Re: OT changing floors - Page 2

> On Wed, 8 Jul 2009 14:11:44 -0600, "Dawne Peterson"
>
>>
>> "Polly Esther" wrote .
>>> On flooring - so much depends on your goal. Do you want something that
>>> will make your house easier to sell? Easy care? Comfortable?
>>
>> Fortunately, I have nothing like selling looming over this adventure. No, I
>> am just reclaiming the house after years of neglect, and making it the
>> perfect place for me. (so, no neutral colour schemes or beige anything).
>> Of course, the perfect place for me inevitably means it will have to
>> accomodate a few cats and always a dog, generally on the large side. I am
>> inclined towards something that looks like wood, if not actual wood,
>> because I like the look, and will probably go for the same stuff throughout
>> the main floor and upstairs, excepting only the kitchen and the bath. Had
>> an interesting discussion with DS, who put new hardwood all through their
>> townhouse, including the kitchen, last year, about the relative
>> environmental impact of Canadian hardwood vs bamboo, since I want to be
>> reasonably environmentally responsible.
>>
>> Dawne
>
>
> Doggie nails will not make the slightest mark on laminate, hands down
> it is impervious to hard wear. The only mark I made on it was quite
> early on I dropped a carving knife point down. It made a tiny chip
> in it. I thought it would work and get bigger, but it didn't in ten
> years, stayed exactly as it was the day it was done. I painted it in
> a bit to make it unnoticeable except to me.
>
> Also, as I said, it is a floating floor and dead easy to install
> yourself.

>> On Wed, 8 Jul 2009 14:11:44 -0600, "Dawne Peterson"
>>> "Polly Esther" wrote .
>>>> On flooring - so much depends on your goal. Do you want something that
>>>> will make your house easier to sell? Easy care? Comfortable?
>>> Fortunately, I have nothing like selling looming over this adventure.
>>> No, I
>>> am just reclaiming the house after years of neglect, and making it the
>>> perfect place for me. (so, no neutral colour schemes or beige
>>> anything).
>>> Of course, the perfect place for me inevitably means it will have to
>>> accomodate a few cats and always a dog, generally on the large side. I
>>> am
>>> inclined towards something that looks like wood, if not actual wood,
>>> because I like the look, and will probably go for the same stuff
>>> throughout
>>> the main floor and upstairs, excepting only the kitchen and the bath.
>>> Had
>>> an interesting discussion with DS, who put new hardwood all through
>>> their
>>> townhouse, including the kitchen, last year, about the relative
>>> environmental impact of Canadian hardwood vs bamboo, since I want to be
>>> reasonably environmentally responsible.
>>> Dawne
>> Doggie nails will not make the slightest mark on laminate, hands down
>> it is impervious to hard wear. The only mark I made on it was quite
>> early on I dropped a carving knife point down. It made a tiny chip
>> in it. I thought it would work and get bigger, but it didn't in ten
>> years, stayed exactly as it was the day it was done. I painted it in
>> a bit to make it unnoticeable except to me.
>> Also, as I said, it is a floating floor and dead easy to install
>> yourself.
> Ah, the doggie thing. The doggie nails here immediately began scratching
> up
> the hardwood. Granted, ours is a "cherry" stain - mid dark kind of color,
> not too red or too brown. But, within days you could see the doggie
> evidence, even with the multiple layers of acrylic coating on the top of
> the
> stain. Also, I've noticed that on some of the edges between boards - ours
> is a kissed style - rounded full butted joining, and wider boards than the
> standard (though not real wide) - there is some true scratching, seeing
> unstained wood. Never saw this with the pricey laminate in other house.
> However, bamboo is really hard, and any scratches may only be on the
> acrylic
> top coat - which can get redone after some years. Just a thought.
> I love the floors. But - in particular where the top of the stairs which
> has a wide landing strip meets the hardwood flooring at right angles -
> lots
> of scratching.
> Ellice

>

> "Polly Esther" wrote .
>> On flooring - so much depends on your goal. Do you want something that
>> will make your house easier to sell? Easy care? Comfortable?
> Fortunately, I have nothing like selling looming over this adventure. No,
> I am just reclaiming the house after years of neglect, and making it the
> perfect place for me. (so, no neutral colour schemes or beige anything).
> Of course, the perfect place for me inevitably means it will have to
> accomodate a few cats and always a dog, generally on the large side. I am
> inclined towards something that looks like wood, if not actual wood,
> because I like the look, and will probably go for the same stuff
> throughout the main floor and upstairs, excepting only the kitchen and the
> bath. Had an interesting discussion with DS, who put new hardwood all
> through their townhouse, including the kitchen, last year, about the
> relative environmental impact of Canadian hardwood vs bamboo, since I want
> to be reasonably environmentally responsible.
> Dawne

>I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned it or not, but cork flooring is
>becoming increasingly more popular and it's a renewable resource. No trees
>have to die in order to harvest it. Not to mention, easy on the joints and
>it comes in a huge assortment of colors. Laminates can be nice, but not if
>you cheap out. As a licensed Realtor, I think they can actually lower your
>property value if not done properly or with quality materials. The cheap
>ones only look nice when they are brand new, so if you want something that
>is going to last a long time, it's worth investing in better quality.
>Jinx