Laminate or Wooden Flooring Flooring

rajeshdadwal

Hi Friends,

i want to get the laminate flooring done in my house. Can you please, who have done this thing before, suggest me:
a) Which one is better Laminate (I think its called engineered also) or Hard Wooden Flooring? AND specially with kids in the house who throw things all around...:)
b) The Service providers buy there own stuff or do I have to buy the material on my own?
c) Also I want to get the skimming done internally - so should I go for skimming first or flooring?
d) And does anybody know any good flooring service provider who is really good in price and quality of work in West Midlands?

Thanks

misgrace

When you say laminate, do you mean the enginneered flooring?

We have just had this, as orginally we were going for the solid oak, but glad we went for engineering, will try and find the link/post where I posted on another thread.:D

misgrace

There you go, here is the actual thread, and I have given a link, and there is also a help and tips section thru this company, just click on the tips bit, and you will see loads of information.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=375853

bigpaws23

rajeshdadwal wrote: »

Hi Friends,

i want to get the laminate flooring done in my house. Can you please, who have done this thing before, suggest me:
a) Which one is better Laminate or Wooden Flooring?

I can't answer your other questions, but when you say 'better' what do you mean?

I live with both (laminate in porch and hall and wooden floors in dining room / kitchen)
Personally I would go with wood every time. It makes a huge difference to the warmth of your feet for starters I find that even on a warm day, the laminate stays cold and 'lifeless' whereas the wood has a warmth and life to it.

I find the wood easier to clean; for some reason laminate seems to show *every* mark and it's a nightmare on a wet muddy day.

OTOH, once the laminate is down, that's it, job done and what you see is what you get. Wood 'changes' - the colour deepens and it needs looking after more. We chose to use oil rather than varnish (we're greenies as well) and so it was a once a month for 6 months routine. I'm guessing a strong varnish would do away with that need for care, however.
You might also find that if you don't get decent wood or leave it to stand in your home for a bit it can move and cause gaps between the floorboards. It is better if you can store the wood in the room you will be using it for a month or so.

Having said that, our laminate now has a couple of large gaps in it, but it is in a draughty, damp porch, so that's probably why.

Oh, I find laminate terribly noisy as well, compared to wood - either for dropping things or walking on it if you wear shoes in the house.

I'm sure you will find a service provider that provides the goods (they make more money that way!) but we put all ours down ourselves, so I can't speak from experience.

Bigpaws x

rajeshdadwal

Thanks Guys. Really appreciate this. More ideas and suggestions are welcome.