Hardwood vs Laminate

[Deuce of Spades]

Alison -
Is this an older house downtown or college park? Is the house in good conditon / updated? If so, then wood is in order bc that is what the market would expect.
I have put laminate 'wood' flooring in 3 homes and loved it in 2. The one I did not like was a very cheap budget product that was a pain to install and looks poor. I love the laminate because it is easy care, was less expensive (usually) than wood and is holding up very well with dogs and kids in tow. We actually picked laminate over wood because of the dogs. Dogs can tear up the wood floor leaving nicks and scratches everywhere; not a mark on my laminate after 5 years of heavy use. All depends on your needs.

 

[Couch Potato]

What you are talking about is called engineered wood flooring. It is different than a laminate, although it is several layers running cross directional. Supposed to be much more resistant to water, and changes in humidity. Also, factory finish is much harder than can be applied on site. Some even have aluminum oxide coating for wear. Engineered flooring can even be sanded and refinished a few times.

It is an engineered product of laminated wood. In the discussion of such flooring a good understanding of grammar is very important. The while "laminated wood" and "wood laminate" contain very similar words, the meanings are very different because in the former, wood is a noun modifyed by the adjective, laminated; but in the latter it is an adjective modifying the noun, laminate. One product is wood, but the other is a laminate.

Anyone that cannot distinguish the difference (in the products or the language), or its importance needs to get addition education ASAP.:new_all_coholic:

 

[Hamlet]

Get a cat. It will pee on your stereo, not on your floor.

http://appraisersforum.com/watercooler/124491-beware-cat.html

Filthy little bags of poison.

I see you are still not "over" it.

 

[Sheikh Yerbouti]

I see you are still not "over" it.

Never will be. Disrespect of that magnitude is not easily forgotten, even from such a "spiritual" beast. :new_cussing:

Whose idea was it to domesticate these vermin, anyway?

 

[Sheikh Yerbouti]

I see you are still not "over" it.

By the way, is your avatar a chocolate lab? Hard to see on my little screen. Greatest dogs in the world.

 

[Offshore]

Anyone that cannot distinguish the difference (in the products or the language), or its importance needs to get addition education ASAP.:new_all_coholic:

additional education

Sorry, but you opened the door.

 

[xm39hnu]

Anyone that cannot distinguish the difference (in the products or the language), or its importance needs to get addition education ASAP.

Anyone who cannot distinguish the difference between the products or the language, or who doesn't realize the importance of that difference, needs to get additional education.

Sloppy syntax.

Welcome to the "No Slack" zone.

 

[murray stroupe]

Re;Rest room & hardwood message

Never will be. Disrespect of that magnitude is not easily forgotten, even from such a "spiritual" beast. :new_cussing:

Whose idea was it to domesticate these vermin, anyway?

=================
Dave ,they put your picture recently on the national news, timely photo;
not the one where your cat sent you a fragrant message -turn down the stereo volume,
but the Fred picture!!!!! LOL

 

[VolcanoLvr]

Jim Plante.....if you're still out there..........

If one installs a prefinished HdW floor, could one then apply another typical HdW liquid finish over the top to seal the joints?

Or is one just better off installing unfinished HdW, and then applying 2-3 coats of finish?

It might be easier if you'd reply privately.... dtowne [at] fidalgo [dot] net

Thanks. Dave

 

[Bearslide]

In our area, hardwood, whether natural and finished or pre-finished, commands a premium over Pergo type flooring. We have a 50's rancher with 3/4" natural red oak flooring. When we bought the home, the floors were in need of refinishing. Hired a guy with a reputation for being the best and he did a fabulous job. Sanded the floors, sealed them with an oil base primer and then 3 coats of water based polyurethane. By not staining them, all the natural hues and grains came out and they wear like iron. We have pets and the dogs have the occassional accident - no problem. Does not penetrate the finish and does no damage. On those rare occassions I spray the area with Nature's Miracle, wipe, then spray again and let dry. No stain, no odor, no damage to the finish. Maintenance consists of a weekly vacuum and twice monthly damp mop - and keeping the pets' nails trimmed. It's been almost 8 years and they look as good as the day they were refinished. All rooms except the kitchen are hardwood - including baths. Next big project is to do the kitchen in the same hardwood. I am personally sold on the ease of care, durability and beauty of natural hardwood.