[Boris]

Engineered is the buzz word for laminate then? Its a word I never used but its better than saying "cheapo" I suppose.

It really is down to personal preference. I was a developer and went with what the interior designer suggested. However have a time to look at all the products. Here in HK its the cutting edge for home decoration products.

All I can really say is, if its for the medium term ( 3 - 5 yrs ) then a quality laminate ( engineered ) would be my choice. A hip swinging pad, full of IKEA, that has to stay current, the " photocopy" laminate is cost effective.

Great finish, lifetime installation, then solid wood is a must.

Enjoy.

[banang]

The existing floor is ceramic tile. If I choose laminate, then do I need to take out the tile first or I can just lay it on top of the tiles?

For hardwood, I am told that the tile must be removed.

Thanks.

[Boris]

It really depends upon the distance between the floor level and the bottom of your doors.

Generally hardwood type floor like parquet ( looks like lots of oblong wooden bricks laid in a pattern ) that you see in the majority of over 10 yr age buildings is laid to a cement base on a rubbersied adhesive because the base is porous. Ceramic has a sealed finish so the adhesive would not function well.

However the plank type hardwood is a floating floor so can be laid on ceramic. The thickness of such a product is the issue here. You have to take of a portion of the bottom of the doors.

[namaste]

We just finished laying down laminate flooring in our new place. We bought it IKEA, but B & Q also has a huge selection. The original floor is ceramic tiles. We put down a plastic sheet and thin foam for the base. Then, the floating tiles went over the top. All in all, it wasn't that difficult, although using an electric saw took a bit of getting used to. The floors do look good and have a ten year warranty. IKEA also sells a good floor laying kit and transition pieces for between doorway thresholds.

[Star Gazer]

did you remove the original ceramic tiles or just put the new flooring on top of the existing floor?

[banang]

Since laminate is a floating floor, would hardwood be a better choice if I got a piano in the living room?

Also, what's the feel of laminate floating floor like? I don't know of anyone who has got laminate at home so haven't walked on a real one yet.

By the way, someone mentioned about B&Q as in Megabox? How do you get there by public transport as I've never been there before.

[Lammarite]

Take the MTR to Kowloon Bay, go into telford Plaza and through to the car park and there are shuttle buses running to Megabox. Alternatively a taxi from Kowloon Bay MTR to Megabox would probably be 20 dollars.

[namaste]

Banang,
A laminate wood floor feels like a real wood floor. There are different grades of quality and thickness though. The IKEA floors have a longer warranty than the B & Q floors.

A floating floor doesn't mean that the floor is off the ground. It means that it's not glued down at all and has room around the edges to expand and contract with humidity variations (bear in mind, this is coming from a non-expert).

Let us know how it goes.

[namaste]

Originally Posted by Star Gazer

did you remove the original ceramic tiles or just put the new flooring on top of the existing floor?

You don't have to remove the tiles which most likely contain asbestos anyway. You just want to make sure that the floor is level.

[Boris]

Is that an experienced comment or something you just dreamed up? The decorative tiling industry HAS NEVER used asbestos in its products.

Maybe a contractor has charged you big bucks to take out with that story. A fool and his money etc !

Originally Posted by namaste

You don't have to remove the tiles which most likely contain asbestos anyway. You just want to make sure that the floor is level.