I’m at a loose end again this Saturday – its been a very long week for me work wise and I’m exhausted and brain dead.
So I’d like to ask your thoughts on wooden flooring. Yep. Nothing cosmetics based, but one every houseowner might have thought of at some point. Are you surprised at this question? :)
I have the ubiquitous tiled floors in my house. At the time I moved in, finances were tight and I had other flighty plans so although I had intentions to put down wooden flooring over the tiles, I did not do so. Now, I find myself thinking about this more and more because I like the look of wooden floors – it makes the house look warmer.
The floors in all my rooms are laminate wood floors. I’m thinking of extending the look into the main living and dining area of the home.
I spoke to a neighbour who put down timber flooring and he told me what a ghastly job that was for him, especially because he was living in at the time. The dust knew no bounds! That scared me because when you put down wooden or timber floors, they have to grind it hence the dust. Oh its also very expensive even though they lay it over the existing tiles :P But when I catch glimpses of his new floors, I love the look because it looks so warm and inviting.
The other alternative is laminate flooring. Looks like wood, feels like wood, but it isn’t wood. Its cheaper and there’s no grinding involved so there’s less dust involved. Apparently it can be laid quite quickly and easily. It is however, not wood – just looks like it. Suits my purposes?
So, I’d like to turn this over to you. If you have had wooden or laminate wood flooring put down in your home, I’d love to know how you felt and whether there was serious inconvenience if you are already living in. Also, if you do have a horror story to share, please share!
Honestly, I don’t know why I put myself through this :D
Happy weekend!
Paris B
I have laminated wood flooring in my living room and rooms upstairs. I love it as it’s easy to care for. It’s been 3 years and the flooring still looks new. Besides, it’s cheaper and easier to install than timber. Timber flooring tends to look worn out after a while and can get scratched easily. Before we moved in, I was looking at all sorts of options and eventually decided on laminated wood.
Thank you Lyn! I’ve heard a lot about how easy it is to care for laminated wood. I have laminate in my rooms and a slightly damp mop gets the job done quickly and saves me money on detergent ;) Also its so much easier to clean. I’m just wondering how much of a hassle it might be now that I’m living in :(
i’ve got timber flooring everywhere but my kitchen.. we did it before moving in and the dust and smell was horrible.. timber flooring has a nice aged look after a while.. but laminate would look new even over time.. they (laminate) are ultimately the easiest to care for compared timber..
Ok it looks like timber flooring while living in is a definite no no for me! Thanks for sharing Ann!
Most people would opt for laminate due to the cheap and easy to care for point. But laminates have a tendency to start warping round the edges especially if you like to mop your floor fairly wet (like my mum!). Unoticed spilled water will also do the same to it. I personally dont think its too much effort to care for timber except to re-varnish it after 10 years or so depending how you treat them. I have a indoor dog which scampers everywhere and I think the floor still looks fine.
I’ll have to bear in mind the wet mop thing :) So far my rooms are holding up well but I will likely talk to a few people then decide (cost being a factor as well :P ) Thanks for sharing!
Hi Paris, I too chose laminate for my apartment because it was fast to install without much effort and easy to maintain. I agree on the wet thing. In my case, there was a leak and I had to replace. But then, even it were timber, I would have to replace due to the water damage. Laminate would also work well if you have a normal amount of traffic (people walking around on the floors). If you have a high amount, timber would be better long-term. Plus, if you are going to have babies crawling on floors, I think laminate would be better. [my two cents’ worth :-P]
Thanks Zulfa! I don’t have high traffic – most times its just me! :D I guess going laminate means no chance of getting splinters ;)
Laminate ftw! It doesn’t look or feel as nice as hardwood flooring of course, but it’s so much cheaper, longer lasting, and depending on what you get, anti-termites/fire/scratch/water. Wood floors are also harder to care for (scratches, rough patches, water, heat, staining)
My grandparents’ home has timber flooring (think of oldskool houses, everything was wood then haha) and I have laminate in mine. Personally prefer laminate :D Less creaking hahaha
Haha! Thanks for the input! I will have to start my floor shopping now
well, the thing with hard wood floors is that you have to be extra cautious about liquids,because when you spill liquids you leave stains and pock marks/bubbling? (I don’t know what it’s called). Not to mention putting anything down with extra force causes dents :S. I remember going home one day when I was younger and tossed the remote to my sister who dropped it (LOSER!! :P) and it dented the floor.
Ooh! Thanks for the heads up on that! I didn’t know wood would dent that easily :P
thanks PB for raising this topic !! i am contemplating the same thing too, because i’m going to be a home-owner soon. i’m just curious, how much does it cost for the timber flooring? they calculate it by sq feet or by the ‘strips’? (i watched home renovation shows a while ago like casa impian and saw that the timber flooring came in strips and they just clipped it away and voila !! you have the look that you want). of course they didn’t show all the grinding and the dust !! lol
Flooring is usually calculated per sq. ft or sq. meter. So the smaller the area, the less expensive it will be to lay down the flooring. I think on those house renovation shows they usually use laminate wood – it installs faster and there’s nothing more to it once its laid :) If you find a good contractor do let me know! ;)
mebe its just a psychological thing, but laminate flooring it just doesn’t look as ‘solid’ or ‘warm’ compared to timber, and even the ‘feel’ under your feet ain’t the same… our timber bedroom floors are 7 yrs old and so far no probs, touch wood! (scuse the pun :D) that said, nowadays laminate can come in some real pretty tones, plus you won’t have to hack off your original tiles. good luck with making a choice!
Thank you yw – I tend to agree too that laminate has this sheen to it that tells you its not the real deal :( Still I guess on a budget one can’t be too choosy! Thanks for sharing your story and I’ll be sure to update once I actually do something! :D
Mine’s timber strip flooring that’s also laminated. Got them from Pergo. Exceptional customer service after the installation, because even if I stain or chip it, they’ll come to repair it. Love the look and yes, it’s way better than tiles!
it depends on what you want and like. if you like natural look, with all the scratches and season, timber is the answer. but if you want just the look and feel of wood, minus the maintenance, laminate floor is the best answer. i’ve used mine for about 6 yrs, no complain at all.
Hi Paris,
I am wondering if you can PM me the price and also how good is your contractor? We are looking for this solution to cover up some floor stains. Appreciate your feedback soon.
Thanks!
lemon