Wooden floors - laminate v semi-solid

aka_Ciaran

Hey y'all, I have an apartment with 2 bedrooms, both of which are carpeted. The carpets are a few years old now and a bit hard to keep clean, so I'm thinking of going with wooden floors. I have laminate in the sitting room and it's a bit cheap looking, so I was thinking of going with semi solid for the bedrooms.

However someone told me that laminate has come on a lot in the last couple of years and it's almost comparable to semi solid now. Some questions:

- Is laminate close to semi solid in quality?
- Has anyone got decent laminated floors recently..how'd they turn out?
- How much per sq metre / yard could I expect to pay for having it fitted?
- How much on average should decent laminate and decent semi solid cost ( I know there's loads of different quality/types etc but looking for a ball park figure for reasonably good stuff)?


Cheers.

Graaaaa

I’ve used a laminate that looks like marble tiles from B&Q for my kitchen – a very small floor area. It looks great for what it is and I’m happy with it. Then again I’m doing the house up to rent so I won’t have to live with it.
I did the entire upstairs in an engineered board – a click-lock laminate board with a real wood veneer for the top surface. Cost about 50 per sq.m I think from Homebase. I liked the feel but it scratched really easily and only being a veneer it left a permanent white mark when scratched. I finally applied two coats of wood liqueur to protect it – this also brought out the colour and depth of the timber really well, but not cheap at 40 for a large tin from Woodys that did about 16 sq.m (less if I applied a third coat as Rustins recommend).
It’s a matter of horses for courses in regards to cost, look, feel etc. Best thing to do is shop around and see what your budget can afford you. If I had the time over I would probably go for a Junckers timber floor from Brooks.
A note about real timber – the nicer woods are often soft and will take a punishment over time in scratches and dents, you may have to buff them with a floor polisher and possibly a floor sander every few years – a messy job requiring everything to be cleared and protected from dust. Laminate is very durable in comparison and if you want to do things once with little/no maintenance then this is what you might consider.

aka_Ciaran

Nice one Gra thanks for that. I have 2 rooms, one 14 ft 6 x 9 ft, the other 8 ft 6 x 10 ft 6. I think this is 14.5 and 10 sq yds, 25 sq yds roughly (is this right?).

I got one quote from a guy of 22 euro supplied and fitted. This is for 8 mm (click lock, 4 sided v groove) laminate. This came to 500 euro...is this good?

Would anyone recommend places that supply and fit? For example in the city ads magazine there's a place that does 3 bedrooms for 499 euro, and an 11 x 11 room for 199 euro. Any opinions / feedback / suggestions appreciated.


Thnx,

Ciaran.

Joey the lips

aka_Ciaran wrote: »

Hey y'all, I have an apartment with 2 bedrooms, both of which are carpeted. The carpets are a few years old now and a bit hard to keep clean, so I'm thinking of going with wooden floors. I have laminate in the sitting room and it's a bit cheap looking, so I was thinking of going with semi solid for the bedrooms.

However someone told me that laminate has come on a lot in the last couple of years and it's almost comparable to semi solid now. Some questions:

- Is laminate close to semi solid in quality?
- Has anyone got decent laminated floors recently..how'd they turn out?
- How much per sq metre / yard could I expect to pay for having it fitted?
- How much on average should decent laminate and decent semi solid cost ( I know there's loads of different quality/types etc but looking for a ball park figure for reasonably good stuff)?


Cheers.

These questions have lots of answers so I will try deal with them best I can and someone else can contradict or improve if they feel


- Is laminate close to semi solid in quality?

They are 2 different animals semi solid does not chip like laminate however you will pay as much for a good quality laminate as you do for a reasonable quality semi solid. There is some excellent laminates out there and of course there is the 5.99 sh1t which I would only put in a guest bedroom which is hardly used,


- Has anyone got decent laminated floors recently..how'd they turn out?

I bought excellent laminate floors in Des Kellys called pronto or presto floors. They have come on even more since then. They have edges and better vains. My neighbour got them and they look fab.

- How much per sq metre / yard could I expect to pay for having it fitted?

Hard question to answer as cant remember but my advice is spend a lot on the sitting room as its where everyone is. Dont put wooden floors around the sink... Sorry they never work. Not even the tile lock from b & q. This is just an experienced opinion. You will spend the same amount on a cheap but reasonable quality semi solid as you do on a high quality laminate

Lastly: I have the kids rule... If a lot of kids visit or you have kids buy semi solid. It dints better and believe me with kids its tested. If you go with semi sold make sure its not to thick to prevent the front door closing.

Lastly. A novice will fit laminate provide your careful and pay attention to finishing detail but an intermediate is required to fit the glued semi solids.

Best of luck. I have been told noyeks is excellent at the moment.

aka_Ciaran

Hi Joey, thanks for the answers much appreciated. I have 2 bedrooms to do in an apartment which will be rented out. I have laminate in the sitting room already. It was put in a few years ago and looks a bit poxy which was putting me off laminate, that's why I was thinking of semi solid. If laminate is almost as durable though I may well go for it. Will check out Des Kelly and Noyeks.

Cheers.

theboss80

I do flooring myself and if its only a laminate floor he's doing for you then you should only be paying €100-€150 per room at most depending on the rooms for your labour. Thats with leaving the original skirtings down and adding a cover strip.

John Mason

i have laminte in my hall and sitting room. no one believes its laminte, it looks like solid.

it cost me €5 a box

i put down myself, so i dont know about cost for laying it

Joey the lips

aka_Ciaran wrote: »

Hi Joey, thanks for the answers much appreciated. I have 2 bedrooms to do in an apartment which will be rented out. I have laminate in the sitting room already. It was put in a few years ago and looks a bit poxy which was putting me off laminate, that's why I was thinking of semi solid. If laminate is almost as durable though I may well go for it. Will check out Des Kelly and Noyeks.

Cheers.

No problem. If your renting I would buy cheap semi solid. Forget tearing off the skirting its only adding to the work. If your renting the renters wount care.

Consider tiles in the hall kitchen and bathrooms. They are more durable, PM me if you need a good tiler I know a few and they are professional.

Good luck with the renting its sh1t at the moment.

aka_Ciaran

pink fluffy bunny wrote: »

i have laminte in my hall and sitting room. no one believes its laminte, it looks like solid.

it cost me €5 a box

Sounds good, where did you get it for a fiver a box?

aka_Ciaran

Joey the lips wrote: »

Good luck with the renting its sh1t at the moment.

Tell me about it. Got it rented today but it's been empty for weeks and had to knock 250 off the rent :eek:

Saruman

I did a spare room recently for the under €50. I put it down myself so only paid for the materials. This room used the cheaper laminate (unlike my other rooms) and I got it in B&Q for about €6.99 per box and I only needed 4 boxes. Then whatever the beading cost but it all came to well under €50 and perhaps less than €40.

aka_Ciaran

Saruman wrote: »

I did a spare room recently for the under €50. I put it down myself so only paid for the materials. This room used the cheaper laminate (unlike my other rooms) and I got it in B&Q for about €6.99 per box and I only needed 4 boxes. Then whatever the beading cost but it all came to well under €50 and perhaps less than €40.

Good deal, what was the quality of the wood like...does it look well?

I see that des kelly are doing stuff called 'Click' flooring for 9.99 including fitting. Anyone know if this stuff is any good? This would come to 250 euro for my 25 sq yds.

Saruman

Looks very well yes.
I just took a photo for you.

aka_Ciaran

Looks very good alright. Can't go wrong at 6.99 box either, will check B&Q see if they still have any.

gsxr1

I layed a cheapo in my living room as we where decking out a house from scrach and money was tight.

2 years later and kids in the house. Its still looks ok. All floors look scuffy after a few years so I am happy with the cheap floor.

but I will be upgrading to a solid when times are better. A semi and lam will always look fake to a trained eye . Solid oak is my preference and is priced the same as the other 2 in places

aka_Ciaran

gsxr1 wrote: »

Solid oak is my preference and is priced the same as the other 2 in places

You and me both brother...would go with solid oak if budget wasn't an issue. Wouldn't have thought you'd get it for the same price as semi or laminate...any ideas where?

i've seen a very good solid oak floor for €35 per yard, it was with the 'dublin door company', i think thats their name. They've been travelling around with fllors and doors, we bought solid oak doors from them and will most likely get the solid oak floor if they return.

gsxr1

aka_Ciaran wrote: »

You and me both brother...would go with solid oak if budget wasn't an issue. Wouldn't have thought you'd get it for the same price as semi or laminate...any ideas where?

mc carthys in prosperous had 19mm pre finished soild whit oak for 26euro a meter. A few months ago.

they will need refinished in a few years though.

DeadSkin

Some folk I know have solid down and it doesn't seem to take wear and tear too much. Lots of dents and marks, due to kids bombing around the place.

This led me to the decision to to get laminate[have a wee one bombing around on a walker]. Got some in B&Q last week in their 15% off sale. Put it down the weekend, and have to say it looks fantastic.

Don't wanna seem I'm hijacking your thread, but does anyone know a place online where I can get some beading for the expansion gap?