<p>I would like advice about how to go about getting a good deal or discount on new carpets and floors… Anyone know if/when Home Depot or Lowes (or any others) has offers? Any advice on where to start, what to avoid, or what to ask? We are looking to replace the carpets in the whole house, and areas of wood flooring too. We have carpets and flooring that are 25+ years old, and showing wear, rot, dog accidents, and damage from all sorts of things!</p>
<p>Lowes has decent carpet. The best thing to do is go to a couple of carpet places, find what you like, and then look online at Angie’s List or a similar service for the best flooring installer around. Hire that guy directly. Do not pay the ridiculous markup to the carpet place or even Lowes.</p>
<p>I’ve been using “THE” high end guy for years for my jobs (I am a landlord). It cost me way less than having the company from which I purchase carpet arrange installation. My guy just picks it up.</p>
<p>What’s your time horizon before you sell your house? </p>
<p>A realtor friend has told me current buyers do not want wall-to-wall carpet and prefer Pergo/engineered wood floors to it. (Hardwood is the #1 choice). Area rug on top. </p>
<p>Can you refinish the existing hardwood floor instead of replacing it? If it’s over 40 years old, it will be better quality than the hardwood that you can replace it with. And refinishing is cheaper than replacing.</p>
<p>I am not selling, but just can’t stand to live with the current worn out stuff! So… no time frame, and I can wait for the right bargain!</p>
<p>Our wood flooring is a plank-type, that we refinished once, but let it go after that, and is warped and too worn in many places, and really needs to be replaced… Any thoughts on Pergo vs bamboo vs anything else??</p>
<p>There are carpenters who can replace selected portions of wood floors and refinish at very reasonable prices. I personally love hardwood flooring and have it and sheet vinyl throughout our home. We did have a carpenter repair a few bad boards on a hardwood plank floor of relatives’ home. It was very reasonable and invisible. I’d consider that carefully before deciding it can’t be done. You should be able to get a free estimate. Our property manager recommended a handyman/carpenter who did our work.</p>
<p>Friend did whole house with bamboo flooring. It looks fabulous.</p>
<p>We also had a neighbor who had entire house with bamboo flooring–gorgeous. Held up pretty well to the dog as well.</p>
<p>What are the relative costs of bamboo/engineered wood/ hardwood? We also need to replace some carpet with wood floors, and also replace some badly damaged wood floors.</p>
<p>I prefer mom & pop stores. I had a sample of an engineered floor that I took to 5 places, and chose a store that my friend had used several times. The floor led to removing popcorn ceiling and then painting walls. </p>
<p>One of the big box stores held me up for over a month on carpet for son’s room, which had been flooded. I went to a local store, picked out a Karaston carpet, and it was in 3 days later. </p>
<p>Others may have better experiences with the big box stores, but I was unhappy with the long delay, and another time, with the awful way they laid the carpet in my bedroom.</p>
<p>I used the local flooring guys for the sheet vinyl in our kitchen. They were very professional and when it had cracks appear, let me choose a new pattern and had the new floor installed, all under warranty at no charge to me. </p>
<p>We had a one man guy do our oak hardwood floors, putting it over sheet vinyl. We got quotes from him and several others who were all recommended we chose solid oak over laminate (not sure if that’s engineering). Bamboo wasn’t in vogue at the time. The cost of hardwood vs laminate were roughly comparable, but solid wood allowed up to 5 refinished–laminate only 2. Also, in our very humid climate, laminates were delaminating, so we weren’t interested in buying future problems. The white oak floor has been installed over two decades ago and still looks great with virtually no maintenance other than robotically vacuuming M-F.</p>
<p>The guy who installed our floor was so pleased he took photos for his portfolio. We had him rage out built in furniture and the wooden patio doors, so the hardwood went throughout the home (including closets). We only kept sheet vinyl in bathrooms and kitchen–dislike ceramic tile. </p>
<p>My sister used the big name hardwood floor guys and had had lots of problems with warping. She installed it in kitchen and dining room. </p>
<p>Sorry, don’t know bamboo costs but believe its roughly comparable. Believe the labor is a major cost. Our neighbors installed a linage they bought themselves. I believe it saved them a lot of cash.</p>
<p>I would agree using a small, local shop vs the big boxes. The manager/owner of the local store will be around far longer than any employee you deal with at the big box.</p>
<p>HomeDepot offers a 5 rooms for $125 (installation) a few times a year and we did that for our upstairs. They showed up late, but they stayed til 10pm finishing the job. One reminder (which I forgot) make sure to ask for some spare carpet that you can throw into a closet in case something bad happens! Always great to have spare carpet that can be used to replace a bad stain.</p>
<p>HImom- You can refinish (sand and varnish) laminate flooring? We have some warped areas and worn areas and have some extra in a box we can replace some, but it’ wouldn’t match the other areas without refinishing. We have been considering new laminate (Pergo type) vs real wood.</p>
<p>When we were shopping for flooring, we were told that yes, you can sand and varnish (refinish) laminate flooring at least once or twice. (Reading ehow on the subject, they say you CAN’T sand laminate or you will ruin the look of it–we never investigated it much as we wanted solid hardwood.) If you want to to patchwork and have it match existing flooring, it might be good to consult with someone experienced. We were amazed at how well the plank flooring in relative’s home was matched. The floor was original from the early 1950s and the fixes were close to invisible. I was impressed and amazed.</p>
<p>Be SURE to get lots of plastic sheeting placed everywhere to protect what you home to minimize dust in before you sand flooring–it’s a messy business and it gets EVERYWHERE. Also, get really good finish on the floor–that’s what makes it durable. We got the finish that is used at shopping malls–has lasted us two decades and counting.</p>
<p>We replaced 25 year old mauve carpeting when we moved to a new town and did a whole house renovation (also did tile). Here the neighbors suggested Lowes. Caught one of their periodic sales. Wanted Stainmaster which Home Depot doesn’t carry (it has the stainblocker in, not just on, the fiber). Should have sprung for the higher density. They have recently offered durable but soft carpet- good for bare feet. In old town knew which local place to go to- but chose not to replace nearly 20 year old carpet because to put in carpet I would like was not worth the expense. Shop around for pricing. There’s measuring, old carpet removal, the new carpet, carpet pad (go with the best one), furniture removal/replacement and installation. Get the fiber, stain blocker, density et al you want. Today’s carpet backing is different than 25 years ago- and shorter fibers. I Googled several carpet sites for info.</p>
<p>I don’t think laminate floor is meant to be refinished…HiMom are you thinking about engineered wood floors?</p>
<p>We too just went through the process of looking to replace some tired carpeting. We decided to go with wood. We started with engineered wood then settled on having someone install wood directly from the mill and sand and finish. It can be refinished multiple times. After visiting many different stores, i asked a local contractor who they used… and ended up with a mom and pop operation.</p>
<p>Different types of product:
Solid wood–you can refinish about 5 times
Prefinished wood–refinish 2-3 times
Pergo type–the trouble with Pergo is that if it gets wet it swells like particle board and won’t go back to original shape. Real wood will swell but then go back down. I don’t think you can refinish the Pergo type.</p>
<p>I’ve been thinking about flooring, as well. Does anyone have experience using hard wood or bamboo in a kitchen? I’m a little intimidated by the possibility of water damage. It sure would look nice to have one type of flooring flow through my entire first floor…!</p>
<p>WT,
A leak from diswasher led me to redo kitchen. As we speak, my wood floors near that area are being replaced. I had several extra boxes, so easy to fix that area and other areas where cabinets being moved around.</p>
<p>I had hardwood in Boston, and refinished them when I moved in and then before I left. Here in FL, most people use engineered wood. I prefer the former.</p>
<p>I have maple flooring throughout my house, including the kitchen. It was old when we moved in 20+ years ago, and is still holding up fine. We refinished it when we moved in, and again a couple years ago after some plumbing issues caused flooding.</p>
<p>It was interesting that the oak flooring in a couple rooms turned black and was ruined by the flooding, but the maple that got just as wet was fine. We replaced the oak with more traditional solid hardwood maple. </p>
<p>I personally don’t like laminates, I can always tell that I’m walking on printed plastic.</p>