Can wooden flooring really cost that much?

[Loulou000]

We just got a quote for replacing the carpet in our hallway with wood. It's a four bed terrace house, so the hallway is not like giant or anything, and the quote is for £2.4k. I can't believe it. This is for engineered wood that is distressed to look old, and is £95 a metre. That still leaves something like £1.4 for fitting. I can't believe it! Is this normal? Wishing I had not taken up the carpet now before finding out how much it would cost to replace!!!!

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

I paid 2k for 2 rooms 10 years ago and that was a very cheap quote.

I wouldn't have wood in a hallway tbh.

[BigGreenOlives]

Our engineered wood looks dreadful after 2 years. It was oiled when it was laid & hasn't stood up at all well to our family life (2 dogs, 3 teens, 2 adults).

[shovetheholly]

I'm facing this dilemma of what to put on a hallway floor, and I'm going for Amtico. Some of them look the absolute spit of wood now - and they are fully washable.

I have engineered oiled wood in my front room, and it's much less robust than laquered engineered and needs constant attention and maintenance. No way would it stand up to the kind of beating it would get in a hall.

[Bluntness100]

You can look at cheaper flooring and also different quotes, my friend just had her downstairs done with this, no idea of actual measurements, but it was about five grand, however this included laying the concrete base first then the floor and it was expensive engineered oak.

[YelloDraw]

Don't do the beading! It looks so terrible. If you're going to pay for nice flooring pay to have skirting boards taken up and put back.

[Wrinklytights]

Agree with PP about the beading. You would be better off using a cheaper flooring and doing the skirting properly than using beading on an expensive floor as it will instantly look cheap.

[VickieCherry]

Are the skirting boards usually removed and replaced by the people who do the wood flooring?

We're getting laminate to replace our carpets in the new year, and have been to a few places to get an idea of costs. So far they've all suggested we use beading, and none of them would do the skirting boards themselves. I really, really don't want beading but was starting to think I'd have to just live with it, as we're not DIYers and I have no desire to crowbar skirting off the wall, fill any gaps in the plaster and figure out how to attach new stuff.

Should I keep looking? Any suggestions for national firms who'll do it?

[SilverSixpence]

We ended up getting white beading to match the skirtings as DH refused to remove the skirtings as we had just had the walls plastered, in hindsight should have had them taken off first but it was too late. The white beading blends in with the skirting and I hardly ever notice it now. The fitters could have done it for us if we wanted it done so it shouldn't be hard to find someone.

[Lavendergirl]

Find someone who has a trade account and ask if you can take advantage of their trade discount, usually 60-70% off. Often a joiner will be happy to pass that on if you hire them to do the fitting.

[missyB1]

I've just had Karndean put down in the living room, have you looked at that? It's more practical than real wood - but actually looks and feels like wood and is a lot thicker and warmer than laminate. We paid 1.2k.

[WhoseGonnaDriveUHomePorkPie]

Have you tried carpet right? They have a selection of engineered wood and good quality laminates which look very similar. Paid about £500 for oak laminate and underlay and they quoted £160 for fitting (5 x 3 m). Lovely quality and had lots of compliments.

[DOLLYDAYDREAMER]

We have Kahrs wood floor in hall & lounge fitted 10 years ago. cost about 2k from Jonn Lewis. mostly still good as new. Hall ok, washed frequently with soapy wood cleaner, no problem. Only worn under dining table scratched by chair legs. But we can have it sanded & revsrnished. we had skirting boards off & refitted but hubby did that bit. Dont like the look of beading. Definately wouldnt have laminate. They are all cheap looking also damage quite easily & cannot be repaired. Definately would not use carpetright. Had bad experience with their fitter and they were not at all helpful, not their problem apparently.

[MyBrilliantDisguise]

It's a zombie thread!

[scottishretreat]

We have laminate - I thought I wanted real wood, but got samples and tried dropping things on both; the laminate was much tougher, and looks indistinguishable (a relative has told me I am mistaken, and it is definitely wood ).
Worth a look as it has come a long way since it first came out.
Incidentally, laminate comes in a range of thicknesses, ours is 1.2cm thick, so much thicker than the samples I've seen of karndean (coaster sized pieces, about 4mm thick!?), and a lot kinder on our feet.

[MrsRebeccaRobinson]

It depends on the size of the room where you’ll place the flooring. Also, if you’re going to hire contractors, the overall cost of fitting a wooden flooring may vary as they have different rates. If you’re going to replace your floors, it’s best to seek help from contractors that offer reasonably-priced services and products. I did the same thing a few years back, and I hired this commercial wood flooring UK based company.