Laminate Flooring

If you put laminate flooring over hardwood floors will that ruin the original floors? If it does that will really really lessen the value of the house. People are suckers for original hardwood if they can be refinished.

Laminate floors are great in certain house areas, but if you get water on them, they can warp and lift really easily. For example if you have a dog or cat and they get sick while you are gone, it can damage the laminate.

I would re-finish the hardwoods before I would lay something over them. I have laminate in my living room but If I had a hardwood floor there I would never put something over it.

I like the laminiate. It's easy to take care of, but hardwoods were too much money at the time.

Definitely refinish the floors. That will be your cheapest option anyway.

I like laminates and they are very durable (much more so than hardwood when you are talking about the higher end products) but why cover it up if you already have it?

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Posted by Sonicstef

Definitely refinish the floors. That will be your cheapest option anyway.

I like laminates and they are very durable (much more so than hardwood when you are talking about the higher end products) but why cover it up if you already have it?

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Great question, however, it seems like my hardwood floors are falling apart. There are a couple of holes in the wood in some areas and uneven wood in others. If I do refinish the floors will they fix these problems? If not, this is why I am thinking about laminating. Brand new wood floors would be just too expensive and frankly, I dont want to spend that kind of money while I live in the co-op.
Decisions, decisions.....

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Posted by dandg

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Posted by Sonicstef

Definitely refinish the floors. That will be your cheapest option anyway.

I like laminates and they are very durable (much more so than hardwood when you are talking about the higher end products) but why cover it up if you already have it?

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Great question, however, it seems like my hardwood floors are falling apart. There are a couple of holes in the wood in some areas and uneven wood in others. If I do refinish the floors will they fix these problems? If not, this is why I am thinking about laminating. Brand new wood floors would be just too expensive and frankly, I dont want to spend that kind of money while I live in the co-op.
Decisions, decisions.....

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If you do go with laminate-take up the old floors first. You need a good solid sub-floor.

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Posted by Blu-ize

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Posted by dandg

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Posted by Sonicstef

Definitely refinish the floors. That will be your cheapest option anyway.

I like laminates and they are very durable (much more so than hardwood when you are talking about the higher end products) but why cover it up if you already have it?

---

Great question, however, it seems like my hardwood floors are falling apart. There are a couple of holes in the wood in some areas and uneven wood in others. If I do refinish the floors will they fix these problems? If not, this is why I am thinking about laminating. Brand new wood floors would be just too expensive and frankly, I dont want to spend that kind of money while I live in the co-op.
Decisions, decisions.....

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If you do go with laminate-take up the old floors first. You need a good solid sub-floor.

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i agree with needing a solid sub floor--- a level one! is your hardwood warped?

funny you should ask about this.
we live in a co-op and it sounds like we have similar problems. i have hardwood floors with holes - as in i walk in my heels and the heel goes through the floor in some spots- and it's not because i need to lose weight.

we got an estimate and learned that the problem was old water damage. re-finishing would not accomplish what we want done because there are holes in the floor.

the estimate to rip up the old floor, put in a new concrete subfloor and then install a new flooring system was $10k. i likewise do not want to spend that much $$$ on this place, but the goal is to make the $$$ back when we sell the apartment.

we are still getting more estimates before making a final decision.

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Posted by reg426

funny you should ask about this.
we live in a co-op and it sounds like we have similar problems. i have hardwood floors with holes - as in i walk in my heels and the heel goes through the floor in some spots- and it's not because i need to lose weight.

we got an estimate and learned that the problem was old water damage. re-finishing would not accomplish what we want done because there are holes in the floor.

the estimate to rip up the old floor, put in a new concrete subfloor and then install a new flooring system was $10k. i likewise do not want to spend that much $$$ on this place, but the goal is to make the $$$ back when we sell the apartment.

we are still getting more estimates before making a final decision.

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While I dont think our problem is as bad as yours, there is the dilemma of deciding what to do. I guess I'll just have to get some professional advice and seek a few estimates.

Is it possible to put laminate flooring over tile floors? Anyone have an idea? Thanks.

If you have floors that are weak and have water damage, you will need to put in a new subfloor before you can install the laminate. Laminate is only a floor covering and is not a structural floor. Same would go for tiles, hardwood or anything else.


Yes you can put laminate floors over tile floors from what I understand.