We are going to be replacing all our flooring soon and it is long overdue. We can't agree on what we want and there are pros and cons of all the choices. Mrs 2C pretty much insists on carpet for the bedrooms and that is fine with me. The rest of the house is where we can't come to a conclusion. We are very indecisive on this kind of thing, lol.

 

I am leaning towards hardwood in the living spaces, dining room, etc., and tile in the kitchen/bathrooms. We currently have carpet in the living spaces and Armstrong linoleum in the kitchen/bath areas. We built our house in the early 90s when we were pretty young and didn't really know what we wanted. We have gotten our money's worth out of it, that's for sure.

 

We keep our house pretty cool, and my only concern is the hardwood will be too cold on our feet.

 

So what do you like in your house, and why? Please be specific as you can, for instance if you like hardwood, then what type? Bamboo, etc.?

 

Bedrooms?

Living areas?

Kitchen?

Bath?

At our first house, we had hardwood everywhere except the bathroom, kitchen, and den. Living room, dining room, all three bedrooms had it and we loved it. Since we've moved, the new house bedrooms have carpet and the living room has a wood-looking laminate. We've wished aloud many times these last six months that we had the hardwood like our old house. As with you, we keep it fairly cool and the hardwood never bothered either of us or our little one (of course that was all he knew).

The "rage" these days seems to be the nice laminate flooring for both living space and kitchens.

 

I personally like carpet for living area. I lay on the floor a lot watching TV and playing with our dog, and carpet is really the only flooring that is comfortable to do so.

 

Definitely tile in the bathrooms. We just had our bathrooms re-done and I believe we did a porcelain tile in both. Really like it.

We did carpet in the kids bedrooms, tile in the kitchen and baths and laundry room, and somerset hardwood in master bedroom, dining room, living room, and computer room. The only thing I would do different is a darker tile with black grout, because ours now is a lighter tile with white grout and over the years it shows everything.

Carpet in bedrooms is good.

 

Baths should be tile - with Schluter water membrane underneath. Thats the orange stuff at Lowes or HD. Tile and grout are not water proof and tile in wet areas is always good.

 

Hardwood is not 'cold' to the feet but tile is. Unless you put a heating system in with it when installed.

 

It seems the only question is the kitchen so here are pros/cons.

 

Hardwood

Pros

1. if rest of house is HW and has any open design/connected areas then the flooring just flows through without transitions.

2. it is warmer to the feet than tile.

3. Its more forgiving than tile when glass and ceramic is dropped on it.

Con

1. Multi-step process if real HW. Install, stain, 3 coats of shellac.

2. Dents and dings from heavy/sharp items. Scratches from chairs or dogs.

 

Tile

Pros

1. Water resistant, especially with Schluter products underneath.

2. Resistent to denting. However tile can still chip when things are dropped on it.

3. Avoid having to try to match wood tones with cabinets.

Cons

1. Colder on feet. Unless heating system is installed.

2. May need to beef up underfloor if not rigid enough. Ceramic is more forgiving that real stone but both need a certain amount of rigidness in the floor to avoid cracking from deflection of the support flooring.

 

The high end laminates are great as well. If you are ok with a laminate these work a lot better and look better the original 90s PERGO.

 

Another option in Kitchen. 'Wood' tile. Its tile but looks like wood. Have seen it done. It is really cool option that is emerging for those who like the look of wood but the mechanics of tile.

 

Good luck.

Another option in Kitchen. 'Wood' tile. Its tile but looks like wood. Have seen it done. It is really cool option that is emerging for those who like the look of wood but the mechanics of tile.

I really like the looks of some of those that I have seen. Really nice looking tile.

I hate hardwood floors. Carpet and tile for me.

I really like the looks of some of those that I have seen. Really nice looking tile.

Getting ready to do my basement floor in the wood grain ceramic tile. It's easy to lay and no grout. If you get in that mood, and you're feeling froggy enough to do it yourself, I have all the tools you need and are welcome to them. Of course it will cost you a really nice dinner.

We replaced our kitchen linoleum a few years back with some laminate flooring. My wife much prefers the laminate because she says it's easier to keep clean. It does look a lot nicer.

 

We tinkered with doing laminate flooring for the primary living space as well, but we stayed with the carpet. Mostly because I'm cheap though. I think I'd like laminate or hardwood flooring as opposed to carpet.

We replaced everything the last few years. We have hardwood/laminate hybrid on main floor (formal living room) and steps leading upstairs. Carpet everywhere else/ It isn't really that much colder if at all on the feet.

 

On a side note, first I can't believe you have a choice. Second you won't win even if you think you did. And finally,.... let her win and there might be rewards;)

^^Smart man

We replaced everything the last few years. We have hardwood/laminate hybrid on main floor (formal living room) and steps leading upstairs. Carpet everywhere else/ It isn't really that much colder if at all on the feet.

 

On a side note, first I can't believe you have a choice. Second you won't win even if you think you did. And finally,.... let her win and there might be rewards;)

Win? I am not familiar with that concept.

I am now regretting the decision that I made to carpet the whole house about 10 years ago rather than using hardwood/laminate in some areas and now looking to replace the carpet with a high quality laminate. Bedrooms...carpet is fine I guess and I will be keeping that in two of my bedrooms...living spaces, hallways...DEFINITELY go with hardwood or laminate, don't even think twice about it.

 

And by the way, the more I look into it the more I am convinced that a high quality laminate is better than true hardwood...more pros than cons I think.

We have a dog that is 7 months old and already pushing 60 pounds.

 

How big of a problem will that be with hardwood/laminate?

We have a dog that is 7 months old and already pushing 60 pounds.

 

How big of a problem will that be with hardwood/laminate?

 

Having pets is even MORE of a reason to have hardwood/laminate. One of the reasons I am replacing the carpet in my house with it is a dog we inherited about 4 years ago.