Laminate or Real wood flooring?

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I’m having a really difficult time deciding whether to go for laminate or real wood flooring in my house. The rooms I want to do are the living room, the dining room and the hallway. If I go for the laminate then obviously I will choose the best quality one.

I know what the pro’s and con’s are of both for example, wood is harder to maintain and scratches easily but is warmer and probably looks better? While laminate doesn’t scratch very easily and is very easy to maintain but can look cheap (even though it isn’t!).

So basically I just wanted to know what you all think about this and what you have gone for or would go for and your experiences with both.

Also, my husband wants to go for the dark walnut colour floor while I was thinking of an oak colour. What do you guys think? Our rooms are painted with light neutral colours and have plenty of big windows for light.

Decision, decisions!

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Re: Laminate or Real wood flooring?

I would say, go for wood flooring... Expensive but well worth the money, and you can always refinish it when you think it's a little worn.

If I were you, I would go for walnut or any dark color flooring... dark color looks warmer and any color furniture/wall paint goes well with it.

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Re: Laminate or Real wood flooring?

hardwood and dark walnut.

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Re: Laminate or Real wood flooring?

wood will add value to the house.. and they are not so hard to maintain..

i have hard wood in the living/ dining and main entrance.. well u rright we got a few scratches.. but i still would go with natural materials.. they bring good energy in the house.. :)

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Re: Laminate or Real wood flooring?

Thank you to you all.

This has helped me alot and i am definately going to go for the real wood flooring as opposed to the laminate.

No one that i know has walnut flooring they all seem to have oak or cherry so i'm suprised that you think walnut would look better.

why would you opt for walnut over oak?

i know walnut is really "in" at the moment but is this going to last? and isn't oak more classic?

i just need to decide the colour now...thanks for your help.

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Re: Laminate or Real wood flooring?

Do you have kids? The areas you have specified sure seem like that hey are going to be used a lot except for if its a formal dining area. Why dont you opt for real wood for the formal areas and laminate for the most used areas.That considering if they are not all in one straight flow:)

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Re: Laminate or Real wood flooring?

There are these fairly new floor products that are made to look exactly like wood planking but are made of rubber. These are used in many high end houses lately and they are really lovely and much more durable. My brother has a couple of rooms with this and its really amazing - you cannot tell that it isnt real wood.

I have wood floors myself. I find them lovely but somewhat difficult - prone to scratches esp with 3 boyz.