Flooring...Laminate vs hardwood for do it yourself??
Want to pull up carpet in living room and office and lay either laminate that looks like wood or hard wood flooring. I don't wanna have to hammer or screw the pieces together. The room has straight lines with the exception of the fire place hearth which is kinda U shaped brick that comes out into the room. Any advice?? Got a month and a half till race season and I need a project to busy myself.
Wwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eee
Laminates are way cheaper than a real hardwood floor and are also easier for the do it yourselfer to install. If you have the funds, hire someone and go real wood. However, there are some real nice laminates out there, just make sure that you stay away from the ones that sound like you are walking on plastic.
Originally Posted by thatguy
if you have dogs, stay away from the laminates- the sound of them walking on it will drive you
crazy- clack clack clack clackask me how I know!
I have hardwood now!
Out With The Old, In With The New.......Goodbye Blinding Acceleration, Hello Sustained High Speed (in comfort
bella makes a nice laminate floating wood floor> no glue just clip together. its surprisingly quiet too.
Robina has a wood floor that installs like a laminate...I sell quite a bit of it. It is more than a cheap laminate though. Retails about 7.99 ft. Thats not to bad for a wood floor you can avoid the labor on for the average Jo...um er...I mean Jill.
Another Hot Boat refugee
Been reading up on the subject and seems like the floating floor is both quieter and not as hard on the feet. Is there a concern for big heavy furniture leaving indentions with either option?? Even on the crappy carpet now I have sliders under the legs of both the couch and victrola due to their weight.
Wwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eee
You won't leave any indentations on either floor. The laminate/floating floor will stand up better too than regular hardwood. The good side on real hardwood is you can allways have it refinished. With the floating floor you can have a piece replaced but a little more labor in dollars involved. It does get tricky when going around things with contours with the laminate/floating floors unlike traditional hardwood you can go around anything. The hardwood will scratch easier than laminate. Thay also make padding that goes under the laminate/floating floor. Hope this helps
Okay thanks, I think I am leaning towards laminate that looks like wood with the floating stuff underneath.
Wwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eee
I love my new laminate!
We just replaced the entire downstairs with new laminate flooring. Love it! Easy to clean, wears like iron with the kids and a puppy and it's fairly easy install. It was all tongue and groove...pretty much cut to desired length, snap in place and viola!
I did get the same kind that tongue & groove deal and the carpet and pad is gone from the living room....Lets see that was May...then racing season started and its 106 outside so guess I will get back to it in October.
Wwwwwwwwwweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee eee
I really like laminate as it is much cheaper that hardwood. Plus I feel like it's a lot easier to work with. The durability is high so I wouldn't worry about the weight of the furniture or normal wear and tear. It should take it very well. If you ever did decide to go back to carpet, laminate gives you that option. Where are you looking to get the flooring from? Have you looked at FloorsToYourHome.com?
Last edited by fastx323; 08-21-2011 at 07:26 AM.
Do your homework on both the quality of the products and the proper installation then have at it. We have done a number of rooms such as my office shown below where we need to roll in our chairs and I absolutely love this stuff. Quality matters and brands can be easier or more difficult to install so do your homework. I believe you will be pleased with how easy it is and how durable and beautiful a floor it makes.
The best things in life aren't things!
As always I have to diagree with many of the people here. I have laminate floors in a rental house and have found that they will indeed scratch and dent. They are also a pita if you have animals that shed, hair is everywhere. Also be very careful with what you use to clean it, after all it's just paper with print in it. Use only water mixed with a little vinager and mist it only, do not let it stand. There are kits on the mkt that are specifically for laminate floors. jmho
jangles
"Thanking Obama for killing Bin Laden is like thanking Ronald McDonald for the hamburger.
Thank the SEALS NOT the CLOWN.
Official Member IttyBittyTittyCommitee
http://newsbusters.org/
i have laminate floors and they're nearly indestructible as far as scratching goes... but one little drop of water on an edge and they'll baloon up. if you can work a saw you can install some flooring, its pretty easy. just take your time on the start... as you go along you'll get better with measuring and cutting. dont forget to add quarter round around the edges to clean em up without having to rip baseboards off.
its 10000% better than carpet... you'll be disgusted at what you find as soon as you start to peel it up, especially with pets. its easy to clean as well.
Posting Permissions
LinkBack URL
About LinkBacks
Reply With Quote
Digg This Thread