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Original poster

Real wood floor or Amtico pretend wood

15 replies

wishingchair · 12/10/2007 11:45

Building an extension ... going to be our new sitting room, will have big doors out to the garden. 2 children. 2 cats.

Can't decide what to do. Love real wood floors but don't want it to get wrecked. Amtico looks nice and more practical but would i regret not having real thing??

What do you think?

OP posts:
snowleopard · 12/10/2007 11:49

As a buyer I run a mile if I see fake wood, I hate it. The good thing about real wood is even if it gets damaged, you can sand it and re-treat it or replace boards, just as easily as replacing other stuff.

We have stripped pine floorboards and tbh they are in a bit of a state, but I would still rather have them than artificial - they look good even a bit roughed up, IYKWIM.

mumblechum · 12/10/2007 11:51

Real wood everytime here.

Loshad · 12/10/2007 11:55

real wood definately, we had amtico in last house, was v.expoensive and didn't wear that well, and doesn't look anything like as nice as real wood.

Original poster
wishingchair · 12/10/2007 11:56

snowleopard that's exactly my thing. we got laminate put in our hall and old sitting room ... good quality Pergo ... and everyone always says how lovely it is but I look at it and it just looks fake. Now it's great for the hall but this is a brand new room and I want to get it right ... not like Amtico is cheap option anyway ...

OP posts:
RGPargy · 12/10/2007 11:56

We've got lovely wood effect laminate flooring in our house (the previous owners put it into the ENTIRE house) and it's friggin' awful. Not only does it look cheap and nasty, but it's really tippy-tappy sounding too.

Real wood every time!

Original poster
wishingchair · 12/10/2007 11:58

ok ... so for my next question. Is it a case of real wood and real wood ... it seems to vary wildly in price ...

OP posts:
mumblechum · 12/10/2007 11:59

Fired Earth do lovely French walnut flooring.

mumblechum · 12/10/2007 12:00

IME, pine floors don't wear at all well. If you're going to do it, go for hardwood, eg teak or walnut.

stealthsquiggle · 12/10/2007 12:00

For a kitchen, Amtico. Since it is a sitting room, real wood (and a turtle mat by the doors!)

RGPargy · 12/10/2007 12:01

Pine is very soft and not great for floors! Agree re walnut flooring for e.g.

snowleopard · 12/10/2007 12:25

Agree - our house came with pine, but if I was doing a new room from scratch I would get something tougher.

Original poster
wishingchair · 12/10/2007 13:23

what about oak?

OP posts:
TuttiFrutti · 12/10/2007 21:11

Don't get Amtico, a friend of mine has it and it's lifted up in different places. She had to pay a lot of money to get it repaired, tile by tile, so that she could sell the house.

We have solid oak floors downstairs and they look and feel fantastic. They do get scratched, but I think you just have to accept that and re-sand them every 10 years. They are a lot more practical than carpet with small children around spilling orange juice, etc.

Original poster
wishingchair · 13/10/2007 16:43

Thanks everyone ... had a look around online (would need to see in person) but thinking either solid oak or walnut. DH says I can have whatever I want - hurray!

OP posts:
amazonianwoman · 14/10/2007 20:57

We have solid oak, admittedly only 2.5yrs old but still looks brand new - and it's in a "walk-through" room. Paid only £30ish per sq metre in a sale

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