<p>What great feedback. I agree that wood is a better investment but I think I feel the way kjofkw does about the care. I know a lot of people say that wood is easier to maintain but the wood floor in my kitchen has been a bigger headache than my carpet – especially when there was water damage from a leaky appliance. In fact, right now it’s in need of a good refinishing and looks kind of bad in spots where the wear is heavier. I realize that the kitchen presents hazards that other rooms do not but I do think that every little thing does show on wood. Great idea about photoshop and it seems that there is a majority view that oak doors is a dated look – a good reason for us to make that change including painting the molding. Lots of food for thought here.</p>
<p>If you do decide to paint the previously stained and varnished oak trim, be smart about it. Older homes where it is an actual varnish on the stained moldings require extensive prep work to prepare the surface. It must be sanded, cleaned, all gloss removed, and preferably wiped with a chemical deglosser such as Wilbond.</p>
<p>I’d also recommend oil primers and oil top coats. Newer trim, poly’ed instead of varnish requires a similar prep. Don’t be talked into latex primers or trim paints. They will not “hold” anywhere as well as the oils/alklyds paint in this application. Be prepared to see a range of prices in your estimates. The lowball ones are most likely skipping on prep. You will sadly disappointed if you go with the lowest price and run into peeling in a year or two. In some cases, the job is so badly done that is more cost effective to pull the poorly prepped and painted stained/varnish moldings if the job is botched.</p>
<p>I’ve always had wood floors and always had dogs, and never noticed any damage. You should keep your dog’s nails clipped anyway. If someone’s dachshunds are making a lot of noise, it’s probably unclipped nails, which are bad for the dog’s feet. Everything does NOT show on wood if you avoid high gloss and/or cheap polyurethane finishes.</p>
<p>I hate carpeting. (I’m being brutally frank here–my apologies to carpet lovers! 
)It often looks cheap, is a color I don’t like, or is dirty or worn in spots. Most of all, it makes me feel claustrophobic. I’d go for wood or tile with area rugs any day. If I look at a house when in the market to buy and it has carpet, I’ factor in the cost of ripping it up and refinishing the wood floor underneath it if there is one, or installing a wood floor. To me, a house with underlayment and carpet is a sign of cheesy building. But of course that is a highly personal preference and YMMV.</p>
<p>Oh, and if you have an old house with mature oak trim PLEASE do not paint it! I can’t begin to tell you how much I would love to have the massive oak doors and beatiful old oak moldings on my circa 1900 house in their original condition. If you have a vintage house, you are decreasing its value by painting any wood moldings. And committing an aesthetic crime! ;)</p>
<p>Thank you violadad – will definitely keep all of that info. It is not a vintage house. The house was built in the 1960s. It is not a craftsman house or anything like that. It’s a comfortable, suburban California-type house. I had a floor guy here yesterday. Because our kitchen is real oak that is very thick and has wood underneath (because the house is built on a slab), to match that would be unbelievably and prohibitively expensive. To put in “engineered” wood next to that would be very difficult to match without looking tacky – the height would not match. Ripping up what was an expensive wood floor that has a long life ahead of it to make the whole thing engineered (engineered is much less expensive) just seems silly. So every time I have a conversation like that with a floor person, it seems easiest and most reasonable to go with carpet. Our current carpet is a forest green which was amazing when the kids were young as it hid everything. It matched our oak well and over the years we’ve decorated accordingly. We would probably go with something similar. The only rooms I would put wood in are the family room, living room and dining room – and possibly the hallway. The living room has a Persian rug in it that covers most of the floor – the only room where the full effect of wood would be felt is the family room and dining room as I would put carpet in the bedrooms.</p>