I'm surprised that your quote for hardwood is so high. Lumber Liquidators has lots of pre-finished hardwood and bamboo options that should not run you so much, and if you can do your own installation then even better. We just purchased pre-finished Bellawood from LL for about $3.50/sf (not the cheapest, but not the most expensive either).

I think that your personal comfort level w/ laminate really determines whether or not you're okay with it. As discussed here previously, the newer laminates are really pretty (Bruce Park Avenue line being the one I recall right now) and difficult to distinguish from the more plastic-y laminates.

Many people swear by the laminate, but it's noisy to walk on, scratches are permanent because it can't be sanded and as a realtor I can assure you, it won't help with resale.

Are you and your DH diyers? I ask because we bought a fixer a couple of years ago and after 6 months of living on subfloors, we decided to install our own wood flooring. All together it totaled 1000 sf, oak in the living areas, hallways and large walk in pantry, Brazillian Walnut (from Lumber Liquidators) in our dining and kitchen. Cost combined was less than 3000 including the gun, saw, nails and paper. Home Depot has a 3/4 inch oak plank flooring from Bruce that is prefinished and installs very easily. It's simular in color to Gunstock, and called Plano Marsh. When we bought it, it was on sale for 2.50 p/sf, normally it's 2.99. The Brazillian Walnut which is also a 3/4 in plank, was a bit more expensive and much harder to install, but it works well with our oak cabinets. The guns, normally cost about 500.00 but we found them at Harbor Frieght for less than 200. We had never done it before, and it took a while to complete the job, but it's beautiful and we love it.

Do you recall the name of the laminate product you're looking at? We installed very inexpensive wood-look laminate from LL directly over our horrid vinyl. It looks so great! Everyone thinks it's real wood. It came with the foam padding attached which really cuts down on the "plastic" sound when you walk on it. And although anything would have been better than the yellowed awful floor we had, this looks really rich. We purposely chose a dark color so that it wouldn't be compared to the natural white oak that it touches. We knew it would never match. A friend just asked me this weekend if she could come check it out again because she thinks she wants to use it in her house. I'll try to find the name on the pieces we have left over. If it is the product you're considering, I'll take some photos for you.

beache

For resale, real wood wins every time. However, with 5 kids and dogs..... Well, I once had gorgeous hardwoods with 3 sons and a dog. One hand became almost permanently attached to a buffer and the floors rarely looked the way I would have preferred. I have had Shaw laminate for 4 1/2 years in this house. They aren't as nice as hardwood, but at least they aren't hard to take care of. Btw, my counters are quartz and the laminate looks fine with them to me, though I confess I'm not all that obsessed about how anyone else thinks they look.

We just installed sheet vinyl after a year-long debate about a similar situation. We had 500 sq ft to cover, and kids, pets, high traffic, water areas (kitchen, entryway) and a TIGHT budget. We went with Congoleum Ultima sheet vinyl in a wood print. We've gotten lots of compliments. I really really wanted real wood, but practicality won out and I am very pleased. I can't tell you how many times I've gone "Whew" in the past week since they got installed. Pulling chairs in and out... DS zooming around the house with his car/truck collection... many spills, dropsies, scratchies, and it looks great and a dream to maintain.

I've had two laminate floors, and the thing that continually amazed me was how many times people complimented me on my "wood". Once the kids were having water fights, after a birthday party. When one of the kids started to run through the house, his mother, apologized to me and reprimanded the kid for getting the "hardwood" wet. For ease of care, laminates can't be beaten, and apparently they can be very convincing. If you pick the a nice looking laminate, you'll probably be very pleased.

We have a Mohawk laminate throughout the whole downstairs including the kitchen and powder room. I love it. We originally had hardwood in the entry and kitchen that had been really abused. The laminate is great, after 5 years 1 small dog and 2 kids it has held up well.

Just recently we decided to redo the stairs and I wanted laminate. Well we found out they no longer make the laminate we have downstairs and because of our stairs being open I needed a laminate with a flushmount stair tread, hard to find! Armstrong is the only one that makes it. Here is a pic of my newly done staris.

We also did the hall, master and just did the office in the same laminate. I love it!

I really think it what you want and can afford that matters. Yes hardwoods are nice, but in my area, laminates are a hot seller right now. For what is selling.

Good luck.

Laura

Here is the really inexpensive one.

I'm thinking it just might be a more practical solution. I get the look I want, durability, etc and not a lot of $$. I think I'm going to have to back to the store and look at some of the more quality ones and see where it falls in terms of cost. This one is probably too flimsy at that price. I'm a firm believer in you get what you pay for.

Here is a link that might be useful: inexpensive LL laminate

We opted not to go with hardwood, as our flooring company would not warranty it over out in-floor heating. We have laminate in the living and dining areas, as well as downstairs in our family and games rooms. Lots of people have complimented me on our "hardwood", LOL. We have a lightly textured wide plank with a bevelled edge, so it doesn't have that smooth, glossy plastic-y look of some of the earlier laminates.

Carrie

Laura - your stairs look great! I'm going to have to revist the newer, possibly more expensive options that are out there.

I completely understand what everyone is saying about for resale, hardwood is best. But, I'm thinking it might not be best if it looks like it needs to refinished.

If anybody else has picks of their laminate - I'd love to see it!

I have Uniclick Quick Step laminate in select cherry & love it too. It is very similar to gunstock color in real hardwood. We live on a lake where alot can get tracked in so it was a perfect choice for us. Very easy to clean and like the others said, people always are in disbelief when I tell them it is laminate when they think it is hardwood. Here is a link if you wanna peek at my floors.
Good luck with you choice. :) Bonnie

Here is a link that might be useful: Bonnie's

We went through this dilemma when we redid our kitchen last year. Granite counters here too. I wanted wood, but did not want the maintenance. Purchased a better laminate from Lowes (which was more expensive than some of the wood floors), and after a year still love it. Exceptionally easy care and looks great!

Another laminate person here. Put Pergo in a 600 sq foot family room 11+ years ago, and it still looks great. The few hardwood floors in the house have taken a beating from the dogs over the years and need to be refinished.

{{!gwi}}

We have solid hardwood through most of our first floor, but the carpeting in our FR was heinous and we couldn't afford to do hardwood in there at this point. We found this laminate at HD in their "tent" sale (read dirt cheap) and couldn't pass the opportunity up to get rid of the carpeting. I like it alot, it isn't real wood, but sure beats crap =)

{{!gwi}}

Here are two (older) pics of mine:

Closer:

Carrie

Well -- we're tearing apart the WHOLE house to get laminate put down next weekend!

I'm hoping it all goes well -- but I am sick with worry about my four cats -- and the sheer work to take it all apart and then put it all back together!

Jan at Rosemary Cottage

There's a long thread in buying and selling homes about this. The poster complained that the potential buyers weren't making offers because the house had laminate. The rest of the house was very "pottery barn" - updated paint, beautiful light fixtures, etc. It was a long thread and most posters were against laminate. If you aren't worried about selling or you know that laminate is a common floor in your neighborhood and price range, then get what you like. Otherwise it may be a negative at resale.

Here is a link that might be useful: Why the negative laminate view?

kismet08,

Okay the one we put down is from the same company but it's a little higher grade--Nirvana, 8mm. It has a a wood grain look and beveled edges and came in random lengths.

Simple answer: do other homes in your neighborhood in your price range have laminant flooring where you are planning to put it? If yes, go ahead. It's your home and if you aren't selling soon, do as you feel comfortable with, but if any doubt, go with hardwood or even a nice ceramic tile.

If you are planning on laminate in a kitchen, I would not go with it at all. My son had laminate on his kitchen and after the frig leaked, it buckeled up and had to be replaced. Laminate is not a good choice in kitchens and baths because of the risk for water leaks.

I would vote NO to laminate in the kitchen. My neighbors are sick about theirs, buckled from water leak from the icer maker...and they are careful people.

We just did laminate in our master bedrm, had to get rid of the carpet fast (allergies) and though it looks OK, I wish I'd gotten wood.