wooden or laminate flooring

[dalbir]

what is best or most durable laminate or wooden floor and what makes would you recommend??

[smudge]

Don't know of any makes, but a carpet fitter recently told me not to put laminate flooring in a kitchen or bathroom, as if water seeps into the sides or any cracks, it will blow!

[Wraith]

I have laminate flooring in my lounge, which I fitted myself. It was considerably cheaper than wooden flooring and easy to put down. The basic laminate flooring must be glued together, but I went for the slightly dearer quick lock system which just locks together without glue. It was less messy and quicker to put down. The laminate flooring I used is scratch resistant, but will scratch if chairs or other items of furniture are regularly dragged over it. A friend of mine fitted wooden flooring and I have to say it looked better than the laminate. It cost more and was more difficult to put down, but is harder wearing. It can also be stained to suit your own decor. The other benefits of wooden flooring are that it can be sanded down in the future and re-varnished and any knocks or scratches to it only add to its character.

[thewillow]

If you can afford solid flooring go for it. It looks sooooo much better that laminate or semi-solid. Incidentally, I read somewhere last week, The Guardian I think, that laminate can actually deduct from the value of your house.

[BenDToy]

If you get solid wood floor, be prepared for a major fitting job. You cannot lay it on top of floorboards, and you either bond it to a solid foor (eg concrete)or to floor joists. It looks great but tends to show damage more than laminate. There are two types of laminate. The cheaper printed type which you see in B&Q and costs about �10/sq.m. You can also get a wooden laminate (sometimes called engineered board) which is more expensive �20+ /sq.m. and has a layer of real wood on top. Looks great and can be laid like laminate ie as a "floating" floor on top of floor boards. If durability is an issue, the cheaper laminate are the most resilient to damage.

[secretspirit]

I've got solid oak parquet, which was quite expensive (�2000 to supply & fit for a 13ftx13ft living room) but apparently it will outlast your grandchildren so it's good value for money if you plan on living somewhere for a while. With solid wood Junckers and Kahrs are meant to be good makes.

[cwr]

I've fitted laminate and real wood floors i would recommend PERGO for laminate,and for a wide selection of real flooring try WWW.Bruce Flooring.com based in fife but deliver stay away from diy stores.

[archbishop]

I'm glad someone asked this question as I'm having wooden flooring fitted next week in my new gaff.So it looks like I made the right decision.

[heartache]

wood floor if you can afford it. I have laminate and only 2 years layed it has big dints in it from my kids and my 34 year old brother jumping about on the chairs ! i can't get a replacement because we fitted it ourself and it has to be fitted by the company for it to be guaranteed