Question about flooring.

[Richt]

Hope someone can help, or offer a suggestion / opinion.

At the moment in my flat I have carpet in the lounge and tiling on all of the other floors. I have recently dropped a hot iron on the carpet in the lounge and it has melted a horrible shape into it. I am thinking of claiming on my contents insurance for the carpet and am toying with putting laminate flooring down througout. Except for the kitchen and bathroom.

My question for you is - laminate / wood flooring in a flat/appartment, is it a wise thing to do? Or will it make too much noise for my neighbours who share my block of flats?

Any thoughts? Has anyone ever lived in a flat/appartment which had wood flooring?

Rich

[TIME2SHINE4-08]

Re: Question about flooring.

Rich we recently redid a whole floor of our house in this. It came with underlayment attached. The underlayment gives it a bit of spring and sound proofs. Some laminate comes with out it already attached also. You can select the thickness of the underlayment padding you want. Thicker meaning more spring and better sound proofing. My brother also has both fllors of his house done. You can't hear someone walking normally upstairs in either of our homes.

We have had no problems with noise eic. It is lovely flooring and very durable ( I'm guessing thats why the warranty is 20 years). I've dropped cans etc with out a mark to it.
Dh said it was pretty simple to install.

[Hayden]

Re: Question about flooring.

Sorry Rich, the noise of installation of the flooring being too noisy, or your footsteps on a hard wood flooring, everyday, being too noisy?

[Richt]

Re: Question about flooring.

Sorry, hayden, question was as clear as mud.

I was referring to footsteps on the hard flooring being noisy. Not bothered about the installation as that is merely temporary.

[Hayden]

Re: Question about flooring.

In my house, I have Tatami mats, and vanished, exposed hard wood floorboards. However in Japanese houses you remove your shoes at the door. I don't think, I make too much noise.

A hardwood floor, (which your apartment probably has anyway, if you remove all the carpet), when sanded and varnish can look beautiful. However, walking on with some leather soled shoes, yes, would be noisy. Since your question is would it be too noisy, I think yes, maybe it would. If you walked around in shoes.

A vinyl floor, which would be your other choice. Vinyl flooring has actually improved a lot since the 70's. The days, of sun flowers on the floor, have long gone, and you can buy, vinyl flooring that even looks like exposed hardwood flooring. The perfect crime

The underlay of the vinyl will help with footstep noise suppression, it will however change the acoustics of the room. Your TV, or music will sound different. That's a different problem though.

[TIME2SHINE4-08]

Re: Question about flooring.

Rich here is a link to Pergo flooring. There is lots of info there. http://www.pergo.com/shop/category.aspx?categoryID=16 (the red oak is what we used)

[sadie147]

Re: Question about flooring.

I don't live in an apartment , but we do live in an 80 yr old creaky home that has laminate in the dining room. i was worried the old squeaky floor noise would come thru but it didn't. The underlay does help alot.

I've also looked into the vinyl flooring that Hayden mentioned that looks like wood and it's really awesome, i'm amazed at how real it looks. they have one that comes in 'planks' that has exposed edges that have glue on them..so you don't stick it to the floor but too it'self if that makes sense. It's perfect for an apt since it's not stuck to the floor you can lift it and take it with you if you leave. and it's amazing how real it looks.

The brand was called 'Trafficmaster Allure Flooring'. Worth checking out to see if they ahve it in britain. http://www.homedepot.ca/webapp/wcs/s...k=P_PartNumber

[*Emma*]

Re: Question about flooring.

Rich youve seen my flat, though it was only half done when you were there its fully done now and less noisier than when it was half - and i didnt think it was even that bad then... its definitely easier for you lazy boys to clean!!

I'd say go for it, it looks nice!

and before anyone tells its cold, its so not!! if anything my place retains heat!

[meena-beena]

Re: Question about flooring.

If you're worried about noise, go with cork. It's not only great for killing all sound, it's also environmentally friendly.

[Hayden]

Re: Question about flooring.

Rich, did you replace the carpet?

[*Emma*]

Re: Question about flooring.

He's a boy

they talk the talk

but never walk the walk

[Richt]

Re: Question about flooring.

not done anything to it yet. I dropped a hot iron on it just months after moving in and melted a rather fetching iron shape into it. Ever since then I keep saying that I will claim off of my contents insurance to have it replaced.......

But as Emma quite observantly pointed out, I am a bloke and can never seem to get around to it. One day I will however..... just not sure when that one day will be.

[SandyL2002]

Re: Question about flooring.

I have vinyl on my floor that looks like wood...I LOVE it.. Doesn't make lots of sound either... And it feels so much cleaner..cause if you only knew what was in your carpets you would throw them all away.