Browse Forums Flooring & Floor Covering 1 Jan 18, 2010 3:30 pm Is it as noisy as people say? We are looking into getting it in our house,would love real timber but are on a budget. The only thing that turns me off it is that i have heard it very echoey and noisy. I would really like to hear from people who have it in there house and what they think.If any other negatives regarding it would like to hear those too. Re: who already has timber look laminate in there house? 2Jan 18, 2010 3:44 pm We have them in our bedrooms. Don't really have a problem with any noise, but this could be because they are just in smallish rooms. We are also going to have them in our new house. However, there, they will be in the large open plan living and hallways. The only negative I have with them is that they seem to collect a lot of dust and hair etc. Our current house is an older place, so could just be naturally more dusty. I too would be interested in hearing from people who have them in their living areas! Are they easy to keep clean? Can't wait to have no more grout lines in the living room and kitchen to keep clean!! ... Re: who already has timber look laminate in there house? 3Jan 18, 2010 3:47 pm My sister had timber look laminate installed about 2 years ago when she was thinking of selling, so she got some really cheap stuff ($14 per sqm not installed) and placed it straight over the existing lino with no underlay. It does make a clip-clop hollow noise if you walk over it with hard shoes, and if you drop hard things on it, but it was her floor that made us decide that we wanted timber-look laminate in our own place (surprisingly, seeing as though it was a cheapy!). The noise isn't annoying to me (but I'm a very laid back person!) or to my sister, who has 2 primary school aged kids Laminate is a really good alternative to timber veneer/solid boards if money is an issue, plus it's easy to look after (no sanding needed). bobbin_84 - the dust-collecting is probably just because solid floors don't 'hide' dust and particles like a carpet can The upshot to this is that it's more hygenic - no trapped dust and dust-mites/eggs. Re: who already has timber look laminate in there house? 4Jan 18, 2010 7:28 pm We have timber look laminate in hallways and kitchen/family/dining, I dont find it any noiser than any other hard floor - I think the key here would be getting good underlay. Re: who already has timber look laminate in there house? 5Jan 18, 2010 8:58 pm Thanks for the advice Will have a chat to the flooring people about a good underlay. Re: who already has timber look laminate in there house? 6Jan 18, 2010 9:06 pm We have timber laminate in 4 (soon to be 5) rooms of the house. So far its in all 3 bedrooms, rumpus and yet to go into the study. We have no problems with noise, mostly because we don't wear shoes inside but I think a good underlay also helps. We also have the thicker boards, and paid around $55 p/sq mt. (materials only) 2 reasons for getting the laminate flooring was ease of cleaning (we have a Roomba to keep sweep it for us) and also we could lay it ourselves, saving on installation costs and of course it looks good . Been more than 6 months now since laying it the bedrooms and we are very pleased with it. Re: who already has timber look laminate in there house? 7Jan 18, 2010 9:11 pm Dirtyard Darren we have a Roomba to keep sweep it for us Those things are SO CUTE! If I ever get one I will have to name it and decorate its little charging dock Re: who already has timber look laminate in there house? 8Jan 18, 2010 9:14 pm Dirtyard Darren,What brand laminate do you have? Re: who already has timber look laminate in there house? 9Jan 18, 2010 9:28 pm kkatt Dirtyard Darren,What brand laminate do you have? Timber Impressions - Dark Walnut colour http://www.harveynormanflooring.com.au/ ... sions.html Re: who already has timber look laminate in there house? 10Feb 18, 2010 9:47 pm Hi guys just a couple of things from my experience , The most important thing is to make sure you have a level subfloor haveing your subfloor up and down will make the floor sound more hollow and as was said before upgrade and get a better underlay there are many different types of acoustic underlays available at the moment. I have laid these floors for years now. If you are after a laminate floor the best one that we never have problems with is Quickstep it isnt cheap but is by far the best i even have it in my own house. Re: who already has timber look laminate in there house? 11Feb 19, 2010 12:10 am Vundaful! Dirtyard Darren we have a Roomba to keep sweep it for us Those things are SO CUTE! If I ever get one I will have to name it and decorate its little charging dock Yeah, I reckon it should be A LOT of entertainment for cats. We have a Roomba and almost got cats (one is born, another one is expectet next week and the 3rd one in a few weeks)... Can't wait to see the interaction between cats and the robot ... built a Promenade with Clarendon. viewtopic.php?f=31&t=25104 20-10-09 - excavation and piering completed ... 12-04-10 - Basins fixed. Connecting to the electrical grid 23-04-10 - PCI 07-05-10 - HANDOVER! Re: who already has timber look laminate in there house? 12Feb 19, 2010 12:13 am With regards to the question, our friends have a mixed floor being laminate and kempas and the looks and fill are very different. When walking from the hallway (timber) to a bedroom (laminate) the difference is visible and heard. Timber is more natural and more acceptable by my body (it is probably just a matter of personal preference). However, I should say that laminate 100% resisted the damage their active cat caused while timber was quite scratched... So yeah.. Nothing is ideal... Compromises everywhere.. always ... built a Promenade with Clarendon. viewtopic.php?f=31&t=25104 20-10-09 - excavation and piering completed ... 12-04-10 - Basins fixed. Connecting to the electrical grid 23-04-10 - PCI 07-05-10 - HANDOVER! Re: who already has timber look laminate in there house? 13Feb 21, 2010 2:52 pm There is a trade off - the harder the surface, the more noise, generally speaking. Timber will be quieter than laminate, but will dent and scratch quicker. NB. Acoustic underlays don't stop sound boucning back off the surface, they stop sound travelling through the floor. if you are on a single level property, then don't waste your money buying a "silent" underlay. Re: who already has timber look laminate in there house? 14Feb 21, 2010 9:17 pm anthony_carter NB. Acoustic underlays don't stop sound boucning back off the surface, they stop sound travelling through the floor. if you are on a single level property, then don't waste your money buying a "silent" underlay. I think you just saved me a lot of money... funny how the salespeople don't clarify this point Re: who already has timber look laminate in there house? 15Feb 21, 2010 9:34 pm Unless you want the earth worms to get a goodnights sleep! Re: who already has timber look laminate in there house? 16Feb 21, 2010 10:01 pm The laminate floors are fine but make sure you clean up any water that falls on it as if it stays on it to long it can bubble. Also if you do it yourself ask the supplier if you have to leave any gaps more movement. This can also cause it to pop up. Re: who already has timber look laminate in there house? 17Feb 22, 2010 6:37 pm When i laid my house i had some acoustic underlay laying around so i used it in living area and normall underlay in bedrooms over concrete floor there is definately a lot of differece when you walk on one to the other. Re: who already has timber look laminate in there house? 18Feb 23, 2010 7:53 pm Interesting to hear. I have been at this for 18 years and have never heard of it before, indeed there is no test for it or science to prove it - but heah, maybe you are right!!! Cool. Often though, it is additional items, furniture. Drapes etc that absorb noise. Maybe you have a very cool underlay. Re: who already has timber look laminate in there house? 19Feb 23, 2010 8:36 pm anthony_carter Interesting to hear. I have been at this for 18 years and have never heard of it before, indeed there is no test for it or science to prove it - but heah, maybe you are right!!! Cool. Often though, it is additional items, furniture. Drapes etc that absorb noise. Maybe you have a very cool underlay. One job i did a few years back was for premium cork and timber they wanted me to pull up an existing floor and replace the underlay with there acoustic underlay as the material was makeing a wierd noise.To do this i would take up the width of underlay at a time change underlay then relay so half way through the job half the house has acoustic the other half didnt both me and the customer where very supprised at the difference when you walk from one to the other.In saying that what some shops charge for acoustic underlay i am not sure if i would do it or not. Re: who already has timber look laminate in there house? 20Feb 23, 2010 8:42 pm Mickve was that acoustic underlay a dense, rubbery material or something else? I'm not sure what would absorb sound better. On a completely-somewhatly related note, some boffins have made a superb low-frequency sound insulation material out of latex and buttons. It's no thicker than a ceramic tile and can nullify even bass frequencies http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20527485.400-latex-could-silence-noisy-neighbours.html If your patio is going to be 35 sqm then that's going to need Council Approval. The fact that they previously approved your 25sqm patio will be irelevant 1 2699 Interested in getting either the Polytec Boston Oak or Palace Peak for kitchen cabinets. Looking at the Boston Oak ones, it appears that the colour varies significantly… 0 1791 Engineering timber is certainly a less fuss option, times cheaper to supply and install and better withstands humidity. 1 11478 |