I hate my floors!

17 years ago

A couple of years ago we put laminate from Costco in the living room and dining room(1 big L shaped room) and a couple of months later we had some tile guys put tile into the foyer and the connecting kitchen and the bathroom. The laminate isn't scratched or anything like that, but it is starting to gap where the tops and bottoms of some boards meet. The tile is horrible. I HATE it. These guys started out good, and finished terribly. Some of the tiles are cracking. The transitions they did are the suckiest transitions I have ever seen. My 7 year old could have done better. Every time I look at the tile I want to scream.

All that to say, we are thinking of changing the floor in all the rooms but the back bathroom. It will stay the tile since that is the one area where it isn't screwed up. I'd love to go hardwood everywhere, but really don't know if I want hardwood in the kitchen or by the front door where the kids come in everyday with wet boots, etc. But with the laminate gapping already, I don't know that I want to go laminate everywhere either. Is the laminate just because we did it and aren't experienced or the brand? I will not consider tile again. I figured I would leave it up to you experts to guide me.

Oh and under the laminate is parquet flooring that is in horrible shape, no clue what is under that. And if I remember correctly, they put plywood under the tile.

Thanks!

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Comments (4)

jerry_t
17 years ago
First thing people need to know before you get any good advice is what you have for a substrate. Are you on a slab? Plywood, OSB, Particle Board over floor joist? Over a crawl space or basement? Enlighten us ..... :)

The reason for asking is because that parquet can be problematic depending on what is underneath it.
glennsfc
17 years ago
Plywood under the tile?!...a recipe for failure.

As for plastic laminate flooring?...initially thought the concept was a good one, until I realized, working with the stuff, that it is a disposable decorative medium (that is my opinion). That said...many people like the product and have no problems living with it.

Best of luck finding skilled craftpeople to do your hardwood floors. Definitely ask around for recommendations and check references. Also, educate yourself regarding all the many and different products that claim to be hardwood floors; know what you're buying.
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debmom
17 years ago
Wow, I hate my floors too! I was leaning toward wood-look laminate for the living and dining rooms, and tile for the kitchen, foyer, powder and laundry rooms, but now I'm considering hardwood and DuraCeramic. I'll be following the follow-ups on this topic to see what everyone has to say. Good luck!
mkkristen
Original Author
17 years ago
Well the living room, dining room, kitchen and foyer are all over a basement. And all I know is the parquet is what is under the laminate. I'm not positive that the tile guys used plywood under the tile, maybe it was a different kind of board. Thanks!