laminate flooring vs wooden effect vinyl

slobs

I have ceramic tiles throughout the downstairs of my house and they are fab.
The living room was done about 5 years ago using porcelain tiles (very hard wearing and can even be laid outdoors). Still looks as good as the day it was done, but it does hold the dirt a bit as we opted for textured to stop slipping, the mop gets most of the dirt but every few months it's hands and knees and scrubbing brush for a deep clean.
Last year we did the rest of the downstairs with cheaper ceramic tiles, it looks just as good and is very hard wearing.
I have 2 big dogs and they don't slip on the tiles anyway near as badly as they did on the laminate we replaced.
Tried rugs on the tiles for a while when we had the first room done, but they get very smelly and make the whole house smell of dog, and I got fed up of scrubbing them.
I would never go back to laminate or carpet for downstairs again, and suprisingly, the tiled floors don't seem to be cold on the feet even in winter.

lostinrates

Frugalista wrote: »

Thanks for that .

When I said ceramic tiles I should have been clearer - I meant the "textured" stone type rather than the high gloss type. We had considered slate (we live in an old cottage) but were warned that it was a devil to keep clean (by other doggie friends who have slate floors). I don't think solid wood would be an option here - so it looks like the jury is still out . Anyone else??

I think cleaning style is a bit of a preference, tbh, I found slate brilliant to clean, you have the little ridges and stuff, but no more so than on textured tiles IMO ..but I have friends who'd say the exact opposite!

Frugalista

lostinrates wrote: »

I think cleaning style is a bit of a preference, tbh, I found slate brilliant to clean, you have the little ridges and stuff, but no more so than on textured tiles IMO ..but I have friends who'd say the exact opposite!

Ooh! That's interesting - tell me more . How do you clean yours - I was thinking daily sweeping and mopping would do it (just like in the kennels LOL!) but is there more to it? The one friend (who had slate flags on her floors) actually had a cleaner who was very, very particular and it was she who told me they were terrible to keep clean. But, lets face it, 9 hairy dogs and the word "Houseproud" just don't go together do they? :rotfl::rotfl:

Is yours real slate or the imitation kind? Is there much of a difference anyway? And is slate slightly "warmer" than ceramic?

Sorry for all the questions - just want to get it right before we shell out a load of money .

lostinrates

Frugalista wrote: »

Ooh! That's interesting - tell me more . How do you clean yours - I was thinking daily sweeping and mopping would do it (just like in the kennels LOL!) but is there more to it? The one friend (who had slate flags on her floors) actually had a cleaner who was very, very particular and it was she who told me they were terrible to keep clean. But, lets face it, 9 hairy dogs and the word "Houseproud" just don't go together do they? :rotfl::rotfl:

Is yours real slate or the imitation kind? Is there much of a difference anyway? And is slate slightly "warmer" than ceramic?

Sorry for all the questions - just want to get it right before we shell out a load of money .

We don't have slate in this house, we had it elsewhere. I'm kinda houseproud too. with the wooden floors we have now (and laminate before that was replaced) I sweep (probably more like twice day when its nice) and mop. In this weather thats it..sunny/dry. In winter its more like a thorough mop in the morning then a wipe with a damp mop every time they are in and out. A couple of times a week I do the walls where they lean most, once a week or so I go over in hands and keens with a cloth. When we have had tiles or stone or slate the routine has been much the same bar the fact stone and slate can bear the odd dam foot print through the day thanks to colour and colour variation (although I still say everything is easierwhile its still damp for cleaning...) but with both tiles and slate I go over instead of with the damp cloth and dry to polish, like with wood, with a scrubbing brush. On the scrubbing days I also do skirtings. Our dogs are mainly in our main entrance hall, so its a big job that we can't et go...as its where people come to the door, but the ''big'' day on may hands and keens only takes about 45 hot, fast minutes, the normal through the week job 20-30 mins with wall wiping. I've never really timed the floor as a separate part of that

If yu are not a scrubber, imo, texture of any sort is a night mare. Where I think tiles fall down is that I find the texture harder to clean, and slate more forgiving of missed bits. On the other hand, its easier to see/feel when ceramic is clean.

Either is a good choice IMO, for a downstairs of a house.

lynn2

I'm thinking of getting my dining room, kitchen and hallway done in Tile Effect Laminate
Any comments?

myothercarisaferrari

ooooh very nice! x

Frugalista

lostinrates wrote: »

If yu are not a scrubber

No! I am most definately not!! :eek: How very dare you! LOL!! :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::D

ali-t

ka7e wrote: »

That looks just like the karndean flooring I have down in my kitchen and living room. People come in and say they can't believe it isn't real wood. It is also textured but a quick hoover keeps it clean with fairly minimal mopping.

myothercarisaferrari

thanks for this! all very useful. Ebay seems to be the cheapest so I have requested some samples :-)

aloise

go for the vinyl but get the best you can afford. The cheap ones will look like vinyl but the more expensive look like the real thing.