[Pattikak]

I'd like feedback on what's the best floor to install in my Villages house, laminate or engineered hardwood. Thanks. Patti

[JohnN]

I've used laminate in the past and liked it pretty well, however next time, I think we'll more than seriously consider the engineered flooring. If you get laminate, get the best underflooring (it's inexpensive) to dull the sounds.
Laminante also spots up quite a bit, although it wears well.

[Allen]

This is a matter of personal preference to a large degree. However, I will tell you that we installed engineered hardwood in our Pennsylvania home basement (converted to family room) and love the look of it. It looks and feels like real hardwood (which we have upstairs). Laminate looks and feels like… well… laminate. However, there are a variety of laminate styles, some do not attempt to mimic wood so much (which in my humble opinion for laminate, is the better choice). So depending on the style you choose it may, or may not, ultimately provide you with the look you want.

On the plus side, laminate can be less expensive and may handle spills and rough treatment initially better than engineered hardwood. The plus for engineered hardwood is the “authentic look and the feel" (both under foot and visually). The negative for engineered hardwood is flooding… it will bubble and buckle if it gets flooded. Otherwise, moisture is not a problem… it is designed to handle moisture... just don’t let it go under water, or you will have to replace the damaged section. On the other hand, you may have to tear up a laminate floor as well if it is flooded to avoid mold and mildew.

My advice would be for you to go to a few stores such as Lowes, Home Depot and a local flooring store to compare the look and pricing. Both will hold up well, but when they eventually do wear, the wood will look like aging hardwood (as I’m sure you know, some people think of it as a "patina" and actually like the look of a "gracefully aging" hardwood floor). It may also be refinished if it is not badly worn. The laminate after a while will look like… well… worn laminate.

Again, I think this is largely personal preference and I am sure there are a lot of truly beautiful laminate floors out there. For me, I could not find a laminate that was not “close… but no cigar”, if that makes any sense.

[ijusluvit]

Just to expand on one of the good points made above, a big difference between laminate and engineered flooring is how it feels. Engineered flooring properly installed, is glued down and feels solid everywhere. Laminate 'floats' on one of several different kinds of material. It therefore gives and can feel 'squishy'. Because the cement floors in TV are almost all uneven, the squishy feeling can be pronounced in spots. I have yet to meet a person here who had a laminate floor and did not have at least a small objection to that squishy feeling.

[golfnut]

i had a laminate floor and never had a squishy feeling...gn

[ijusluvit]

Whew! I knew there had to be one somewhere!

[GMONEY]

I have been checking into this alot lately, besides the ways the 2 are installed, would be the feel, durability and on... you also need to decide the type of wood you are using. need to check into the Janka hardness rating for each type. Do you go with an exotic wood such as Amendoin???? Exotics will darken with light exposure more than others. But with a concrete slab as sub-floor, engineered will be glued down. There for you need to make sure your floor is level if done properly. a moisture reading must be taken. If your having someone do the install and all, then expect to pay like 3.00 to 3.50 a foot for install. we had ours measued from Best Flooring on 466, 3 bedrooms, livingroom, 3 closets and 1 hallway was 8500.00 installed. If I did all the work of taking out old carpet and tack strips, and moving all the furnitre for them, they would only discount 300.00 which was a joke..
so you need to do your homework.. Of the places I checked, Lumber Liquidators had a great deal... Lowes was alright. Floormasters was high, real high,,, Best flooring???????????????

But I would go with the Engineered over the laminate in a hurry. MHO

[Pattikak]

If we buy flooring from a place like Lumber Liquidators, does anyone have a recommendation for a good installer?

[GMONEY]

Originally Posted by Pattikak

If we buy flooring from a place like Lumber Liquidators, does anyone have a recommendation for a good installer?

I have a number, let me see if I can find it again.. There are quite a few around here.

[Pattikak]

Well, we chose Amendoin, the exotic engineered hardwood. We bought it from FloorRUs and decided to let them install it. I'll let everyone know how the install went in a couple of weeks.

[GMONEY]

Originally Posted by Pattikak

Well, we chose Amendoin, the exotic engineered hardwood. We bought it from FloorRUs and decided to let them install it. I'll let everyone know how the install went in a couple of weeks.

can you let me know how many sqft you are having done and possibly what kind of price you got from them. trying to compare it to Best Flooring on 466. they were 8500 for three bdrms, livingroom, and 2 hallways including closets.. PM me in you want. Thanks