Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Moderator cut: not allowed The hairline crack issue can be resolved by having a structural engineer or foundation expert inspect the floor. Moderator cut: not allowed
I would not suggest laminate as it can look cheap and if not properly installed can pose a trip hazard. Hardwood floors seem to be another across the board favorite. The Bamboo floors are very durable and can be "carbonized" to give a richer & darker color which many people like.
Cheers!
B
Last edited by SouthernBelleInUtah; 12-29-2009 at 11:48 PM..
If you do a web search on the durability of bamboo flooring you will find numerous statements from people who have tried it that indicate it is easily damaged from pets, high heels, moving furniture and stains if dampness is allowed to sit for awhile.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Betina Foreman
Bamboo floors are very durable and can be "carbonized" to give a richer & darker color which many people like.
There seem to be a lot of contradictions on the durability of bamboo floors. From what I can tell (not an expert), the strongest bamboo is not carbonized, but stained. Carbonizing darkens the material from its white/golden natural color, but also weakens it by 20-30%, depending on who you read. But you can stain natural bamboo, which does not weaken it. Also, engineered bamboo is stronger than pure bamboo, and in all cases, the quality of the finish will make a difference. As I understand it, if you buy a dark bamboo that has been carbonized to get the dark color, and if it has an inexpensive finish, you will have a non-durable product, and are going to regret it. But you can get very durable bamboo if you do your homework and buy wisely.
So here's our update...a year and a half later: Even though we preferred the look and added value of the stained concrete, we didn't want to move everything out of our house to do it (we had a couple of companies give us estimates, investigated it all, etc.) Our entry was already tiled (we wanted that removed) and chose to have a smooth transition instead of new tile to stained floor.
We ended up doing wide-planked, dark laminate in our entire 4 bedroom house (except for the wet areas)...and tile in the kitchen and breakfast. I found a great deal that I couldn't pass up...got it all done, installation included, for about $6,000. It looks acceptable...not the paper-looking, click-clack-sounding kind of laminate, and 20" tiles. We're happy with it. (We're not very handy people so it was nice to have it done--closets & baseboards, too!).
So here's our update...a year and a half later: Even though we preferred the look and added value of the stained concrete, we didn't want to move everything out of our house to do it (we had a couple of companies give us estimates, investigated it all, etc.) Our entry was already tiled (we wanted that removed) and chose to have a smooth transition instead of new tile to stained floor.
We ended up doing wide-planked, dark laminate in our entire 4 bedroom house (except for the wet areas)...and tile in the kitchen and breakfast. I found a great deal that I couldn't pass up...got it all done, installation included, for about $6,000. It looks acceptable...not the paper-looking, click-clack-sounding kind of laminate, and 20" tiles. We're happy with it. (We're not very handy people so it was nice to have it done--closets & baseboards, too!).
It sounds like you got a better quality of laminate. Really, its hard to get good advice on floors, since people's situations are tastes are so different. Doing things like this is so much work (not to mention money) - its good to hear that you are happy with your new floors.
I've had laminate flooring for five years now and am very pleased with it. Very low maintenance and doesn't require poly applications (which I hated at my old condo). I think even "cheap" laminate when installed properly looks nice and is definitely better than "cheap" carpet or worse yet, sheet linoleum. I would buy a home with a laminate floor. We also have tile throughout the first floor of our home - very nice too. Downside is sealing.
I don't design my home around the latest HGTV trend, and I'm all the better for it, honestly.
I have been looking at homes (looking for one to buy).
I won't not buy a home due to flooring (instead I would buy it, and then replace the flooring).
However, all other things equal, flooring I like enough to keep does matter (saves me money, if I don't feel a need to replace it).
If I am going to replace the flooring anyway, it adds no value to the seller's resale value (if I am the buyer).
I don't like transitions from one type of flooring to another, unless it is a completely separate room, separated by a door (not just a space where someone has decided a boundary exists, because maybe there is a counter there or something.
I prefer hard tile, for reasons of durability.
I would rather put my own area rug (something easy to replace and take outside and pressure wash) over a hard floor, then have any sort of installed carpet.
Wood would be my 2nd choice for most areas, and my first for bedrooms.
I hate carpet (but if it is in good shape, and restricted to bed rooms, it is ok, and I would not likely replace it for at least a few years).
Well installed laminate is fine as long as it is neutral in color and pattern. I would not tear it up and replace it. I prefer light colors to dark colors.
Stained Concrete is fine, I would use area rugs in bedrooms, and part of the living area, just as I would if they had hard tile.
Concrete (even with no staining) is better than flooring I don't like (carpet, or anything cheap or poorly installed). I see this as a blank slate, to add my own flooring to.
I would not feel I needed to add flooring right away either, as I don't mind the look of concrete.
Linoleum is better than carpet, and worse than all of the other floor types mentioned. However, if it was a neutral enough design (not tacky and not a color or pattern that clashed with my stuff), and well installed, I would keep it instead of spending money on new flooring.
But it would never be my choice to install it.
If I were getting a place ready to sell, I would go with a flooring allowance over my installing any flooring. One never knows what a buyer will like.
I have always thought that cosmetic fix ups were something that it made more sense to provide a buyer an allowance for, than to choose for them.
But I don't sell real estate, and what seems most logical to me, may not be what sells houses.
As a general outlook, If your home is under $125K, you probably don't want to over spend on flooring, so I would certainly recommend some average Laminates. they look very fair in homes under $125K.
From there, you can certainly scale up as your home fits.
Concrete can be done with fillings, multi-colors, patterns, designs, directions, flows, and scoring (all of which can combine to really spruce up a nice home, and certainly compliment any higher-end home.
An average home with your particular needs could certainly accommodate some high-end (hand-scraped) Laminates. They look just like the real thing and they are almost just as expensive because of their quality and craftsmanship. They are great floors and more durable than the wood, so why shouldn't they be price competitive, right?
ShawnMon.com
Austin Real Estate
How are laminates more durable than solid wood? Beyond a 1mm 'photograph' on top there will only be MDF beneath on a laminate versus a solid 8mm for wood flooring. Scratch the wood and there is wood beneath instead of laminate where you can see the scar. Even an engineered wood floor will have a thicker top layer than any laminate and will be more resistant to buckling.
I put down Qu-Cork engineered flooring in my last home and I know it is subjective but no laminate in the world can match it for sheer beauty.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $53,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
