save -laminate - or spend Amtico? will rent out in 2 years...

[Ambivalence]

Hi all

I only need 37 m2 to cover my whole (tiny) flat,. We are planning to move out in 2 years, buy a flat and rent this one out. It is a nice square in islington, but my ikea adel kitchen with oak worktops suits perfectly.

we sanded and oiled the (pine) floorboards 4 years ago, but it hasn't been a successs - it scratches, it is noisy even though we laid acoustic wool under the floorbaords, and smoke from the flat below seeps in, and we know mice can squeeze through the gaps, so a solid floor it is. we are laying cement board underneath to block the mice (builder has been sealing all the other gaps)

should i just get laminate given it is being rented out in 2 years time, and I will be cross if the tenants wreck the floor, or should I spend more and get amtico/engineered wood?

The builders are keen on laminate, I guess because it is easy for them to fit.

I was looking at this?

www.ukflooringdirect.co.uk/Laminate/Florence_7mm_Series_Loc_V_Groove_Rustic_Oak_Laminate_Floor.html

many thanks in advance

I'm not a huge fan of laminate, but in your situation I'd definitely be going for it. That one in your link looks nice.

Thanks, I have decided to go for the laminate. I was a bit annoyed that my builder wants £850 to fit in ( it now has come down to 33 m2), my colleague commented that he is taking advantage of knowing we are unlikley togo to someone else half way through the job.

I am allowed laminate in the flat - the covenant is to keep the floors substantially covered to reduce noise disturbance - so acoustic underay benath the laminate will sort that. I have acoustic insulation under the existing floorboards as well, and rugs in hallway.