Hardwood or laminate flooring, help me decide please!

[sherry7]

DH and I have finally decided to spend the money and replace the worn out carpeting in our 11 year old house. We'll be doing right around 1300 square feet (living room, dining area, play room, 4 bedroom, and 2 halls/foyer.

Our household consists of 3 adults, a 2.5 yr old DD, and 3 very furry cats. The cats NEVER pee outside their litter box, but they do hack an occasional hairball onto the floor.

Yesterday, we went to both Home Depot and also a local flooring place to look . At Home Depot we only priced the more expensive laminates like Pergo XP and Allure Ultra, which is a vinyl plank flooring. The estimate (using our measurements) came in at around $8,000 for both of those options. That includes materials and installation, tear out/remove old carpet and hardwood, moving furniture, removing and reinstalling my existing baseboard.

We then went to the local flooring place (we've used the local place in the past, and so have a dozen family members), with the intention of looking at laminates. I was surprised to find out that laminates and real wood started at exactly the same price (including installation). At this point, DH said "Why buy fake wood when we can get real wood for the same price?"

So, we priced out a 3 1/4" wide red oak wood, which is solid and 3/4" thick. The estimate (using our measurements) came in at around $12,300 for that option. That includes materials and installation, tear out/remove old carpet and hardwood, moving furniture, removing and reinstalling my existing baseboard.

So, we're looking at a price of $8,000 for laminate or vinyl plank, or $12,300 for solid oak wood. I went into this thinking that wood would cost a LOT more than that. DH is definitely set on getting the real wood, but I'm worried about durability and upkeep. The wood can be refinished (up to 3 times), if it needs done in the future. We can afford either option, without financing it. We both agreed to skip vacation last year and for the upcoming year, and put that money toward the floor.

Both me and the DH work full time, so I don't have a ton of time to spend taking care of a floor. I do have a Roomba robotic vacuum cleaner (which is safe for wood floors) that automatically runs every afternoon while we're at work. So, I guess that would keep dust, debris, random Cheerios, cat litter, cat fur, etc to a minimum with no effort on my part.

So, which option would YOU choose? And more importantly, WHY?

I'm also considering what to do with our stairway. It's a center stair, so you see it as soon as you walk in the front door. Right now it's carpeting, with just rough lumber wood stairs underneath. I can get it redone with matching wood treads and risers for around $1500. Or, I can just re-carpet it for around $300-$400, depending on the carpet I choose. But, it would be the only carpeting in the entire house. I'm not sure if that would look weird, but the flooring guy said people frequently do it.

Opinions and advice please. Thanks!

edit: Forgot to say, but "do it yourself" is NOT an option for us. Between DH and I combined, we're lucky to hang a picture on the wall!

 

[wtrmlnlabs]

I'm mostly replying to vote for not carpeting the stairs!! I can't stand carpet on the stairs personally, and it is so hard to keep clean. With it being the only carpet in the place I'd think it would look odd for sure.

Normally I'm a total laminate advocate. I love it. It holds up much better than hard wood would have. We have 2 young boys, I home school so we are in the house a ton, plus we have a Labrador and Bernese Mt. Dog. All that and we are DIY'ers so laminate is our way to go. I'd rather replace worn out laminate every 10 years or so than have hard wood redone. However, by the sounds of your situation I think hard wood is the best option. You guys obviously aren't home all that much since you both work, and you have cats which are far less damaging than dogs. Add in that your DH prefers the real wood and I think that is your best option. And yes, I do think the hard wood is far better looking!

 

[dancin Disney style]

I have laminate on my entire main floor. They say it wears like ceramic tile...yes it does. My floor is about 16yrs old (first generation of laminate) and there is only one scratch. We are a family of 4, youngest is now 13, and we have had dogs and cats over the years. The one thing that I really hate about my floor is that when you walk on it there is a hollow sound. It was installed correctly with underlayment but this is a fairly common issue. I know several other people that have it and all say the same.

The new laminate flooring comes in so many different options that you can have product that looks as good as real hardwood and can cost almost as much. The one critical thing to know is that the thicker the laminate the more it will feel like really wood. If I were to replace my floor right now I would by a 12mm, minimum, but most likely a 14mm. That said if real hardwood were an option I would go for that.

Something else to know is that if there is any chance you will be selling your house in the near future laminate can de-value your house a little. In some markets, and in some price points hardwood is expected. This would be something to consult with a local agent on.

 

[dancin Disney style]

Just wanted to add....

On the issue of the stairs, if you are going to spend $8-12K don't cheap out on the stairs. Spend the extra $1000 and have them done to match the flooring. Especially since you see it when you walk in.

 

[#1hoosierfan]

We bought an older house last summer and had hard wood laminate installed on the entire first floor. We chose a high-end laminate that is hand-scraped, and everyone that walks in comments on how great it looks and that it looks like real hardwood.

I guess my perspective is a bit different than yours. I don't think that the cost difference ($4,300) is that close. That IS almost of the cost of a Disney vacation for us. It sounds like, however, your husband, especially, will not be happy with the laminate and since you guys can afford it, I think you should go with the hardwood.

We chose the laminate becuase we have 2 young boys and 2 dogs. We got dark wood, and I knew the real hardwood would show every scratch. I really like it, but like a pp said, some places do that hollow sound.

We got our laminate from a local place and we negotiated the price. We got over $1.50 off per square foot. It might be worth a try to see if they can do a better price for you.

 

[720L]

I have hardwood, which I love, but in my kitchen there are so many dents from me dropping silverware, cups, etc....that I almost wish I would've done tile. They don't stand out, but if you look you see them. Drives me crazy. Maybe if we would have gotten a harder wood it would be different?

 

[ilovemk76]

"tear out/remove old carpet and hardwood"

Why not just refinish the hardwood under the carpet.

I would not put carpet on the stairs?

 

[HeyIt'sMe]

We just had laminate flooring installed on the main floor of our house this Spring.
After researching hardwood vs laminate we went with laminate due to the durability and low maintenance. Luckily, we don't have the issue with the hollow sound (we have a basement so the laminate is not on a concrete base; wonder if that makes a difference?)

Here's the one we went with - Pergo XP Peruvian Mahogany (from Home Depot). We love it!

 

[scottmel]

I have both. In my formal living room and dining room I have bruce hardwood. In my lived in areas of kitchen and family room I opted for Pergo. A friend of mine did her entire downstairs in hardwood and after seeing it get trashed over 3 years led me to do what I did. She has triplets and the scratches on the floor are awful. Hers are cherry colored and hardwood. They look HORRIBLE. I have had hardwood for 10 years and they look wonderful. I have had pergo for 8 and they are terrific looking. hardwood I find smudges more and shows footprints which drives me nuts. Pergo is far more forgiving. I have a small 12 pound dog. ANOTHER Friend has two huge dogs and said Pergo for her was the only option as the one dog destroyed the hardwood in her living room.....

 

[Kat77]

I love my hardwood but it does show scratches and takes major upkeep. We have quite a few marks I've had to retouch where visitors slid our recliners out of position not aware they were gouging wood.

Get the stairs done! We had ours done and they are beautiful. I've never regretted spending extra on them.

 

[eliza61]

I love my hardwood but it does show scratches and takes major upkeep. We have quite a few marks I've had to retouch where visitors slid our recliners out of position not aware they were gouging wood.

Get the stairs done! We had ours done and they are beautiful. I've never regretted spending extra on them.

Really, you think so. I love my oak floors. I'm having hickory put in my bedroom over the thanksgiving weekend.

I find them incredibly easy to clean, pretty much sweep. They do get ridiculously dusty but the clean much easier than cleaning a carpet.

Once every few years I get them refinished. I've had mine for 10 years with at least 1 dog and 2 kids, most of hte time it was with 2 dogs. They look great.

I can't comment on laminate, since I've never owned any but they did have some really pretty laminates when I was looking for what to do in my bedroom.

 

[cornflake]

Hardwood!

Laminate is laminate. It's obvious what it is, even when they look nice they look like nice laminate, it's got lower resale value, and just why imo.

Hardwood lasts forever. I don't know how three kids trashed a hardwood floor. I've been in homes with near 200-year-old hardwood floors. They could probably have stood a refinishing but they still looked decent, heh, though I'm not a 'must look like perfect, untouched showroom stuff' person; I like aged things too.

I prefer real materials. Wood is wood. Looks like wood, sounds like wood, feels like wood - laminate, even the nicer ones, just don't do any of those things.

 

[disneymom2003]

I have hardwood and love them. I think they are easy to take care of. One thing I will say. Hardwood can and will dent and scratch. I knew that going in. I bought a floor pre finished that looked a little distressed. That way when something is dropped and that dent occurs no one notices. I get lots of compliments on my floors. I have had them 7 years and they still look great. I had laminate before the hardwood and as another poster said "it looks like laminate"

 

[SaraJayne]

Looking at laminate vs hardwood, you can't tell a difference.

But when you walk on them, you can definitely tell a difference.

We have been discussing the same thing, as we'll be replacing our kitchen/hallway/dining area vinyl with new flooring this winter.

We're leaning toward Pergo, but we are both in agreement on it. If one of us felt so strongly about hardwood and we could easily afford it, I think I'd go with hardwood, knowing it will show dents/dings/scratches much quicker.

 

[mickeymaker2003]

I have hardwood, which I love, but in my kitchen there are so many dents from me dropping silverware, cups, etc....that I almost wish I would've done tile. They don't stand out, but if you look you see them. Drives me crazy. Maybe if we would have gotten a harder wood it would be different?

If you had done tile, those dents would be cracked and broken tiles. I think I'd rather have the dents if it was me.

 

[720L]

If you had done tile, those dents would be cracked and broken tiles. I think I'd rather have the dents if it was me.

I wondered if that would happen....so I guess we should've picked a harder wood (we have brazilian walnut---beautiful but soft).

 

[Fjobe]

We have laminate in our living room and really like it. It is much easier to maintain than the carpet was.

As far as the stairs are concerned, I would be worried about slipping on the hardwood. My DS walked in his sleep and busted his head open falling down our carpeted stairs. I can't imagine that fall with hardwood/laminate stairs. My grandparents have carpeted stairs with hardwood on both sides of the stairs and it doesn't look odd to me.

 

[Kat77]

Really, you think so. I love my oak floors. I'm having hickory put in my bedroom over the thanksgiving weekend.

I find them incredibly easy to clean, pretty much sweep. They do get ridiculously dusty but the clean much easier than cleaning a carpet.

Once every few years I get them refinished. I've had mine for 10 years with at least 1 dog and 2 kids, most of hte time it was with 2 dogs. They look great.

I can't comment on laminate, since I've never owned any but they did have some really pretty laminates when I was looking for what to do in my bedroom.

Ooh! Very pretty!

I'd never go back to carpet. Putting it that way, hardwood IS easier to clean (than carpet). I just know laminate does not scatch as easily. I still love my hardwood!

 

[Wendy31]

Really, you think so. I love my oak floors. I'm having hickory put in my bedroom over the thanksgiving weekend.

I find them incredibly easy to clean, pretty much sweep. They do get ridiculously dusty but the clean much easier than cleaning a carpet.

Once every few years I get them refinished. I've had mine for 10 years with at least 1 dog and 2 kids, most of hte time it was with 2 dogs. They look great.

I can't comment on laminate, since I've never owned any but they did have some really pretty laminates when I was looking for what to do in my bedroom.

We have laminate in our living room, family room, & dining room & Mexican tile in our kitchen & foyer.

Our laminate looks EXACTLY like the pictures in the above post - in fact, when I first saw the pictures, before I read the post that said the floors were hardwood, I thought, "Oh, they have our laminate!" LOL!

The laminate we chose was a high-end, thicker laminate but I'm not sure of the brand. We had a contractor that was doing other work on our house as well, so we purchased the laminate through him. He worked w/ his own supplier.

I love our floors, & we get compliments on them all the time. There are some "hollow" places, but I really don't mind.

Regarding stairs, our family room is two-steps down from our kitchen, &, like the family room, they were carpeted. The carpenter took out the stairs, built a new set, & they were stained to match the laminate flooring in the family room - I love them!

Oh, & we chose laminate over hardwood for the durability issue. We have 3 kids, 1 dog, & 1 cat, &, since we homeschool, we're home all the time. So we needed something that would last!

 

[Evi]

I think you should look at it from a few perspectives. Do you plan to live in your home for a few years or many years. I say this because if you plan to live there for many years invest in the better product with longest longevity. If only a few you want something that is going to cost you less but hold up long enough until you flip your home. If it were me I'd go hardwood or maybe even cork or other alternative flooring. I regret tiling our basement and not going with cork. I was unaware that cork could hold up to potential water damage and though we have never had an issue it is a lower level basement and I wanted to be safe.