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

[sellersm]

Our hardwood has held up well to 4 dogs (2 of which are border collies), and lots of mud, dirt, etc. that they bring in.


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[Dave_L]

I did pergo at my old house since it was my first home and wasn't worth putting in anything nicer. It's held up great to roommates, pets, and now tenants. Very worry free and easy to install. But, how "real" it looks depends on the type you get and how good you install it. Making sure to not line up seems, no gaps, etc.

In our house now, we have the pergo too. The prior owners put it in and I don't mind it. Again, it's very worry free and I like headache free stuff. If I ever had to replace it, I'd find another hard surface of some kind to put in. I like carpet in the bedrooms but prefer non porous flooring everywhere else. This house would allow me to upgrade the flooring a bit and get my money back out of it.

Dark floors=paw prints, foot prints, dirt, etc showing.

Lighter floors=hides a lot more.

[Jer]

I did pergo at my old house since it was my first home and wasn't worth putting in anything nicer. It's held up great to roommates, pets, and now tenants. Very worry free and easy to install. But, how "real" it looks depends on the type you get and how good you install it. Making sure to not line up seems, no gaps, etc.

In our house now, we have the pergo too. The prior owners put it in and I don't mind it. Again, it's very worry free and I like headache free stuff. If I ever had to replace it, I'd find another hard surface of some kind to put in. I like carpet in the bedrooms but prefer non porous flooring everywhere else. This house would allow me to upgrade the flooring a bit and get my money back out of it.

Dark floors=paw prints, foot prints, dirt, etc showing.

Lighter floors=hides a lot more.

A buddy of mine (member here) did hardwood floors in his new place and chose a really dark wood. It looks great but that was his advice too as it shows all dirt, dust & scratches a lot more. I think we'll stay with a lighter color for this reason as we tend to be a bit lazy as it comes to housekeeping.

[Tinelement]

I did strand bamboo in my current house. We did it ourselves. We are currently are under contract on a different house and have ours listed. We will be doing hardwood in the new house as time goes on.

[buffalobo]

With the bamboo, make sure the material gets plenty of time to acclimate before installing. I did two floor jobs for friends and relatives using Lumber Liquidators Morningstar brand and it shrank. Even though manufacturers instructions were followed to the letter. I also think it is wearing poorly. Neither party is award winning house keepers but it should look better. Both parties are still happy with it but I think it looks like shit and will not do bamboo again.

Lobbed from my electronic ball and chain.

[TheGrey]

We have what looks like light maple in the dining room. Everywhere else is the cheapest builder's grade carpet around. We want to upgrade to wood floors.
We have cats. The nightly mad scramble does leave small mark, but they're easily dealt with.

Light colored wood looks more home-like, IMHO.

[Tinelement]

With the bamboo, make sure the material gets plenty of time to acclimate before installing. I did two floor jobs for friends and relatives using Lumber Liquidators Morningstar brand and it shrank. Even though manufacturers instructions were followed to the letter. I also think it is wearing poorly. Neither party is award winning house keepers but it should look better. Both parties are still happy with it but I think it looks like shit and will not do bamboo again.

Lobbed from my electronic ball and chain.

Agreed. I opens all our boxes and let air dry for about 2 weeks before installation.

As far as wear, I've had one room installed for 4 yrs. did my boys room before he was born. Really no wear in opinion in 4 yrs.

[nogaroheli]

We have engineered bamboo (with some type of "hard coating on it) on our main level, I installed it in 2007. It still looks good but our two 70 pound labs have scratched it pretty badly. We are considering something pre-finished we can install ourselves that will hold up to big dogs- not sure what that would be yet.

[Jer]

I did strand bamboo in my current house. We did it ourselves. We are currently are under contract on a different house and have ours listed. We will be doing hardwood in the new house as time goes on.

So you wouldn't do bamboo again?

[jslo]

Engineered bamboo new vs. now, about 8 years of a 130lbs lab