Replacing carpet with floorboards - please tell me your experiences (good and bad)

[MuffinMclay]

Our sitting room/dinning room (big, open plan) is carpeted (inherited with the house). It is now covered in stains of all kinds and is beyond help. Much as I like the feel of it underfoot, I have come to the conclusion that we are too clumsy and slovenly to be carpet people. I want to replace it with wood (not laminate), but am trying to work out if it is practical.

The carpet sits on concrete. I'm guessing that wood is thicker than carpet, so wonder what happens with doors, skirting boards etc, because the floor underneath can't be lowered in any way. Also, the carpet meets tiles (entrance hall, kitchen) at 2 points.

I dread to think how much it costs too.

Well dh is a carpenter, but it still took a week worth of work. (DH works nights)

You could consider an engineered wood floor. This is a thin layer (4mm) of real wood glued onto a core (MDF). It is very stable - much better than planks, which can warp,and can be refinished if required.It clicks together like laminate. Its usually about 15mm thick, and you have to have at least a membrane layer underneath if you are laying over concrete - this would add another 3mm minimum.You would have to join it to the tiles with a sort of sloping edge - you'ed get used to it eventually! You would also have to cut a bit off the bottom of the doors, and either leave a small expansion gap along the skirting, which is covered with a narrow piece of moulding, or else take off the skirting, fit the floor, and put new skirting above it. Have a look on ebay for cost - anything from £17.00 to £30.00 sqm . There are also some really good DIY site on Google. Hope this helps, have fun!

Thanks, that is really helpful. I have a man coming to look at it next week to see if it is possible and to get an idea of cost. The chap I spoke to did mutter something to the effect that it might not be possible on concrete because of damp courses.

My advice - remove your skiriting and have new one put on, quadrant has sharp nasty corners if you have any external corners. It is my biggest regret. Plus they have to fit that quadrant round behind any pipes up to radiators and it can look a mess even when done well.

I bought direct from a wholesaler, Goodfellows in Wrexham. They are on 01691 718872 and I got really lovely solid teak floor for £21.99 + VAT per sq m. Definitely remove skirting boards, much better in long run, and our floor meets tiles, it shouldn't be a problem for a decent floor layer. NB: Laying floor is the real cost, I managed £13 per sq m but many people were quoting £20 or so.

Floor does look fab and worth the money - definitely a million times better than carpet.

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