Calling all members with Laminate Wood Floors!! Opinions needed here! - Page 5

Kdrees · 01-10-2013, 04:16 PM

If you had a choice I would install laminate over hardwood. Even though hardwood will add value, it scratches very easily and if it looks bad due to the scratches and you have to sell you house - all some one else is going to see is the scratches and what they are going to have to do to fix it - ie refinishing. I would stick with the laminate because it holds up great to the dog and cat nails and looks almost as good as brand new hardwood.

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vonaxle · 01-10-2013, 04:21 PM

When my GSD was only six months old, we left him alone in the yard for only an hour becuase we wanted him to learn to be independent. Well! When we got back, he had pulled out the border siding of the house and entire bottom strip! After that he has been an angel. It's hard when they are little. They can get into just about anything.

**Liesje** · 01-10-2013, 04:23 PM

We've got wood and our house is 75 years old. The wood looks original. It's not even a real *hard* hardwood. So I guess it holds up!

meldleistikow · 01-10-2013, 04:34 PM

We have 3 dogs and we love having wood laminate. We put in the cheapest wood laminate you can get from Ikea over 6 years ago and it looks just fine. It doesn't scratch like hardwood and it is very easy to clean. I would never have hard wood or carpet with dogs and kids.

TrickyShepherd · 01-10-2013, 05:17 PM

Wow, lots to think about. Thanks everyone for all the awesome replies and pictures!! I'm still super nervous about the cleaning part. Seems to be something I'll have to go out of my way to do (compared to my tile). If it's best with the dogs though... It all depends on how everything lasts through these beasts!

We are sitting down today with another company to get some quotes as well. They seem to be a bit cheaper and they are also family owned and run... which, anytime I can support a local company, I will. They also have some great guarantees and their work has been great (we were introduced to them by a few friends who've also used them before). We are going to get it ALL quoted today by them... tile, hardwood, and laminate. See what we come up with. They are also bringing some samples.... as if I haven't already seen enough of this stuff!!

I still think laminate is going to be the best for the price... but, I'm always willing to hear some other ideas. My SO is also pretty stubborn and being artistic like he is, super picky... so I'm sure I'll be hearing a LOT more of these "sales pitches" before these floors get pulled up. Still looking at the next few weeks though. Here we go again...

jang · 01-11-2013, 10:04 AM

One more thing--when they lay it make sure they take off the old baseboards and replace with new--don't let them try to get away with adding quarter round to the existing boards..it does not look as good..good luck

TrickyShepherd · 01-11-2013, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jang

One more thing--when they lay it make sure they take off the old baseboards and replace with new--don't let them try to get away with adding quarter round to the existing boards..it does not look as good..good luck

For now, we are going with quarter round only with our existing boards. We can't afford to add more to it. Plus.. we would have to redo ALL of our base boards.... that's going to cost us a fortune for what we want. So for now, we are going with quarter round. Once we regain some money we will go in and change out the boards.

onyx'girl · 01-11-2013, 09:01 PM

We redid our baseboards, but they were just the stock trim type/nothing fancy or higher. I'm sure the installers will know what they're doing, but there should be space left between the wall/baseboard and the flooring for expansion or it will buckle.

Loneforce · 01-11-2013, 09:02 PM

Laminate is very durable and last a long time. Be carefull though. Taz got hurt on it before. If it even gets a little bit of water on it, it becomes slippery as an ice rink. Put large decorative rugs on it for sure.

TrickyShepherd · 01-11-2013, 09:02 PM

Yesterday we met with the owner of the local shop. He estimated our house a little cheaper and he's willing to work with us MUCH more.

Today we went and actually saw the shop and all the different types we could go with. Oh my goodness, I NEVER knew there was so many different types of laminate!!

We spend HOURS there... Finally my SO and I agreed on one. The owner ended up coming down on the price for us, and the install will be much better. I LOVE the look of this new one. It's called "distressed". It looks like real wood. I can't wait to get it down. It's also a bit thicker and more resilient to water and scratches. What I love about it is, we have a 10yr warranty and it's with one of the leading companies in laminate.

I'll post pictures once we get everything set. As it looks, we should have started in about 1-2 weeks.

Btw.. the owner of the shop suggested Armstrong cleaner for the floors.. said it was cheap and found in most stores. Anyone use that?

01-10-2013, 04:21 PM	#42 (permalink)
vonaxle New Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: SC Posts: 3	Hi! When my GSD was only six months old, we left him alone in the yard for only an hour becuase we wanted him to learn to be independent. Well! When we got back, he had pulled out the border siding of the house and entire bottom strip! After that he has been an angel. It's hard when they are little. They can get into just about anything.

01-10-2013, 04:23 PM	#43 (permalink)
Liesje Moderator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Grand Rapids, MI Posts: 16,278	We've got wood and our house is 75 years old. The wood looks original. It's not even a real hard hardwood. So I guess it holds up! __________________ Liesje & the K9s Nikon (GSD) U-CH SG Alta-Tollhaus Bono SchH1 KKL T1 FO PA TF-III FDCh-S CL1-R UJJ U-CA HIT TT CGC Coke (All-American) VPC's Coca-Cola CGC, couch warmer extraordinaire Indy (All-American) Blue Horizon's Indigo Girl, flyball star in training Rainbow Bridge Kenya (GSD) U-CH Alta-Tollhaus-Krieger Lamb Chop CL1-R CL1-F RA HIT TDI TT CGC vom Blauen Horizont / Blue Horizon GSDs

01-10-2013, 04:34 PM	#44 (permalink)
meldleistikow Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Minnesota Posts: 221	We have 3 dogs and we love having wood laminate. We put in the cheapest wood laminate you can get from Ikea over 6 years ago and it looks just fine. It doesn't scratch like hardwood and it is very easy to clean. I would never have hard wood or carpet with dogs and kids. __________________ Kelby's Charlotte Rose "Charlie" CGC 04-15-07 Captain Von Der Staatsmacht "Dude" 10-26-11

01-10-2013, 05:17 PM	#45 (permalink)
TrickyShepherd Knighted Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Central Florida Posts: 2,033	Wow, lots to think about. Thanks everyone for all the awesome replies and pictures!! I'm still super nervous about the cleaning part. Seems to be something I'll have to go out of my way to do (compared to my tile). If it's best with the dogs though... It all depends on how everything lasts through these beasts! We are sitting down today with another company to get some quotes as well. They seem to be a bit cheaper and they are also family owned and run... which, anytime I can support a local company, I will. They also have some great guarantees and their work has been great (we were introduced to them by a few friends who've also used them before). We are going to get it ALL quoted today by them... tile, hardwood, and laminate. See what we come up with. They are also bringing some samples.... as if I haven't already seen enough of this stuff!! I still think laminate is going to be the best for the price... but, I'm always willing to hear some other ideas. My SO is also pretty stubborn and being artistic like he is, super picky... so I'm sure I'll be hearing a LOT more of these "sales pitches" before these floors get pulled up. Still looking at the next few weeks though. Here we go again... __________________ Alyssa -Zira (01/09/11) -Pakros von Jagenstadt "Duke" (01/06/10) -CGC -Storm (05/16/12)

01-11-2013, 10:04 AM	#46 (permalink)
jang Master Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: titusville, fl Posts: 823	One more thing--when they lay it make sure they take off the old baseboards and replace with new--don't let them try to get away with adding quarter round to the existing boards..it does not look as good..good luck __________________ Sibi- Zoe

01-10-2013, 04:16 PM	#41 (permalink)
Kdrees Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Posts: 60	If you had a choice I would install laminate over hardwood. Even though hardwood will add value, it scratches very easily and if it looks bad due to the scratches and you have to sell you house - all some one else is going to see is the scratches and what they are going to have to do to fix it - ie refinishing. I would stick with the laminate because it holds up great to the dog and cat nails and looks almost as good as brand new hardwood. Sent from my iPhone using Petguide.com Free App

01-11-2013, 09:01 PM	#48 (permalink)
onyx'girl Crowned Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: SW, MI Posts: 21,199	We redid our baseboards, but they were just the stock trim type/nothing fancy or higher. I'm sure the installers will know what they're doing, but there should be space left between the wall/baseboard and the flooring for expansion or it will buckle. __________________ Jane~ Kept by Onyx, Kacie and Gideon v Wildhaus aka Karlo

01-11-2013, 09:02 PM	#49 (permalink)
Loneforce Knighted Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: PA Posts: 2,393	Laminate is very durable and last a long time. Be carefull though. Taz got hurt on it before. If it even gets a little bit of water on it, it becomes slippery as an ice rink. Put large decorative rugs on it for sure. __________________ Jonas :Black & Red WGSL D.O.B.01/14/2012... Taz:11/15/99-01/16/12 Ginger:06/23/02-02/13/13

01-11-2013, 09:02 PM	#50 (permalink)
TrickyShepherd Knighted Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Central Florida Posts: 2,033	Yesterday we met with the owner of the local shop. He estimated our house a little cheaper and he's willing to work with us MUCH more. Today we went and actually saw the shop and all the different types we could go with. Oh my goodness, I NEVER knew there was so many different types of laminate!! We spend HOURS there... Finally my SO and I agreed on one. The owner ended up coming down on the price for us, and the install will be much better. I LOVE the look of this new one. It's called "distressed". It looks like real wood. I can't wait to get it down. It's also a bit thicker and more resilient to water and scratches. What I love about it is, we have a 10yr warranty and it's with one of the leading companies in laminate. I'll post pictures once we get everything set. As it looks, we should have started in about 1-2 weeks. Btw.. the owner of the shop suggested Armstrong cleaner for the floors.. said it was cheap and found in most stores. Anyone use that? __________________ Alyssa -Zira (01/09/11) -Pakros von Jagenstadt "Duke" (01/06/10) -CGC -Storm (05/16/12)

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