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Flooring Design Dilemma

Laminate flooring matching impossibility

6 years ago

I want to remove the carpet from my home's living room and replace with laminate flooring that matches the existing laminate flooring right next to it (this laminate exists in a huge chunk of the house). The reason for replacing the carpet with laminate flooring is (1) because putting carpet in the living room looks so dated and (2) the foyer and formal dining room are within eyesight and the foyer has laminate light brown wood and the dining room has white marble-like tile (so three different flooring types right next to each other (picture attached)).

The issue is -- I can't find a match for the existing laminate! Apparently that type of laminate no longer exists. I can find something that is close to it, but not a match. The old laminate in the foyer will transition into what will be the new laminate in the living room, so it may seem obvious because they are right next to each other. Does anyone have any ideas on how to solve this problem? Should I go with an imperfect match?

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Comment (1)

SJ McCarthy
6 years ago
I would remove the existing laminate in the entrance/hallway AND the tile in the dining room. I would leave the laminate behind "doors" such as bedroom doors (thus reducing your total price tag while still giving you the appearance of a continuous floor).

Replace the carpet AND the tile and part of the laminate. Replace with a laminate product that will work nicely with what you have going on the house (furnishings, paint, other laminate, etc).

Or you simply replace like with like. Remove the carpet and replace with carpet (be careful because the carpets were matched to the tile) and save up for a full flooring replacement in 10 years.

If you can't afford to do everything all at once, you will end up with the SAME DILEMMA in 5-10 years time. In fact, I'm going to predict that laminate will give you another 5 years...and that's it. I can already see the slightly raised edges of the laminate (back lighting helps illuminate this issue). The seams should NOT be visible in a healthy/happy/well adjusted laminate. Only a laminate that is starting to approach "end of life" will start to have this type of "lipping" show up. This slightly raised plank edge tells me there has been some form of moisture intrusion that is starting to erode the plank = delamination has started.

I'm sorry to say but I would keep an eye on the real issue here - the laminate is almost at the end of its life. If you cannot afford to remove ALL OF IT right now, then save your money. You will need it (and more) in the next 5 years.

Check the age of the laminate. If it is 10 years or older, it means I am bang on the money and my prediction will come true sooner rather than later.
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