Another decision! Engineered hardwood or laminate?

[JulieAnn]

Your responses on my sink question were so helpful I thought I'd ask for help again. I've read all the past threads on flooring, but I was thinking that maybe some of the newer people would also have suggestions. I'm going crazy with the flooring issue of the house we're remodelling. The main floor living, dining, and kitchen area (1000 sq. ft.) is either going to be engineered hardwood or laminate (pergo type). We have little kids, but we don't wear shoes in the house. They both have pros and cons, and I would love any advice. Thanks!

[Nancy171]

I'm not familiar with engineered hardwood, but we put the Wilsonart version of Pergo down on our entire main floor. I'm happy with it, but I'm not sure that I'd whole-heartedly endorse it. On the pro side, absolutely nothing stains/dents/damages it. You can get anything out with a little vinegar and elbow grease. On the con side, even with a pad it's really loud (maybe not a problem if no one wears shoes inside). We're happy with it because it's in a house in the country where lots of mud is tracked in and out (the laminate floor is right off all of the main doors). However, it just doesn't have the real wood feel (and it's about as expensive as real wood)...

[cchhbb]

We're in process of putting traditional hardwoods on our first level. We're doing the work ourselves and it seems like it is taking forever.

Sorry, back on topic. I would recommend the traditional hardwoods. We did quite a bit of research and one of the things that we found out was the prefinished hardwoods have a 25 year warranty. We thought that was great. Also, if anything would happen, we could always sand and refinish the floor. That can't happen with the laminate.

We did a search on the internet and were able to come up with 5 inch width White Oak for about $5.00 a square. We did have to pay shipping, but not taxes. This also saved us a lot of money over Expo.

[Debie K]

go hardwood, you won't regret it. The pergo looks good for a while, but wears like linoleum so you can see your wear paths and there is no refinishing. We love our hardwood we have it throughout the kitchen and mudroom and it is easy care, looks very cool. You can find good deals, call your local hardwood provider and see if they have overshipments they are dumping, that's how we got our, cost $5/sf, Pergo can't even match that. (O)

[Grace]

Actually, our laminate only cost $3.35 a sq. ft., and it was the upgraded laminate with the 20 year warranty. I do think hardwood is wonderful, but the only reason I went with the laminate is because we have 2 dogs and a small house. They run through the halls/kitchen all day long every day. I saw my friend's BRAND NEW $250K 1 bdrm condo with her beautiful new hardwood floors, and they are all scratched up from her little shih tzu, and her friend's Golden Retriever that comes to visit all the time. She's only been in the condo a year, and the floors are all scratched up. Looks terrible. Granted, she can sand them and re-varnish them, but what a pain (and $$!) to have to do that all the time.

The laminate simply does not scratch, and is guaranteed not to wear (like linoleum) or dent or scratch for 20 years. So far I LOVE how it looks, how easy it is to clean, and that as much as the dogs run back and forth and back and forth, there are no scratches anywhere. For us, the laminate was simply much more practical.

But I think if I didn't have dogs, I might go with the hardwood!! I have carpet in my living room (over beautiful hardwood!) that I went back and forth over in my head before I had put down. But the dogs slip and slide around on any hardwood/laminate, and I just couldn't stand it (and they can actually hurt themselves). So I put down carpet, and it's great. They play in there most of the day and I don't have to worry. It's also warmer in the winter. I don't regret the carpet, and I can always pull it up and refinish the hardwood underneath if I change my mind. But again, the dogs and practicality were what drove our decision. Make your decision based on your own needs. I think there are merits to every type of flooring.

[This message has been edited by Grace (edited 06-07-2001).]

[Julia1Pin]

I wrote on the kitchen sink thread that we are in the process of remodeling our home, and we are puttin laminate in all over.

Laminate is only $2-$3/sq. ft. It's also fairly simple to put in. Alot of it is inter-locking, so very little or no gluing is involved. We only have it in the living room so far, but we're planning on putting it in all over the house.

My DH's dog stays at our house during the weekends (dog lives with IL's), and he romps all around the floor - not a scratch. It is hard for him to get up from a laying position though (he's 13). It's pretty hilarious! to see him try to get his barings on the floor, especially if he's in a hurry and sees a cat outside http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif It's built-in amusement froma floor and a dog http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[funnybone]

We have hardwood and love it. I think the little nicks and scratches that get on the floor over time gives it character. We didn't want a glossy finish (which I can't stand}; we went with the matte finish.

My sister has Pergo in her kitchen and just loves it. I don't know how I would like it in the entire house though.

If you ever sell the house, the hardwood would probably add to resale over Pergo too. You can always change the color of the hardwood too.

[Mousie29]

We just had hardwoods (red oak) put in our redone kitcen and den last year. The rest of the house has the same that are 45 years old.

That's what I recommend except we don't dogs like someone else was saying.

To me, it's a longer-term, higher quality investment. Everything we had done in our house was expensive, so I feel like I better do it right once.

That's interesting you have kids and don't wear shoes!! We don't either except we don't have kids yet.

WE had pergo put on the floor in two small bathrooms b/c we couldn't afford to have it re-tiled and I love that. HOwever, I wouldn't want it in my living areas. There's a big difference in look and feel. Pergo is very hard too.

[JulieAnn]

Thank you all for your comments. With so many decisions to make it really helps me to get feedback. cchhbb, i feel for you!! We're doing everything but the carpet and cabinets nad it's taking forever. The other thing that is taking so long is that we're changing a few things structurally. I someitmes wish my husband would stop having such great ideas! Mousie, we currently have very light beige carpet in our house so we started having our 4 year old son take his shoes off as soon as he could walk. The problem is that now he takes them everywhere!! aS soon as he walks into someone else's house he takes off his shoes!

[cjm]

JulieAnn - I know tile wasn't one of your options but just had to say-we replaced laminate flooring in our kitchen, breakfast nook and hearth room with 12x12 inch tiles. I haven't regretted it once...tile is EASY to clean, virtually indestructible and wears forever. Just a thought.

[larettin]

Have you considered bamboo instead of hardwood? We are seriously considering it for the new house we are planning. It looks similar to hardwood, is environmentally friendly, is competitively priced, and is more durable (25% harder than oak and 12% harder than maple).

Go to http://www.nahbrc.org/ and search for "bamboo" for more info. Here is an excerpt from one of their pages:

"A flooring material which resembles wood but grows like grass? Bamboo flooring is an attractive alternative to wood or laminate flooring. Botanically classified as a grass, bamboo matures into a merchantable size in three to five years compared with 50 to 100 years for most hardwood species. The appearance of bamboo is very similar to wood flooring. It comes in vertical and flat-grain patterns and generally is offered in a light, honey or natural color and a darker, amber "carbonized" color. Bamboo flooring can be nailed or floated and its strength and dimensional stability compare very well with traditional wood flooring."

The following site has some nice pictures: http://www.timbergrass.com/

[BosunsWife]

I can give a vote for the hardwood if you can afford it.

My parents built a house in 1960 (and still live in it). They put down hardwood floors throughout (excluding bathrooms and kitchen). In 1965 they could afford carpeting so they carpeted the livingroom and dining room, covering over the floors. In 1985ish my dad got a bee in his butt and ripped up all of the carpeting. My mom came home from work to see it in the middle of the driveway! They completely resanded and put on a "swedish" type finish on them. They are absolutely gorgeous. Totally waterproof and look as beautiful today as they did the day they were refinished. I will definitely have them in my own house one day.