Browse Forums Flooring & Floor Covering 1 May 21, 2008 11:31 pm Hi all!
I've read almost all topics and pretty sure that all of you are kind to the silly ones as I am and wouldnt shame me for questions below. Im thinking of buying the cheapest laminate. The reason is extremely LOW budjet and that the property will be rent out in the next year or so. I found some supplyers that sell it for 12-13$ per sqm. One I have looked on - they have good range of colors, giving 25y warranty, the laminale is 23 heavy domestic AC3 (means nothing for me LOL) with Ultraclick sistem. They are located in the same area where Im living so its very handy if I need extra or for changing damaged boards. Other ones is in VIC and the only difference that they are have moisture resistance HDF green boards and Quick-Click sistem. Main question - does somebody had some expirience with cheap laminates? Is there any difference between them or they are all the same? Re: Cheap laminate - how bad is it? 2May 22, 2008 9:33 am I have no answer to your questions, but my question to you is that if it's for a rental, why use that kind of flooring at all? I think I'd be doing carpet and lino or vinyl in a rental. Or cheapish tile in the wet areas.
Greg Re: Cheap laminate - how bad is it? 3May 22, 2008 11:00 am We installed a cheap laminate (approx $15 sqm), and it has put me off laminate flooring for life! I know you get what you pay for, but almost 5 years later it really looks crap. We only put it in our make shift study, which is the old enclosed porch, but under the roller desk chair the surface has worn and scratched very badly. I wouldn't be putting a cheap laminate in anywhere, particually high traffic areas (or under a desk chair!). The house is due for demolition shortly, so it was always only going to be a temporary floor covering and didn't want to spend too much.
[Edited to add picture.] Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Henley - Wilshire Mk 3 ... I love my house!! Site start: 4th Feb 09 Handover: 10th Sep 09 Blog: http://stormygirlscastle.blogspot.com/ Build Thread: viewtopic.php?t=7166 Re: Cheap laminate - how bad is it? 4May 22, 2008 7:34 pm I'd go with vinyl over cheap laminate if its a rental Re: Cheap laminate - how bad is it? 5May 22, 2008 7:38 pm If we are talking rental……nothing cheap will be good!
I agree with Luke….do vinyl flooring, but NOT a cheap one! Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: Cheap laminate - how bad is it? 6May 22, 2008 9:46 pm Just wondering - why does everyone go with cheap (and sometimes nasty) stuff for rentals? Comes across as pretty condescending. You're earning money from your rentals, so why not treat the tenants as real human beings?
Judie Re: Cheap laminate - how bad is it? 7May 22, 2008 10:00 pm Judie…whilst I nearly chocked on a Pretzel I was eating at you comment I have to agree.
I’m renovating a rental at the moment for a client; all my selections are of top grade and costing my client a pretty penny! If you look at in the long term, not the now money spent, the quality of selection will save you money in the end. By putting in cheap selections will mean replacing them sooner, hence spending more money! Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: Cheap laminate - how bad is it? 8May 22, 2008 10:28 pm hmmm...well..having acted as a landlord for my mum for 4 years with a view to sell the property within 2 years, I only ever authorised urgent repairs. the property was run down but had many other appealing qualities for investors.
the property comprised of 4 flats in brisbane. My mum had been diagnosed with a terminal disease, and I needed to maximise income from the property to pay for her nursing home care. so no new lovely carpets etc for our tenants even though they were very worn. my mum is still alive, but in a end stage of her disease in a nursing home. she can no longer talk, walk,etc etc Judie, you can never know the reasoning behind a landlords decisions I am just so relieved that the property sold for an amount that meant I could choose my mums nursing home and pay for the best care possible. I was acting in the best interests of my mum and her need for continuing care. I am currently renting. I can empathise with both sides of the story....maybe my mums tenants were feeling like you Jo Re: Cheap laminate - how bad is it? 9May 23, 2008 6:05 pm Thanks a lot for all answers! Special thanks to Stormy for the picture - will put protective IKEA shield under the chair (:
Especially thanks to zonk for your story, will tell you mine - Im little crazy as all my friends think - we are buying really CRAP property with 100% loan and we intend to live there for a while (just because we cant afford rent it out now). We have about 6000 to spend on renovation, including kitchen So its big difference pay 11 or 13$ for flooring, or 25-30$ Why not carpet - I have two kids and its easier for me to manage all their life on the plain surface (: Why not lino altough I really love it - the cheap ones wont last even half a year, expensive ones are expensive (: I know its really almost impossible but I will try to do this and if it last at least 5 years, I'm will be more than happy as after several years our situation will change anyhow, good or bad PS for Judie and Michelle - Thanks, girls! In the everyday life Im acting absolutely as you are, but now Im want to do even more - squeeze something from nothing (: Thats why Im really interested should I pay extra 2$ for "waterprofing", Im simply first time in this price category Re: Cheap laminate - how bad is it? 10May 23, 2008 7:03 pm Dguni….every situation is different!
I hope you enjoy your renovations…..it’s a good test for you to see if you can budget to your means, something which I think is a really good exercise for everyone! Good luck with it all, and we want to see photos as you progress! Internal and External Building and Colour Consultant Online - Worldwide http://www.denovoconcepts.com Re: Cheap laminate - how bad is it? 11May 23, 2008 7:19 pm Have you looked at this webite - the seller is located in Dandenong & delivers Australia wide. Selling laminate flooring for 10.98m2.
http://www.oztion.com.au/buy/auction.aspx?itemid=4193926&d=&sort=0&pg=1&cat=0&view=List&f1=1&f2=&type2=&type3=&type4=&type5=&s= Built the Eden Brae Cambridge 34 Family with Boston Corner Facade Re: Cheap laminate - how bad is it? 12May 23, 2008 11:27 pm Southies Have you looked at this webite - the seller is located in Dandenong & delivers Australia wide. Selling laminate flooring for 10.98m2. http://www.oztion.com.au/buy/auction.aspx?itemid=4193926&d=&sort=0&pg=1&cat=0&view=List&f1=1&f2=&type2=&type3=&type4=&type5=&s= Thanks! Thats the ones I have talked about (: They have poor color range and Im not sure that "100% Australian company" can be so cheap. Im afraid that its the same chinese girls that in my nearby warehouse If somebody had some expirience with them - Im more than happy to hear it, they have good rating on e-bay, but I think that in my quantities it would be more convinient. I've talked with this seller http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Elegent-Oak-2106 ... dZViewItem She was exstremely good and its just 1km from my property (: Thanks Mishelle, will try to keep all calculations and progress pictured! Re: Cheap laminate - how bad is it? 13May 24, 2008 6:24 pm dguni - A cheap laminate will look really cheap in the future.
It's only as a renatal now - but longer term - you might have to live with it too. So put in a basic but good and reliable product that works for the rental and will be OK for you in the future - and replace it later when needed. Judie Said. Quote: Just wondering - why does everyone go with cheap (and sometimes nasty) stuff for rentals? Comes across as pretty condescending. You're earning money from your rentals, so why not treat the tenants as real human beings? Easy to generalise - but some landlords really just see their properties as money out - not both ways. Re: Cheap laminate - how bad is it? 14May 26, 2008 9:41 pm I would like to apologise for my off topic vent about my mum.
its just that I had to step in and act as landlord for her as she was no longer capable ,whilst still renting myself (for around 4 years) and then, 11 days after diagnosis, my FIL died at home from lung cancer on mothers day Jo Re: Cheap laminate - how bad is it? 15Jun 13, 2008 6:24 am Quite franckly I think if you look after cheap laminate it will last and look good. If you like the look and feel of your laminate, go for it. We put cheap laminate in the kitchen as a temporary measure 5 years ago as we were not ready for the final reno. After we finished my DH (not very handy around the house) put the dishwasher in and it leaked all over the new floor and the water was HOT. I thought that it would swell, come up be ruined!!! Not at all.
As for scrateches, we put felt under chairs and table leggs and the floor is unaffected. There is a sliding door outside and we do bring sand and dirt in and no I do not run after each person entering sweaping the floors again the surface looks like new. Yes, these floors are loud and hard but sooo much easier to clean than for example tiles... and I find in the kitchen area where one tends to drop knives and other implements it is more resilient than lino. Well this is my experience with laminate, all good and I think we will go for it again. Maggie Re: Cheap laminate - how bad is it? 16Jun 13, 2008 7:53 am I'll put in another story about cheap laminate. The house we just bought had a hair dressing salon in the large garage for the first three years of it life, so half of the garage was partitioned off and they had stuck laminate flooring down - looks pretty cheap - not as good quality as what we had in the old house.
When the original owners sold up the next owners took down the partition walls and used it as a normal garage for about five years, driving over the top, etc, etc. I now have my work bench over it and it's great because it's easy to clean up sawdust and dirt from DIY (blood just washes right off.... ). Apart from some lifting where the old partition walls had been removed it's in pretty good nick. And I've dropped a few tools on it without damage - to floor or tool. An added advantage of the previous hairdressing occupancy - is a set of built in cupboards and vanity - so I can look good in the garden.... mmm....donuts Homer Simpson 1956- Links: Site Costs Ready Reckoner | H1 Addiction Medical Advice | Château TDL: The Backyard 1. Roof cleaning and paint - which colour do you recommend? I often see black/ dark grey in use these days but I would prefer… 0 8313 You might be able to apply to divert the sewer at your expense. In NSW you would contact a Water services co-ordinator and they would give you advice as to whether or not… 1 16130 do not pay until you are satisfied with workmanship windows require flashing over the head archithrave and up under weatherboards 3 28257 |