Hard floors...
Discussion
Done to death previously I'm sure but all the threads seem to start at a greater level of knowledge than I have!
We're about to move into the small extension that was meant to be a grampa annexe but is now for us (long story!).
OH is asthmatic so we want to go for a non carpeted floor but I have no idea what type of floor to go for. I know there is a whole world of difference between a cheap laminate floor and a decent solid wood (engineered?) floor but I have no idea what to go for.
Money is a problem as we have little of it, the downstairs space is around 6m x 5m of which part is a small open plan kitchen, the upstairs is around 7m x 4.5m ish.
I seem to recall that there is someone on here who supplies this stuff? Any other suggestions very welcome.
We're based on the Devon/Dorset border if that helps.
We're about to move into the small extension that was meant to be a grampa annexe but is now for us (long story!).
OH is asthmatic so we want to go for a non carpeted floor but I have no idea what type of floor to go for. I know there is a whole world of difference between a cheap laminate floor and a decent solid wood (engineered?) floor but I have no idea what to go for.
Money is a problem as we have little of it, the downstairs space is around 6m x 5m of which part is a small open plan kitchen, the upstairs is around 7m x 4.5m ish.
I seem to recall that there is someone on here who supplies this stuff? Any other suggestions very welcome.
We're based on the Devon/Dorset border if that helps.
Karndean is great, even the basic knight tile, hard wearing and long lasting too, you can order it over the net which is a hell of a lot cheaper than going to a shop for it, I can't recommend it highly enough, but I specialise in fitting the stuff, so I might be a bit biased against other similar flooring! 
Fab I'm looking at the Knight stuff online. Ideally I'd like nice reclaimed oak floors but realistically we've got too much stuff to do and not enough money to do it with at the moment...
We've got Weyroc floors upstairs and Weyroc over concrete downstairs - does that change anything?
We've got Weyroc floors upstairs and Weyroc over concrete downstairs - does that change anything?
Provided vinyl tiles don't sit in water for a long time, they are very good ( glue is water based ) I recall seeing a place that had been flooded by a river bursting it banks, once the water was evacuated the vinyl floor came up great.
Plus provided you clean and 'polish' which is a good clean and a thin vanish like treatment it's long lasting. Individual tiles are much easier to lift and replace if damaged.
Plus provided you clean and 'polish' which is a good clean and a thin vanish like treatment it's long lasting. Individual tiles are much easier to lift and replace if damaged.
Thanks so much for the input. It looks like vinyl is the right approach then as ideally we want to go through the whole of the ground floor, including the kitchen area in one go rather than fragment the areas plus we have a springer spaniel who's a bit of a mud magnet!
Are the Karndean Knight tiles suitable for DIY fit? I think the Picasso price I saw must have been a fluke as it appears to be quite a lot more than the Knight tiles - is it worth the extra?
I think I've found somewhere local'ish that sells this stuff so we'll take a trip next week to have a look.
Are the Karndean Knight tiles suitable for DIY fit? I think the Picasso price I saw must have been a fluke as it appears to be quite a lot more than the Knight tiles - is it worth the extra?
I think I've found somewhere local'ish that sells this stuff so we'll take a trip next week to have a look.
[quote=Piglet
Are the Karndean Knight tiles suitable for DIY fit?
[/quote]
Kight tiles are fine for domestic use, the more expensive are thicker versions,
DIY is possible but I'd say you'd need to be competent, and handy with a stanley knife, the glue floats on, I'm sure there is a how to do it online, there are definitely tricks of the trade that help get it right.
eg when laying planks remember to cut the starting ones at odd lengths so the joins are random.
if you're plying first a lighweight nail gun is really handy, if on concrete, it's got to be good and smooth, usually a screed has to be laid down first to get a level smooth surface.
Are the Karndean Knight tiles suitable for DIY fit?
[/quote]
Kight tiles are fine for domestic use, the more expensive are thicker versions,
DIY is possible but I'd say you'd need to be competent, and handy with a stanley knife, the glue floats on, I'm sure there is a how to do it online, there are definitely tricks of the trade that help get it right.
eg when laying planks remember to cut the starting ones at odd lengths so the joins are random.
if you're plying first a lighweight nail gun is really handy, if on concrete, it's got to be good and smooth, usually a screed has to be laid down first to get a level smooth surface.
Piglet said:
So is the feeling that a good vinyl tile is better than a cheap laminate?
Vinyl tiles are fine unless thet look like wood, in which case they look VERY cheap and nasty.As said if your looking on a budget have a look at bamboo, and fit it yourself as it really is not that hard to do, just take your time.
allegro said:
Don't want to burst your bubble Piglet but i'm sure i read somewhere that it been proven hard floors are actually worse for asthma.
A carpet holds the dust til you can hoover it up. Dust just blows around on a hard floor.
Can you quote your link? That would be fairly contrary to all of the advice regarding asthma A carpet holds the dust til you can hoover it up. Dust just blows around on a hard floor.
KrazyIvan said:
Piglet said:
So is the feeling that a good vinyl tile is better than a cheap laminate?
Vinyl tiles are fine unless thet look like wood, in which case they look VERY cheap and nasty.As said if your looking on a budget have a look at bamboo, and fit it yourself as it really is not that hard to do, just take your time.
Piglet said:
KrazyIvan said:
Piglet said:
So is the feeling that a good vinyl tile is better than a cheap laminate?
Vinyl tiles are fine unless thet look like wood, in which case they look VERY cheap and nasty.As said if your looking on a budget have a look at bamboo, and fit it yourself as it really is not that hard to do, just take your time.
Can't help re second Q.
Hmm right, we've been to B&Q (it's the only place close to hand!) and had a good poke around.
They have solid oak flooring on special offer at £25 per sq m which we're very tempted by, having measured, we're only looking at 16 sq m on each floor so it's doable costwise.
They've also got bamboo at £23 per sq m which looked nice as well and we may well go for if they haven't got any of the oak when OH goes back tomorrow.
Also going off to research other bamboo prices...
They have solid oak flooring on special offer at £25 per sq m which we're very tempted by, having measured, we're only looking at 16 sq m on each floor so it's doable costwise.
They've also got bamboo at £23 per sq m which looked nice as well and we may well go for if they haven't got any of the oak when OH goes back tomorrow.
Also going off to research other bamboo prices...
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