How do you all feel about laminate? And tips for choosing laminate?

Question

I'm thinking about putting in laminate in all my downstairs rooms. It'll be ontop of concrete slab. First, do you think laminate is a good choice? And what tips do you have for selecting color and width of laminate? And is it better if it's textured or non-textured?

Answer 1

I agree with Lisa's answer however you do need to check for durability. If you are single with no pets it's fine but remember pets can damage it easily with claws and children are rough on it as well. In the kitchen even a dropped knife can put a slice in it so you want the best quality you can afford. Mine lasted 15 years then I had to replace it. And one more thing the sun will dull it with time. I would also buy a few extra feet, I use the pieces I cut up in front of the doors in the winter time.

Answer 2

Laminate is really the latest and the greatest flooring.

As to the color, and the width, that is purely a matter of personal taste.

Laminate install for $5-10 a sq ft.  The cheap stuff is mostly junk, so get a least a mid grade or if the budget can handle it, the better stuff.

Laminate with a beveled edge (or micro-bevel) is a good idea, as that give sand and grit a place to go, waiting to be swept up, rather than sitting on top of the smooth floor, potentially scratching it.

IMPORTANT: Get a good sound reduction underlay for this project.  This eliminates the hollow sound,  better hides imperfections in the concrete, and feels softer.

WilsonArt is the best laminate on the market.

It is wise to find dealer, pick out a product, then get 2 or 3 bids on the same product.

If you are not going to install this yourself, have the retailer you purchase the flooring from do the installation.  This way, if later there are any warranty issues, you do not have to get involved in the debate as to weather it is manufacturing related, or installation related.

The trim is a major part of this project.  Do you need new baseboards, or just new 1/4 round?  Make sure all bidders are bidding on the same items.

Answer 3

Laminate would be expensive to do the whole downstairs.

Starting around $5.00 a sq. ft. installed, not including any wall trim.

The good thing is Laminate comes in a lot of different styles, some are made to look like wood, ceramic, slate etc. So you could put different styles in different rooms.

Try not to match the walls exactly, you want some kind of contrast.

Very durable, if you go that route you should be good for a long time where as if you do carpet you could be replacing it every 3-5 yrs depending on the quality.

Answer 4

It depends on you personally i like the laminate it is very easy to clean!

Answer 5

Megan - You've asked a lot of questions that really would take more than a simple comment here. By laminate, I'm assuming you mean the wood look - vs. other products, ie. tile, real wood (which can be very expensive) or bamboo. Laminate, to me, makes a funny noise when you walk on it. It seems to be pretty popular, though. Tile, smooth or textured, is a great product for resale value. Bamboo, of course is the "greenest" product and great in resale. Color? Go light to make a room "airy", darker for a rich look. Texture vs. non-textured? Depends on the look you want - textured for a rough-hewn look, smooth for a more formal look/easier to sweep clean. Good luck with your project. LT