Will I regret laminate flooring?

[Deleted]

Currently my LR and DR are carpeted while my foyer and kitchen are laminate. My carpets are gross (thanks kids and dogs). I really want to put in hard wood in the LR/DR and tile in the kitchen/foyer, but it really isn't in the budget right now, but I NEED to do something about the carpet. I'm tired of having to steam clean it all the time, plus, my dog being sick over the weekend didn't help the condition of my carpet. I was looking at the wood-look laminate flooring. It seems to have a lot of great reviews on Home Depot. This would only be "temporary" flooring, in that, we're looking at a first floor update/remodel in 5-7 years. If you were me, would you put out the money to install the laminate and get area rugs, or just deal with the carpet and constant cleaning? Full disclosure, I want to put in the laminate flooring, my H wants to keep the carpet. We have the cash to replace the flooring if we go that route. 

ETA: this is the flooring that I'm leaning towards www.homedepot.com/p/TrafficMASTER-Anniston-Oak-7-mm-Thick-x-7-2-3-in-Wide-x-50-5-8-in-Length-Laminate-Flooring-24-17-sq-ft-case-45108/301318638 

[candreco]

I don't think you'd regret putting in laminate. I've had it in several houses, and the lower level of my current house (hardwood on the upper level), and the fact that it's so easily cleaned/maintained is worth it.

You might also look at luxury vinyl plank, if we ever need to replace the flooring downstairs I'd go with that over hardwood.

[icedcoffee]

I'd go with luxury plank vinyl throughout the whole 1st floor too. It looks so nice!

[munkii]

Personally, I'd go with vinyl plank over laminate. Laminate is hard, click-clacky (this may seem like a weird thing to read, but walk on it and you'll understand), and it's a paper/wood product, which means it still requires quick clean-up and the floor needs to remain dry.

There are cons to vinyl plank, but IMO they don't outweigh its benefits. While wood because richer under direct sunlight, vinyl can fade. Also, you shouldn't use rubber products on vinyl (carpet mats, for example) because they can permanently stain vinyl.

[Deleted]

Thank you for the recommendations for vinyl. I honestly hadn't looked in to it at all. My kitchen and foyer are laminate which is why I was thinking that we would go that route.

I'm wondering, with pets, will the vinyl hold up as well? The draw of the laminate for me is that it doesn't scratch easily (at least, that is the case with my current flooring). I have two crazy 50+ pound dogs, so I worry about durability, even if it's only for 5-7 years.

[munkii]

I'm surprised you've had such good luck with large dogs and laminate. That combo normally doesn't end well! Vinyl is a great option for people with pets as long as a good quality vinyl is used. When shopping for vinyl, look at the wear-layer thickness. The thicker the wear-layer, the tougher the product.

[dr.girlfriend]

One other thing you can think about is indoor/outdoor rugs over the carpet. We have a giant indoor/outdoor rug in our living room over the engineered hardwood, and it holds up great to pets and food stains and stuff. We have to replace it every few years, but the latest is over two years old and looks pretty new. Some definitely hold up better than others. If you were certain you were going to do a bigger redo within five years I would go that route. 5 - 7 years is kind of a long time to wait for something you want though.

(FYI your link doesn't work for me)

[Deleted]

Nov 7, 2018 12:21:40 GMT -5 dr.girlfriend said:

One other thing you can think about is indoor/outdoor rugs over the carpet. We have a giant indoor/outdoor rug in our living room over the engineered hardwood, and it holds up great to pets and food stains and stuff. We have to replace it every few years, but the latest is over two years old and looks pretty new. Some definitely hold up better than others. If you were certain you were going to do a bigger redo within five years I would go that route. 5 - 7 years is kind of a long time to wait for something you want though.

(FYI your link doesn't work for me)

We are trying to be money smart. We currently have about $78K in debt that we are actively paying down, and then would save the cash to pay for the bulk of the 1st floor reno. As long as we don't have any major financial catastrophies, we should have the debt paid off in 2 years and could potentially do the kitchen in 4, but I'm aiming for 5.

Not sure why the link isn't working. It was. Ugh.

[sandandsea]

I think it’d be perfect for your needs. Inexpensive and durable and clean.

[felicity]

I agree with the indoor/outdoor carpet recommendation. I think the flat weave type look nice over carpet.

And I know you didn't ask this, so I hope it's not overstepping, but if you are in debt payoff mode I wouldn't shell out for temporary flooring. 5ish years will go by fast.

[dr.girlfriend]

Nov 7, 2018 12:37:46 GMT -5 @sameoldstory said:

Nov 7, 2018 12:21:40 GMT -5 dr.girlfriend said:

One other thing you can think about is indoor/outdoor rugs over the carpet. We have a giant indoor/outdoor rug in our living room over the engineered hardwood, and it holds up great to pets and food stains and stuff. We have to replace it every few years, but the latest is over two years old and looks pretty new. Some definitely hold up better than others. If you were certain you were going to do a bigger redo within five years I would go that route. 5 - 7 years is kind of a long time to wait for something you want though.

(FYI your link doesn't work for me)

We are trying to be money smart. We currently have about $78K in debt that we are actively paying down, and then would save the cash to pay for the bulk of the 1st floor reno. As long as we don't have any major financial catastrophies, we should have the debt paid off in 2 years and could potentially do the kitchen in 4, but I'm aiming for 5.

Not sure why the link isn't working. It was. Ugh.

Yeah, I would just live with the carpet for now with an indoor/outdoor rug on top.  Here's the one I have...it's a darker charcoal than pictured (I can post a photo when I get home) but it wipes clean beautifully, even from stuff like spaghetti sauce, holds up to dog and kid traffic (we're horrible, we even let the kid ride his scooter indoors), and is only $60 for pretty big size (bigger than 5 x 7).  They are also not scratchy or rough.  We've had probably five or six rugs in that room over the past 10 years and this one is my favorite so far.

Ugh, C&P doesn't work on my computer, but check Wayfair for the "Bedervale Charcoal" by "Astoria Grand."

[TR]

Nov 7, 2018 13:43:47 GMT -5 felicity said:

I agree with the indoor/outdoor carpet recommendation. I think the flat weave type look nice over carpet.

And I know you didn't ask this, so I hope it's not overstepping, but if you are in debt payoff mode I wouldn't shell out for temporary flooring. 5ish years will go by fast.

I was coming in to say the same thing because I thought I remembered you making a debt payoff post recently. Live with this for now and put that money toward debt payoff.

[Deleted]

So, the only reason that I'm considering doing anything right now while we're in debt-payoff mode is that we actually have Home Depot gift cards that would cover the majority of the cost and the rest would be covered with cash that I had stashed away for a Girls' Weekend that actually isn't going to happen. Yes, I should probably put that cash towards debt, but at the end of the day, $400 isn't going to make a huge dent in the debt but will make a huge difference in my house if it were put towards flooring. Of course, prioritizing the house is one of the reasons we are in debt in the first place so........

Honestly, it is really going to depend if I can get the stains out. I bought some Nature's Miracle last night, if that doesn't work, then, I guess we'll have to think long and hard if this is the best decision for us right now. Ugh. I hate adulting.

[lys]

Another vote for indoor/outdoor rug.