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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think laminate floor is not naff?

219 replies

Laquitar · 14/03/2011 07:03

This snobbery about laminate floor and leather sofas gets on my nerves.

They are not naff, they are PRACTICAL. You can keep the floor clean, really clean.

Carpets are filthy and they smell.

We had a lovely -and clean- decade when laminate floor was 'trendy'. Now someone has decided that it is 'naf' Hmm and i fear we are going back to smelly carpets.

AIBU to think they are ok and should stay?

OP posts:
noddyholder · 15/03/2011 12:44

minging germ infested? PMSL this thread is going nuts what sot of carpets have you seen to think they are a health hazard of that magnitude. My ds has never caught anything from ours and nor have we Grin

wannabesybil · 15/03/2011 13:04

I do my best to keep things clean, but it is a poor best, and I want to get rid of the carpet.

I daren't just rip the dratted thing up and let OH sit in drafts as it would be everyone but him suffering as he is the only one who doesn't feel the cold.

It cannot possibly be hygenic, though I am not fixed on that. I may try that tack with OH.

Considering old newspaper as viable alternative.

myredcardigan · 15/03/2011 13:35

Blimey, carpet is not akin to a rubbish tip! We have hard wood flooring throughout most of the downstairs other than the kitchen (tiled) and the family room which has carpet. No pets and it's hoovered 3 times a week and Vaxed once a month which I'm fine with. I tend to replace carpet every 3yrs.

It may have some germs but don't your kids pick up germs when they're climbing the trees in the garden or eating mud as toddlers? I bet you lot are all out with the anti-bac sprays as well!

myredcardigan · 15/03/2011 13:37

Though I must admit it is tricky to hoover behind the rods on the stair runner.

mysticpizza · 15/03/2011 14:14

Having lived with carpets in all previous houses and now having a mixture of laminate,wood and carpets I can safely say I love the laminate beyond all reason and would have more if I could be arsed to brave clearing the kids sties rooms to do it :o

onepieceoflollipop · 15/03/2011 14:20

What someone said about their previous carpet and spillages, I have found with the sofas.

For years we had fabric sofas, and they looked clean. I hoovered them regularly etc and shook the cushions.

We now have the sort of leather that half of mnet seem to sneer at. Grin

I gave them a good damp dusting only yesterday and they were filthy. (smudges, bits of food etc). All of that must have just seeped into the old fabric ones.

valiumredhead · 15/03/2011 14:45

I'm still going to have stone/slate flooring in kitchen, bathroom and hallway though.

You will have nippy toes! We have stone tiles and it's freezing even on a hot day, Wouldn't change them but would've had more radiators or underfloor heating put in when we were doing the house up.

myredcardigan · 15/03/2011 14:56

But surely you put underfloor heating under stone tiles?

I don't find our stone nippy at all. We have travertine in the kitchen and utility room. It's lovely to open the kitchen door in the morning and feel all warm underneath. It reminds me of walking poolside on holiday.

valiumredhead · 15/03/2011 14:57

But surely you put underfloor heating under stone tiles?

Well, we didn't!

Original poster
Laquitar · 15/03/2011 15:28

onepiece and those who said similar, we must take photos of our wipes and post them here Grin

Wannabesybil show this thread to your OH Wink

OP posts:
lovecorrie · 15/03/2011 15:30

Bugger - I'm being forced into mopping the floors now...

myredcardigan · 15/03/2011 15:57

Valium, you quoted someone else and said they'd have cold feet. I was simply pointing out that these days surely most tiling is done over underfloor heating. So if she hasn't yet done it, chances are she'll put it in.

It wasn't a personal dig. I've just re-read your post and see you mentioned not putting it in. I obviously missed that. I guess I just assumed that most tiling these days would be over heating.

BalloonSlayer · 15/03/2011 16:03

Popped back to add I am EXTREMELY grateful for my lovely laminate as DS2 chundered in three locations all over the living room this morning.

Dragonwoman · 15/03/2011 16:45

Sorry, I think it was my thread on property that inspired this one!

For those who can't be bothered reading it, is laminate in a 70's house with no character & concrete floors acceptable, or would it put off potential buyers?

For the record I would happily live with it myself as long as it wasn't the really cheap orange stuff! I do like real wood, but isn't it 'wasted' on a 70's semi?

myredcardigan · 15/03/2011 16:50

I guess it depends what you're semi is worth. If it's a 500k+semi then I would put wood down but a cheaper one then maybe not. But if you're planning on selling just don't bother changing anything unless your EA thinks you need to.

I would rip up both old carpet and laminate before moving in so I would want someone to put stuff in and up the price accordingly.

It really depends on your market so I'd speak to the EA. Smile

myredcardigan · 15/03/2011 16:51

Sorry, your not you're.

gordyslovesheep · 15/03/2011 16:52

I HAVE to defend the Billy Bookcase here Grin I have them floor to ceiling on one wall of my playroom - they are beautiful and handy and very cheap Grin

Dragonwoman · 15/03/2011 16:58

Nah - less than £250k. Haven't got EA round yet - just musing about whether to move or extend!

myredcardigan · 15/03/2011 17:03

Sorry, that sentence should read I wouldn't want someone to put new stuff in and adjust the price accordingly.

I think I have pregnancy brain today though I'm not pg I don't think, though I was due this morning. Hmmm.

valiumredhead · 15/03/2011 17:21

myredcardigan I actually meant to put a Grin after my post because I read your post in a 'Surely everyone has a utility room?' way, and it made me laugh Grin

Anyway, YES, underfloor heating is a good idea or lots of radiators. It was BOILING hot the day I had to make a decision about heating/flooring and stupidly decided against it. I really regret it now!

Susiewho · 15/03/2011 17:26

I'm with vj32 - leather is dead skin! Cruel and ugly.

valiumredhead · 15/03/2011 17:28

But wears SO well susie Wink

myredcardigan · 15/03/2011 17:30
Grin Is it better or worse that we didn't extend the under floor heating into the utility room?
valiumredhead · 15/03/2011 17:34

Sounds the same as me not extending the stone tiles into our utility room red Grin Wink

noddyholder · 15/03/2011 17:48

I have tiled floors throughout the kitchen dining tv room and no heating under but have about 5 old style radiators and it is warm.