Wood flooring

[black2002ls]

As mentioned in the tools thread. We are on the verge of buying a house. We plan to only keep carpet in the bedrooms and plan to do wood floors in the family room and hallway. I can buy flooring at my company cost from our supplier, however, I am not sure that it is going to be within our budget. We saw some decent looking laminate at home depot on clearance for .99/sq ft. It is traffic master 7mm laminate. Has anyone installed laminate and had good results? I know spending $$ on the pad makes a big difference. We have two small dogs a 7 yr old weenie dog, and a 1 y/o male that is a little bigger than the weenie dog. I am concerned with long term wear. That and I don't want them to "sound cheap".

I want engineered glue downs, though I have a feeling they are going to be ~3.50+/sq. ft. installed and that stretches our budget thin.

[BMCSean]

Laminate is ok, it will feel and sound hollow for the most part. Make sure the floor is level and that will help, but it usually has that hollow feeling either way.

[lincolnboy]

you have a lifetime to work on the house. just save a wait to get what you want.

[GrayStangGT]

If you go with laminate get the thickest you can. I put down 12mm from lumber liquidators and it feels/sounds much more solid then the thin stuff. I have about 60lb dog that runs and slides all over it for the last 2 years with 0 damage.

[black2002ls]

We have been doing a little research. The product we are looking at has gotten pretty good reviews. This is what we are looking at:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/TrafficMASTER-Handscraped-Saratoga-Hickory-7-mm-Thick-x-7-2-3-in-Wide-x-50-5-8-in-Length-Laminate-Flooring-24-17-sq-ft-case-34089/204135461

It is a 7mm thick laminate. I know that it is a MUST to spend money on the underlayment as it plays a huge role in the way that it sounds when you walk on it. She loves the way that it looks, and at that price, we could probably work the kitchen into the budget, or at least enough material to do the kitchen at a later date when we replace the cabinets.

[8mpg]

Make sure you get a good pad. CHeck out Floor and Decor as they have a demo setup with a quality pad and a cheap one and you can hear the difference when you hit it with the golf ball. That being said, a good paid is $.60-70/ft which adds up quick. The glue down isnt much more and you will probably be much happier.

[black2002ls]

Make sure you get a good pad. CHeck out Floor and Decor as they have a demo setup with a quality pad and a cheap one and you can hear the difference when you hit it with the golf ball. That being said, a good paid is $.60-70/ft which adds up quick. The glue down isnt much more and you will probably be much happier.

The quote I get back from my supplier will have a huge bearing on it. Even with spending some extra coin on the pad, after taxes we are looking at ~$1.75/sq ft. If my extrapolation was correct earlier in the week, I am looking at $2.75-3.00/sq ft installed from my vendor for the engineered glue down. With paint and other various items that we need to do before move in, the laminates may be the ticket for 3-4 years and then assess the situation at that point.

[talisman]

I've had both, and if you watch expenses, the hardwoods aren't much more expensive than laminate. And the real thing is SO much nicer. You'll be feeling it every time you walk anywhere in your house. Honestly, I would do floors before anything else(and did on my house). Trying to move all your shit again in 3 years to redo them is not something I would want to have to dick with. Even if the floor people do it, furniture gets banged, dinged, scratched; it's just a big PITA.

[black2002ls]

We went ahead and bought the laminate. She loved the way it looks, and I can install it myself. That being said, who has installed/has laminate? What undelayment did you use/do you have? The demo at home depot had some db-4looring that gave a real solid sound almost identical to hardwood. Though it is ~.75/ sq ft. Any suggestions on alternatives?

[8mpg]

Check out a Floor and Decor if you have one near you. They have 3-4 types. You can do the golf ball demo on them. I want to say its more like $.69/ft. Not much cheaper

[03mustangdude]

another vote for floor and decor gf made me go out there this past weekend and its amazing.

[Venom]

Check out ALL Pro Floors in Arlington and South Lake. We just went with them and are really happy.

[Wish4svts]

Lay it yourself. I just did glue down engineered hardwood in my dining and kitchen. It is super solid. Time consuming but not crazy hard if you have the tools. I'd be willing to help if you went that direction and needed someone who's done it before.

[71chevellejohn]

I was looking to do wood floor is my dinging room, kitchen and laundry room. My only real concern was the area in the laundry room under the washer and dryer. Mostly I was thinking if there was a leak from the washer/plumbing it would screw up the flooring.
Is that a legit concern or am I thinking too much?

[likeitfast55]

Home depot flooring

I just put this down in my living room and foyer. I bought Pergo

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Pergo-XP-Coffee-Handscraped-Hickory-10-mm-Thick-x-5-1-4-in-Wide-x-47-1-4-in-Length-Laminate-Flooring-13-74-sq-ft-case-LF000739/204735351?N=5yc1vZare1Z150

It came out great. Home Depot has a special, buy flooring over 1.50 a square, and get the install for 495.00. That is for the entire house. This has the padding on each board, however the plastic moisture barrier still needs to be put down.