Laminate, Tile or engineered wood oh my

[missypie]

Building in the spring and I am completely torn as to what flooring we should put into our home.

What I DO want is the same flooring for all rooms except the bedrooms.

I have read everything on TOTV and flooring web sites. One day I'm convinced that it'll be one then the next day I switch to the other.

I like all 3 options for different reasons. We do not have a pet, just visiting grandpuppies.

HELP!!!!!!!!!

[Mudder]

Guess it is all personal choice and we personally like hardwood everywhere even in bedrooms, tile in kitchen and baths. I've seen lots of tile everywere except bedrooms and that looks really nice too. I am obviously not a fan of carpet.

[missypie]

Thanks Mudder. When I think that We will be in this house for awhile, I want to make sure I just do it right for us.

Thanks for your input.

[ijusluvit]

Each type of flooring has it's advantages. We are so pleased that we put in beautiful "warm" engineered hardwood everywhere except kitchen and baths. While we would never put in wall-to-wall carpet, we have area rugs in every room. They add a lot to the color and texture of each area. The baths are tile. For the kitchen we considered tile too "cold" and hard on the feet, so we selected a new type laminate which has a pattern very compatible with the hardwood. It is not "fake woodgrain" as are so many laminates. The result is that the surface is comfortably softer, but durable and resistant to liquid spills.

[laceylady]

We built recently and chose large light color tile on the diagonal everywhere but the bedrooms. I would have chosen the engineered hardwood for the bedrooms but I did not likes the choices the villages had available. All was too dark and too plain. I have seen beautiful hardwood in new houses back home in WA state. So we put carpet in the bedrooms and later will get wood on the open market where we have a wide variety of choices.

I did notice early on, that tile is hard on your legs. I cannot walk around in socks or barefoot as I like to do. I have to have a pair of hard soled shoes--tennis shoes are fine--on when in the house. The carpet in the bedrooms is a nice relief-I can walk barefoot in there.

[missypie]

Each type of flooring has it's advantages. We are so pleased that we put in beautiful "warm" engineered hardwood everywhere except kitchen and baths. While we would never put in wall-to-wall carpet, we have area rugs in every room. They add a lot to the color and texture of each area. The baths are tile. For the kitchen we considered tile too "cold" and hard on the feet, so we selected a new type laminate which has a pattern very compatible with the hardwood. It is not "fake woodgrain" as are so many laminates. The result is that the surface is comfortably softer, but durable and resistant to liquid spills.

So you put in the engineered wood and laminate in the kitchen. Was it a laminate tile look? Or a wood look close to the wood? Thanks for your help.

[missypie]

We built recently and chose large light color tile on the diagonal everywhere but the bedrooms. I would have chosen the engineered hardwood for the bedrooms but I did not likes the choices the villages had available. All was too dark and too plain. I have seen beautiful hardwood in new houses back home in WA state. So we put carpet in the bedrooms and later will get wood on the open market where we have a wide variety of choices.

I did notice early on, that tile is hard on your legs. I cannot walk around in socks or barefoot as I like to do. I have to have a pair of hard soled shoes--tennis shoes are fine--on when in the house. The carpet in the bedrooms is a nice relief-I can walk barefoot in there.

So since you do not feel comfortable barefoot on the tile, do you regret the choice? Thanks for your help.

[ijusluvit]

So you put in the engineered wood and laminate in the kitchen. Was it a laminate tile look? Or a wood look close to the wood? Thanks for your help.

The last thing we wanted with laminate was the 'fake' wood grain or 'fake' tile look. We've always felt that looked cheap, especially near real wood or tile. We were able to find a rather unique laminate that looked a bit like marble, but different enough not to look fake. At Lowes no less!

Good luck! Have fun with your adventure!

By the way, since you are building, consider putting in the cheapest flooring possible unless you find materials the builder offers which you are completely happy with. Anything you replace with flooring you really like later may cost you less in the end. This is because the upgrades offered by the builder are more expensive than products offered by aftermarket contractors. There is a lot written about this in other threads.

[missypie]

The last thing we wanted with laminate was the 'fake' wood grain or 'fake' tile look. We've always felt that looked cheap, especially near real wood or tile. We were able to find a rather unique laminate that looked a bit like marble, but different enough not to look fake. At Lowes no less!

Good luck! Have fun with your adventure!

By the way, since you are building, consider putting in the cheapest flooring possible unless you find materials the builder offers which you are completely happy with. Anything you replace with flooring you really like later may cost you less in the end. This is because the upgrades offered by the builder are more expensive than products offered by aftermarket contractors. There is a lot written about this in other threads.

Yes I have read that it may be better to add after we close. I also think that the selection could be wider. I know it will all fall into place, but I still have to do my due research!!!! Thanks so much.

[Yankee Quilter]

We went thru our design appointment last week,and I was at a quandary too. With a Begonia, there is a natural walk way thru the living room/ dining room to and from the lanai. We have had, hard woods, tile , carpet ..... Decided to go with tile everywhere except the bedrooms! We have some nice area rugs we will use, but know I will not have to worry about scratches, stains .... And one of the tile offerings was just what we wanted, cannot wait to see it all over!

All that being said ...do what hits you right! Your choice ... And it is one of the biggest decisions ... Believe me took us awhile to make it and cabinet decisions!

Good luck and Merry Merry!

[tag460]

When we built we had cheap carpet installed from TV and they gave us a $500.00 credit and then I donated it to local Habitat. We now have laminate through out except the wet areas are tile. Before we had Lowe's install the laminate we looked at hardwood, and engineered hard wood but they both were easy to mark up. I dropped a golf ball from waste high and I could see the marks in both. Our final decision was a 12mm laminate.

[Newbeginnings]

I did tile throughout my house, I had the wet areas done buy the builder and after closing got the same and had it laid everywhere else, was told the that tile gets discontinued so if I wanted to have the same had to do it right away or risk doing something different. That would have been okay if I chose engineered wood or laminate but I decided to do the tile and do some nice area rugs to warm it up. I love it, love the beautiful area rugs I chose. I did have the tile "sealed" by Dirty Grout, warranty for 10 years, and the builder did not void the warranty, I specifically asked about it before I did it.

[graciegirl]

The carpet that comes with the homes is decent carpet and gives up stain nicely. We have hardwood and tile in the main areas and it is HARD on your back after time. Something to think about. I didn't find the carpet in either home inferior.

[FloridaShrimp]

We moved here in September and the 7 year old house needed new flooring in the entire house. We put Mirage wood floors- a thicker engineered real wood that can be refinished- in the halls and living areas. The bedrooms are carpeted but the porcelain tile in the master bath was extended to include the bedroom closets and hall to the bathroom. This saves wearing in those areas. The kitchen and guest bathroom were done in the same porcelain tile. I didn't want laminate because of the composition- formaldehyde. Mirage floors are completely natural and non toxic. Whichever floors that you prefer I recommend Robertos' Floors of The Villages- superb installation and a great guy to work with.

[missypie]

We moved here in September and the 7 year old house needed new flooring in the entire house. We put Mirage wood floors- a thicker engineered real wood that can be refinished- in the halls and living areas. The bedrooms are carpeted but the porcelain tile in the master bath was extended to include the bedroom closets and hall to the bathroom. This saves wearing in those areas. The kitchen and guest bathroom were done in the same porcelain tile. I didn't want laminate because of the composition- formaldehyde. Mirage floors are completely natural and non toxic. Whichever floors that you prefer I recommend Robertos' Floors of The Villages- superb installation and a great guy to work with.

Ok I learned another thing. I had no idea that laminate had formadehyde in it's composition! Thank you!

[eweissenbach]

I put laminate in our kitchen about 7 years ago. Over time it got a couple of scratches, which we covered up reasonably well, but still could be seen if looked carefully. But the BIG problem was water - we got water on the laminate through normal use, never a big spill or a long-term issue, but over time it caused the edges of the laminate in those places to curl up and look awful. This was a name brand (Mohawk) laminate, and looked good initially. I personally, will never put laminate in my home, and most definitely not in the wet areas. We replaced all the laminate with tile this year and are very happy with the result.

[missypie]

I put laminate in our kitchen about 7 years ago. Over time it got a couple of scratches, which we covered up reasonably well, but still could be seen if looked carefully. But the BIG problem was water - we got water on the laminate through normal use, never a big spill or a long-term issue, but over time it caused the edges of the laminate in those places to curl up and look awful. This was a name brand (Mohawk) laminate, and looked good initially. I personally, will never put laminate in my home, and most definitely not in the wet areas. We replaced all the laminate with tile this year and are very happy with the result.

Ok now I'm getting somewhere. Thanks for that info as well.

[mulligan]

You will find that engineered wood is the superior wood-look product. Will stand up to water.

[keithwand]

Tile on the diagonal throughout and carpet in the bedrooms.

[Mikitv]

We did engineered wood in living/dining room, tile in kitchen, baths, front foyer and laundry room. Love the wood in living room because we put a barrier under neath to help with sound since with tile it does seem to echo a lot (found out in last house). Both are easy to take care of and seem to stand up well to the traffic in the house.

[missypie]

You will find that engineered wood is the superior wood-look product. Will stand up to water.

Do you have it in your kitchen as well?

[mulligan]

Did in the last house, will in this one when the carpet wears.

[Golfingnut]

Allow me to confuse you even more. I love the look of hardwood, Like the feel of carpet, but after research and experimentation, we went with all tile due to the humidity and temp of Central Florida. I just seems right for us.

[missypie]

Yeah, thanks for the input, thinking of going that way too.