Well it was a work in progress but now that is is laid it looks great.
We were more than a little nervous about lifting the laminate as we didn't have  a clue as to what was under there or what state it was in! When our hall was measured for the new floor we looked in the cupboard and could see floor boards - so we assumed (NEVER assume - it makes an ASS out of U AND ME!) that would be the case throughout. Boy were we wrong. Half was floor boards and the other half chipboard, and badly laid chipboard at that. Jeez if you'd seen the state of it. Strips here and there a cm drop in floor height 0 that explains why our laminate "gaveway" when you sometimes stood on it! (I heard that and yes a diet here wouldn't go a miss!!)
When the floor layer arrived on Friday morning I showed what we had uncovered and asked if it would be a problem or should be get a joiner in to relay chipboard? He said it would take more preparation than was first thought so would cost a little more. *EEEK* HOw much more? He reconned about a hundred more for the flexi screed that he would need to apply to help give an even base layer. This floor is going to be down forever so getting it done right is the way we need to go. But this prep took a full day. The screed stuff couldn't be stook on for at least 4 hours which meant we had to go from our kitchen to the living rooms via the garden and in through the patio doors! Thank goodness I had the foresight to open them before he started laying the stuff!!
He wasn't meant to be working on the Saturday but came back to finish the job. More prep was needed to roughen the screed and make sure it was ok to add the glue - this took ages to get the tacky way that is needed before the strips of Karndean could be laid. Once he started to lay the strip it took shape really quickly. It looks lovely.
I haven't got a proper picture yet but this what one of the tile strips looks like ......
We are now thinking of saving up to get our living room done too!!