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Hardwood Flooring Questions

14 years ago

We want the same hardwood floors through out our newly purchased (but older) home. However, we will be renovating in stages as time and money permit, and it will be all DIY. I would love to be able to just buy what we need when we need it, but DH is worried that the floors will not match if we do this. We are leaning toward pre-finished engineered hardwood because we have concrete slabs, and it sounds like it is better for DIYers.

We ripped out nasty carpet in 2 small bedrooms and they have to be fixed quickly. Because we are not ready to buy wood for the entire house right now, DH wants to do CostCo laminate in these 2 rooms for the interim. I hate to go to the cost and time when we want something different in the long run.

What do you think?

1) If we went with real hardwood, would this eliminate the concern about matching down the road? Can handy DIY folks do this?

2) Is it possible to choose an engineered hardwood that would absolutely be available for years to come so that matching will not be an issue?

3) Is DH is right? Should we do the CostCo laminate until we are ready (in every room) for wood?

Thanks!

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Comments (5)

ricew0
14 years ago
1) Depends. If you went with prefinished, might be discontinued and therefore difficult to match later. If you go unfinished, and finish all the wood the same, should be easier to match later. Having said that, I love prefinished because the finishes are excellent without any sanding, finishing, etc. I think if the rooms are different, no one will notice subtle differences from the room to the hall, for example.
2) See #1
3) You will have to decide that for yourself :-)
cgill
14 years ago
I'm inclined to agree with the "interim" approach. Ultimately, you would like for your flooring to flow in unison. Take care of the 2 rooms that NEED a floor, then save for the whole house. Years down the road, when its all done, you'll be happy that the floor is continuous. Makes a big impression, should you look at re-selling.
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floorguy
14 years ago
With the laminate, you will be doing all the floor prep to get the substrate withing an 1/8th of an inch, in 6 feet radius, specs, so the gluedown will have no prep when it comes time to do the whole thing in engineered wood.

You may like the laminate enough, to go with it all throughout.
jordancc
14 years ago
OK
Hardwood differs in color from batch to batch. engineered floor will probably be closer in color from batch to batch, and laminate from the same manufacturer will match - it's just a picture of wood printed onto plastic, essentially. Floor wood is not in and of itself that expensive - you can get bamboo for $2/ft sq at home Depot, and Lumber Liquidators has great sales. I've also had luck finding flooring on Craigslist. Really, buying it all at the same time is such a better idea that I'd consider how to make it work were I you. . .

And I would avoid the temp floor idea - laminate is still $2.50 plus per ft sq, and takes time and effort to install. If you really need temp flooring, I'd look into tacking down rolls of cork. it's a nice feeling floor and will look good for a while. I haven't priced it but would imagine it's more affordable...
n1server
14 years ago
I agree with jordance, I would not waste the time and expense in putting down a laminate only to have to pull it up. You could probably buy a very inexpensive piece of carpet remnant and put it down in the interim. The when you ready purchase all of the wood flooring at once so it will come out of the same lot. I bought 800 sf of Bruce engineered maple 5" planks distressed and saved $2 a s.f. foot buying it over the internet. Very pleased with the results. Good luck.

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