Cheap hardwood floors?

**Ski01xj** · 01-03-2009, 10:03 PM

Before I move out I want to re-do the upstairs for my parents. Kind of like a "thanks for letting me live here for 23 years" gift.

Once I'm gone the room won't see much traffic, if any at all. I was wondering if anyone had any experience with the lock in style hardwood flooring? I know its the cheap way to do things, but neither my parents nor I can afford the expensive stuff.

I really don't have a clue as to how much I want to spend. The cheap stuff is pretty much idiot proof as long as you can measure and cut wood, I just don't want to buy some stuff that is real garbage.

Anyone have any input? I'd like to sound like I have at least half a clue before I go talk to someone at flooring place.

**Motorcharge** · 01-03-2009, 10:07 PM

It's cheap, but pretty good quality. A few years ago, probably like 5, we did my aunts house with the bamboo finish and it's held up incredibly well with high traffic (4 cats, 3 dogs and 2 people) and still looks like it did when we put it in.

xxxflhrci · 01-03-2009, 10:07 PM

My parents put it in a bedroom. It is pretty much fool proof. I hate it, though. It is noisy. Walking on it or having the dog run across it makes a lot of noise, much more than my house with oak hardwood floors. Personally, I would never put it down.

**Motorcharge** · 01-03-2009, 10:08 PM

It's noisy, but so is any hard flooring surface.

**Ski01xj** · 01-03-2009, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xxxflhrci

My parents put it in a bedroom. It is pretty much fool proof. I hate it, though. It is noisy. Walking on it or having the dog run across it makes a lot of noise, much more than my house with oak hardwood floors. Personally, I would never put it down.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVApunkROCK

It's noisy, but so is any hard flooring surface.

I would assume the noise level depends on what you use underneath it and how tightly its layed in, no?

xxxflhrci · 01-03-2009, 10:11 PM

I assume the stuff you are talking about is "floating" flooring. It is not attached to the subfloor. It is put down on a thin foam matt. Even with the matt, it still has a hollow echo like sound to it.

**Ski01xj** · 01-03-2009, 10:17 PM

Yeah that is what I'm talking about. I'm seeing some different sound deadening materials to go over the subfloor.

**Prot** · 01-03-2009, 10:24 PM

How many square feet do you need to cover? What kind of budget you are on?

**Ski01xj** · 01-03-2009, 10:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prot

How many square feet do you need to cover? What kind of budget you are on?

The room is approximately 230sq/ft if I don't include the closest. I'll cross that bridge when I come to it.

I'm not sure what my budget is. Less than 1,000 for the floors I guess. I'm not sure if thats realistic or not.

Bridgette · 01-03-2009, 10:33 PM

Ikea laminate flooring. You can't go wrong with 65 cents a sq ft.

**Prot** · 01-03-2009, 10:38 PM

Here is a place you may want to check out:

www.lumberliquidators.com

**Motorcharge** · 01-03-2009, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ski01xj

I would assume the noise level depends on what you use underneath it and how tightly its layed in, no?

Of course to some degree, but regardless of what you put under it it's still a hard surface and is going to be noticeably louder than carpeting.

**Ski01xj** · 01-03-2009, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prot

Here is a place you may want to check out:

www.lumberliquidators.com

Yeah I've been looking at their prices and getting a rough estimate while looking at this thread. I have a pretty good idea of the cost. I'm mainly waiting for someone to chime in who maybe has kids and pets running around on it.

Bridgette · 01-03-2009, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ski01xj

I'm mainly waiting for someone to chime in who maybe has kids and pets running around on it.

Holler x 2!

**Prot** · 01-03-2009, 10:56 PM

If you can afford it, Bellawood is good. Not all of their stuff is expensive, and you can get a cut on the price by buying seconds.

01-03-2009, 10:07 PM	#3
xxxflhrci Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: South Posts: 3,643 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	My parents put it in a bedroom. It is pretty much fool proof. I hate it, though. It is noisy. Walking on it or having the dog run across it makes a lot of noise, much more than my house with oak hardwood floors. Personally, I would never put it down.

01-03-2009, 10:11 PM	#6
xxxflhrci Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: South Posts: 3,643 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	I assume the stuff you are talking about is "floating" flooring. It is not attached to the subfloor. It is put down on a thin foam matt. Even with the matt, it still has a hollow echo like sound to it.