Hardwood vs Laminate

[Kolbe31]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

I'll add: Trust Bigtime's knowledge of flooring products! He knows his stuff.

What's your square footage, and what is the cost per sq.ft. you're hoping to keep it to?

Cost isn't really the biggest issue, it's more about timing. We get possession on the new house December 1st, and have to be out of the old place on the 14th. So ideally, we'd get any renovations done during that window. We've got three kids and would like to have our new house move-in ready, especially with Christmas coming quickly after that.

And while cost isn't the biggest issue, it's obviously still one and we'd like to keep it somewhat reasonable. The existing hardwood is in okay shape, and would certainly benefit from a sanding/re-staining. I guess I just thought I was crazy for even considering replacing it with laminate, but maybe it's not the worst thing?

[Bigtime]

Well sanding and staining is a "move out of the house" kind of job, so your idea of planning to do it before moving in would be the best bet.

If you do decide to go laminate, perhaps choose to just float the floor over the existing hardwood instead of ripping it out. Then the option is always there in the future to remove the laminate and use the hardwood.

[TheSutterDynasty]

Laminate is amazing. I'd never go back to hardwood.

My parents have hardwood, and our condo had hardwood x2 (redone once). No matter how well done there were always little gaps that were just a little bit annoying (dirt would get in, sometimes you feel them walking).

The laminate we have now feels nice and smooth to walk on, and even with dogs running around the house (which really messed up my parents' hardwood), we have no scratches. Plus most people can't even tell the difference looking at it.

[Fuzz]

Originally Posted by TheSutterDynasty

Laminate is amazing. I'd never go back to hardwood.

My parents have hardwood, and our condo had hardwood x2 (redone once). No matter how well done there were always little gaps that were just a little bit annoying (dirt would get in, sometimes you feel them walking).

The laminate we have now feels nice and smooth to walk on, and even with dogs running around the house (which really messed up my parents' hardwood), we have no scratches. Plus most people can't even tell the difference looking at it.

I have never seen gaps on a well done hardwood floor. Hell, mine is from the 50's and it has no gaps you speak of.

[Diemenz]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I have never seen gaps on a well done hardwood floor. Hell, mine is from the 50's and it has no gaps you speak of.

Mine is the same.

I always go hardwood on the main floor and will branch out to laminate in the basement or top floor. I like the look and feel of hardwood and resale is huge. In the 3 houses I have owned I always planned out to spend the money to get the hardwood refinished before I sold and every time the new buyer mentions the flooring.

I would also disagree with the most people can't tell the difference between laminate comment posted a few back, I would change that sentence to most people can tell the difference.

[TheSutterDynasty]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

I have never seen gaps on a well done hardwood floor. Hell, mine is from the 50's and it has no gaps you speak of.

Could have just been a poor install.

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by TheSutterDynasty

Could have just been a poor install.

Or just the hardwood you bought. Some hardwood have bigger gaps than others.

[Hammertime]

Speaking of hardwood flooring.. what would be a rough Calgary market estimate for a sand and refinish per sqft? Planning ahead for a potential minor renovation in the future.

Sent from my SM-G935W8 using Tapatalk

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by Hammertime

Speaking of hardwood flooring.. what would be a rough Calgary market estimate for a sand and refinish per sqft? Planning ahead for a potential minor renovation in the future.

Sent from my SM-G935W8 using Tapatalk

$1.50-$2.00 a square foot depending on whether you go natural or want it stained.

[calgarywinning]

Originally Posted by Kolbe31

Cost isn't really the biggest issue, it's more about timing. We get possession on the new house December 1st, and have to be out of the old place on the 14th. So ideally, we'd get any renovations done during that window. We've got three kids and would like to have our new house move-in ready, especially with Christmas coming quickly after that.

And while cost isn't the biggest issue, it's obviously still one and we'd like to keep it somewhat reasonable. The existing hardwood is in okay shape, and would certainly benefit from a sanding/re-staining. I guess I just thought I was crazy for even considering replacing it with laminate, but maybe it's not the worst thing?

I wish you all the best for your Christmas dreams. If you are able to select and carry off a project in that timeframe you are doing very well.

Sounds like Scrooge trying to redeem his soul early morning though.

[Sr. Mints]

Site-finished hardwood to match what you have. It is the best and all other opinions are wrong.

[Kolbe31]

Originally Posted by Sr. Mints

Site-finished hardwood to match what you have. It is the best and all other opinions are wrong.

Haha... This is actually what we decided to do. And then we're going to remove the carpet upstairs and put laminate up there.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

$1.50-$2.00 a square foot depending on whether you go natural or want it stained.

Damn, that is cheap. We had our floors sanded and stained in 2013 and at that time it was $5/sqft plus $40 per stair.

[redforever]

Originally Posted by TheSutterDynasty

Laminate is amazing. I'd never go back to hardwood.

My parents have hardwood, and our condo had hardwood x2 (redone once). No matter how well done there were always little gaps that were just a little bit annoying (dirt would get in, sometimes you feel them walking).

The laminate we have now feels nice and smooth to walk on, and even with dogs running around the house (which really messed up my parents' hardwood), we have no scratches. Plus most people can't even tell the difference looking at it.

Must be engineered hardwood. Those gaps simply do not exist with traditional hardwood floors.

[calgaryblood]

Originally Posted by calgarygeologist

Damn, that is cheap. We had our floors sanded and stained in 2013 and at that time it was $5/sqft plus $40 per stair.

Damn, that is expensive! Like all things, a little shopping around helps. If you went with a bigger company then you just paid the middle man when you could have just went directly to the sub contractor.

[Fuzz]

Maybe he is talking about one of the older ones that end up like this?

[calgaryblood]

That's the ones I'm talking about as well.

[calgaryblood]

I should add that's the price for a pretty fairly sized area. Ain't nobody coming out to do your 100sqft baby room for $200.

[Knalus]

No one ever has bought an older house, ripped up the carpet and exclaimed "Great! It has laminate under there!"

No one ever.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by calgaryblood

Damn, that is expensive! Like all things, a little shopping around helps. If you went with a bigger company then you just paid the middle man when you could have just went directly to the sub contractor.

We directly contracted the work out (no middleman) and $5/sqft was our middle price quote. They made us a custom stain colour though and I believe they did an extra coat or two of poly so maybe that is why our price was fairly high.