer. The room currently has laminate flooring, which I’m planning to urgently renew.
If I go ahead with renewing the laminate now, will it still be possible to raise the floor later and reinstall it? Or would you recommend completing the floor-raising work first? Additionally, I’d be grateful if you could share any tips or recommendations regarding the most suitable system for raising the floor.
Looking forward to your guidance!
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @a1987. It's wonderful to have you join us, and many thanks for your question about raising a floor.
It would definitely be best to raise the floor first before installing any new laminate. While laminate flooring can technically be lifted and reinstalled, it’s often tricky to do without damaging the boards — especially if they've been in place for a while or if they’re click-lock style, which can chip or split at the edges during removal. If you're already planning to raise the floor by as much as 20cm, it makes more sense to hold off on laying any new flooring until that’s complete, to avoid unnecessary work and cost.
As for how to raise the floor, it depends on your subfloor and what you're hoping to achieve with the added height. If you're working over a concrete slab, you could use treated timber or steel battens to build a raised frame, and then sheet it with structural plywood or yellow tongue flooring to create a stable base. In some cases, compacted fill or autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) panels might be used instead, but these options tend to be heavier and more complex.
For a timber floor structure, a raised frame of joists fixed to the existing bearers (or built as a floating platform) is usually the go-to method. Make sure to factor in any underfloor ventilation, insulation needs, and ceiling height clearance — especially if you're near the legal minimum ceiling height of 2.4m. If you’re raising the floor to match another room or to cover a step-down, you might also need to consider transitions and door heights.
Given the structural considerations and the importance of getting the levels and support right, it would be wise to enlist the services of a qualified builder. They can help you plan and execute the floor raise safely and in line with building standards, which will make the job smoother and ensure a better result when it comes time to install your new laminate.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
