Let's talk hardwood flooring. Who's got them or has had them? Pros? Cons?

[ruthabagah]

That actually addresses my follow up question too then about theaters & A/V affects of hard surfaces v carpeting. We do have some larger area rugs/carpets too so maybe a couple more & some runners here and there will fit the bill.

Yes. sound trap, they really work. sometimes just moving a sofa a couple of inches in one direction will totally change the acoustic of a room with HW floor. When I was much younger I used to deliver an setup pianos in Paris: No carpet (and often no elevator...), we had to move the damn thing and the furniture around all day to find the right mix....

[hatidua]

Any negatives there from those that have hardwood or similar?

Be careful of wearing some of the newer outdoor/approach shoes that have softer black rubber soles: they'll streak a hardwood floor and I've yet to find a way to get it off that doesn't take the finish off the floor.

[Great-Kazoo]

Be careful of wearing some of the newer outdoor/approach shoes that have softer black rubber soles: they'll streak a hardwood floor and I've yet to find a way to get it off that doesn't take the finish off the floor.

Tennis or handball (like a pensie pinkie) Also you can use a clear rubber soled shoe.



We have laminated, NOT PERGO (they are the low end) use throw rugs and carpet sections for sound reduction. Been looking at the cork style flooring also.

[hatidua]

Tennis or handball (like a pensie pinkie) Also you can use a clear rubber soled shoe.

-must go find tennis ball, thank you!

[muddywings]

if by pergo you you mean laminate (aka snap together) flooring, I would skip it as an option.
I have installed both hardwood and laminate as a DIYer. When it comes to home improvement, either save up and do it right or don't bother.
As for the benefits-location of the room in relationship with the rest of the house plays a factor in it too. I plan on pulling out the carpet in my 'front' room due to the very high traffic pattern but the living room will still have carpet for that lounging need.

[Irving]

We did the pergo wood in our kitchen. It is just alright. Not as nice as the bamboo in my parents home. We have tile in the back portion of the house, and plan on doing the same fake wood floor in the living room as well. I plan on keeping my house as a rental though, and I won't be able to charge more rent for real wood.

I agree with the large center rug idea.

[Ah Pook]

We have cpt in the house. I hate it. With three dogs, in the mountains, keeping it clean is a constant chore.

I'm looking at bamboo flooring. Throw some rugs (with no skids) in strategic places and call it good.

I like real hardwood but don't think it will hold up well to dog claws and winter muck. Most of the "fake" wood floorings look fake.

Have you considered cork?

[cstone]

Hardwood is a great flooring choice IMO. If you have high traffic areas, you can plan on having it sanded and refinished every ten years or so, but otherwise it wears well and is easy to keep clean.

Bathrooms and mud room all had carpeting when we bought this house and I've since ripped it all out and replaced with tile. I'm not fast, and it takes it's toll on my knees, but in wet areas, tile is a great option.

In the basement we ripped out the carpet and put in laminate. I have plenty left over in the event of water or any other damage. It is easy to replace.

With hardwood, you can always go with area rugs or wall to wall over top. We once had a house with the most hideous 30 year old carpets. Underneath was some of the most beautiful hardwood and it didn't need any refinishing at all. Over the long haul, I believe hardwood is the best flooring option.

[Jer]

I plan to do tile in the floors of kitchens & bathrooms but that's a project for another day. I always planned to upgrade vinyl floors, counters as well as the tile the builders installed so that's going to happen too but may wait until next year or the year after since it looks good and has no issues yet. Right now I want to focus on this carpet situation as it's a pressing need. I'm looking at bamboo options right now and I've seen some options that look pretty cool. I still don't understand why it hasn't come down more in price since the materials to create it are so much more readily available. I had hoped that it would maybe come down more in cost by now but it seems it's still going to run around the cost of hard wood +/- depending on quality, shade, etc.

[newracer]

I had Bellawood hickory in my last house and it held up well to two sons and a GSD. New house doesn't have any yet but it will. I cannot stand the laminate ones. I prefer tile for anywhere that will see any amount of moisture, kitchen, baths, entries, etc.