Wood or Laminate that is the question

[osidak]

We are planning to replace all the carpet on the lower floor of our 1800 square foot home with wood or laminate. The house is built on a slab just as an FYI.

Looking mainly at the 5/16 engineered wood or as said before laminate. I really like the look and feel of the wood better but I know the laminate is probably a better floor from a maintenance stand point.

We will probably be in this house another 2 to 3 years and trying to figure out what is the better choice when it comes to resale. The wood does have a 15 year warranty if that means anything.

What do you guys suggest

[fastpat]

What does the laminate look like?

[Shuie]

Originally posted by fastpat
What does the laminate look like?

Like wood...

[turbo6bar]

If you are considering recouping you investment, carpet is your best bet. As far as laminate vs engineered hardwood, I would consider the quality of the home and comparables. You might be able to use laminate on a starter home, but nicer homes would benefit from engineered flooring. A couple or family buying a starter home isn't going to pay a premium for engineering hardwood.

Is the slab relatively flat/smooth?

Personally, I would go with engineered hardwood, but I'm ignoring resale value.

[fastpat]

I think turbo6bar is correct, with your plan to remain in the house only three more years, carpeting is your most cost effective. We recarpeted our house in CA just prior to selling it, cost us $3600.00 for 1500 sq. ft. That's pad and carpet, and removal of the old carpet.

Another suggestion, if you're know you're going to move in a fix amount of time, then waiting as close to that move date as possible makes sense too. That way, the carpet will remain in better condition than if you carpet now, and look good for selling.

[Jim Richards]

I'm getting away from carpeting and will have only wood (not laminate) with the bathrooms in tile. Carpet never stays good looking for long.

[masraum]

how about bamboo? It's hard, hard stuff, so more durable than wood or laminate. It can be had in different colors and patterns. Cool stuff. It's also envirinmentally friendly since it can be harvested in 4 or 5 years since it grows fast.

[Shuie]

I've ruined them all, and I will never have carpet anywhere except possibly in a bedroom ever again. Pergo or commercial grade porcelain tile for me. No way will I ever put real wood on a floor again.

[osidak]

moving away from carpet as my son has asthma and it will help to get rid of the carpet.

Carpet is really is nasty stuff.

I wouldn't call our home a starter home but it isn't a high end home either.

The slab is for the most part smooth. There are some dips that can be felt under the carpet in some spots

[island911]

fwiw, a couple advantages of wood are, sound (lam's reflect sound like crazy) .. .and future supply of matching materials. That is, 10 years down the road, you will be able to match wood. Whereas Laminate patterns (and fittment) are always changing.

[CarreraDan]

Osidak
I was a flooring professional/install specialist for 2.5 yrs--thank God I don't do it anymore. If you have large dogs/cats with claws the wood will scratch before a high quality laminate (Pergo, Dupont). Homo Depot has an engineered wood make by Harris Tarkett called Vanguard Quicklock, check it out--it can be refinished up to three times. I am going to do about 700 sq ft at my parents with it. They have Pergo and ceramic downstairs and it has held up incredible for 10 yrs (with two cats and a German Shep). However, my mom said she would rather have real wood if that would have been an option at the time. The Pergo is great but it still looks and feels like laminate not wood if that is important to you.

Decide on what you really want and then negotiate the price between Lowe's and Home Depot--price match plus 10% you will just need to talk to the right assistant manager, they will fight for your money. If you have any specific questions feel free to email or PM me, I did installs too. Whatever you get be sure to put felt pads under your furniture before you do the floor--don't wait until after your first scratch.

[turbo6bar]

If the floor isn't reasonably smooth or level, then an installer might opt to install the engineered flooring so it's floating. In that case, it'll be similar, but not the same as laminate (hollow sounding).

The ideal scenario, if you want good quality, durability, and serviceability (can be refinished), engineered wood glued to the slab would be superb. However, this is going to be the most expensive route, short of solid hardwood.

Unfortunately, the 2-3 year window before selling may force you to make a compromise.

[Eric Coffey]

You might look into "Bellawood" flooring. I will be replacing the carpet in a small den with it shortly. It's a pre-finished genuine hardwood with a special UV/wear coating and a 50 year warranty. I got it here: www.lumberliquidators.com

[snowman]

If your son has asthma you might consider 100% wool carpet. Don't laugh its better than any synthetic and is good for people with asthma. Check out what the wool people have to say about the subject.

As to wood, laminate, engineered wood, you will hate it within a year. Its all crap. Scratches, marks, all kinds of stuff shows and cannot be easily fixed. Real solid wood is best. Why, because you can easily fix and or refinish it. Laminates... forget it, no matter what they say. Don't beleive it? Just ask anyone who has one of these floors for a while.

Go with wool carpet, tile or stone type of floors. Wood, laminates, engineered anything, forget it, unless your selling it now. People who like it, have never had it. There are some good kinds of wood floors, but if you have to ask how much they cost, you can't even consider them, eg teak, kingswood.

[osidak]

Thanks Eric - Check out the site and they has a store not far from where I work. Now that I see the bamboo I am interested.

[Joeaksa]

Originally posted by CarreraDan
Decide on what you really want and then negotiate the price between Lowe's and Home Depot--price match plus 10% you will just need to talk to the right assistant manager, they will fight for your money. If you have any specific questions feel free to email or PM me, I did installs too. Whatever you get be sure to put felt pads under your furniture before you do the floor--don't wait until after your first scratch.

Figure out what you want then go on Ebay and do a search for "home depot 10% coupons"...

There are several people selling discount coupons for both HD and Lowes. Usually costs $2-4 each and good for up to $2000 in merchandise. Have used them for years when buying anything over $50 at either place.

BTW, they mix and match. HD will take a Lowes coupon and vice verse.

Edit, if you do not find any, PM or email me. I know of one guy selling the coupons that is very nice to work with.

[RickM]

Personally I would go with the prefinished (real) wood floor mentioned above. The finishes are amazing on them. Then add 100% wool area rugs and runners (also mentioned) and you're in business.


To add to Joe's suggestion....www.slickdeals.net has printable coupons often. Go to the Forums section and do a search. In fact I used a few 20% HD coupons at Lowes recently...saved quite a bit of money. I also hear that if you're persistent HD will take 10% -20% Harbor Freight coupons.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally posted by SoCal911SC
Pergo type laminates suck.

So cheesy fake looking and thin sounding. It's a *picture* of a wood floor, for pete's sake!

It's the flooring equivalent of a bad toupee.

+1.

So many folks buy into the "laminates/pergo are more durable than real wood" pitch and it's all horse puck. The top two concerns for non-tile solid surface flooring are moisture and scratches. Laminates perform poorly when exposed to water just like real wood floors and can scratch/ding too. Unfortunately you can't refinish a standard laminte floor (like what HD/Lowes sells). The biggest issue (for me & wife) is that lamintes need to be floated. Over a concrete slab they will sound cheap when you walk on them. Your floor is the largest decorating surface in the home so make a good decision.

As for resale, lamintes and carpet are considered a temporary "disposable" floor. They don't add anything come resale time. Quality tiles and real hardwood do. As a potential home buyer I would only appreciate an existing laminate floor because it's easy to demo and toss in the dumpster. You can find lots of engineered wood floors for $3-4 sq/ft. If you have pets or insist on walking around with hard soled shoes then go with a hard wood like oak or maple. Another consideration is to use an already distressed floor as more scratches and dings only add character.

[Jims5543]

I installed Real 3/4" Bamboo in my sons room and it is very attractive.

I am not too sure of your area but you need to make sure there is no moisture coming through your slab before you decide what flooring to lay. The best test it so duct tape to the bare cement a decent size square of plastic like you lay down for painting. Wait 24+ hours and check it for condensation.

This will determine which flooring you can lay.

I am lucky most of Florida has problems with moisture but, where I live we are on a sand hill the gound is VERY dry so no moisture.

I am not too sure if you could lay a real Hardwood floorin a slab, I am sure anything is possible. Look for a town in North Carolina called Franklin.

Try these guys I was able to pay $3.05 a square foot for real oak 3/4" hardwood for my house up there.

http://www.zickgraf.com/


Good luck!!

[Nathans_Dad]

I installed a "engineered laminate" floor about a year ago from Lumber Liquidators. All in all we have been very very happy with it. I floored my living area and the main hall with my father in law in one day. We did the trim and caulking the next day because we were pretty beat after day 1.

The laminate is very durable and looks good. This is true veneer on the top of a plywood like material, not the plastic stuff.

The laminate we bought came with a 10 year warranty which worked out well for us since we planned on selling the house 2 years later anyway. Total bill for the entire project was $1000. That's just materials since my father-in-law and I did all the labor.

I will definitely put wood down in my next house if it isn't already there. Looks better and stays cleaner than carpet.

I'm not sure if I would go full hardwood next time or not, I like the idea of being able to resurface the floor in the future (no no with laminate since it is a veneer) but it is usually at least twice the cost of a quality laminate.