Hi,

I'm moving into my first flat and the flat has been stripped bare ( the vendors took the carpet with themselves).
I need to fit in new carpets now.

Does the value of the house increase by laminate or wood flooring?
Or is there no change in the value of the house whether itz carpet or wood flooring.

Please throw some light here.
Any advise will be highly appreciated.

Thank you

is it a ground floor flat? if its not i wouldn't recommend laminate as your footsteps will echo to downstairs... not pleasant...

personally i prefer laminate, its easier to clean :)

We have laminate flooring and I really dislike it. I don't know why really, I think it is fairly irrational. I wouldn't have laminate again. Carpets all the way. I feel carpets are warmer but, at the same time, I have seen some nice laminate that isn't cold-looking.

For me, carpets all the way :)

Carpets are certainly physically warmer than laminate (I have both) and will also probably help to insulate the house/flat.

Its a ground floor flat.

But any idea whether the value of the property increases by laminate flooring?

Its a ground floor flat.

But any idea whether the value of the property increases by laminate flooring?

I doubt it would, to be honest. If it does, it would be by very little. When looking for a new house though, I wouldn't pay more money because it has laminate flooring.

I think laminate flooring looks nicer in hall ways to flats (I live in one myself) i've also got it in the kitchen - it came that way when it was built.
Wouldn't personally have it in the lounge or bedrooms because I don't think it makes it look warm and cosy.
Also a real pain to clean I find, always seem to have bits on my feet when I walk on it no matter how hard I clean it.
Totally depends on personal preference but I don't really see why people put laminate flooring down only to then cover it up with a big rug?

Of all the new build flats i've looked round recently, they've usually had laminate flooring in hall ways and kitchens, but carpet in the other rooms.

Laminate is great for bathrooms, kitchens, halls etc. But nothing like a warm carpet in the lounge.

And don't get cheap laminate - it does not wear well and you'll be replacing it pretty quickly.

It doesn't effect the price if laminate or carpet, depends more on the condition.

The answer would be NO it will not have any effect whatsoever on the value of the property.

Ive just fitted my Office with Solid Bamboo looks really nice, more expensive than typical laminate, but it is worth paying extra.

currently when you look at show homes they have beige carpet everywhere and white walls. When I recently rented out a house I was told I should lay beige carpet and paint the walls white to make it more attractive. So my advice is do what you prefer (carpet or laminate) and find out from the estate agents when you come to sell what the current fasion is.

is it a ground floor flat? if its not i wouldn't recommend laminate as your footsteps will echo to downstairs... not pleasant...

personally i prefer laminate, its easier to clean :)
That is what i have to put up with day after day as the people above us has laminate flooring all over there house,
there not the smallest of people either so it can get proper annoying weve all ready had 2 massive arguments about them clodhopping late at night, get carpet love then every 1 gets a quite life lol

I would go for laminate over carpet every time. We've got both in our house and the laminate is loads easier to clean.

It depends where laminate flooring is to be laid. I've seen it use in older houses, just laid over the existing floorboards. To me, this is just asking for trouble as there is bound to be electrical wiring and piping of one sort or another running through the joists under the boards, so if anything goes wrong and the boards ned to be lifted, bang goes your laminate as well. Carpet is a better bet unless you have solid flooring to lay laminate on.

stick to carpets

No kids or pets - go for carpet for comfort. Its up to you what you pay.

Kids and pets - laminate is good, easy to clean and hard to spoil.

I have laminate all through the ground floor and its great with small children, but if there were just the two of us I would like the warmth and softness of carpet.

Do you ever sit or lie on the floor to watch telly? If you do get carpet!

Just taken up the laminate in sister-in-laws lounge.
The carpet looks much better, warm and cosy.
Laminate looks cold.
I suppose if you could afford real wood flooring it might look classy in the hall.

Go for wood every time, laminate never looks right and carpets show up all the red wine stains. That's if you drink red wine and then go and spill it, of course.

I would be more likely to pay extra for carpet. I hate laminate - it's cold and the dog looks like Bambi on ice on laminate.:hihi:

I would be more likely to pay extra for carpet. I hate laminate - it's cold and the dog looks like Bambi on ice on laminate.:hihi:

I couldn't agree more. And you don't realise how much sound a carpet absorbs until you hear the echo in a room with laminate.

I would be more likely to pay extra for carpet. I hate laminate - it's cold and the dog looks like Bambi on ice on laminate.:hihi:
Lol i bet its a funny sight though

Good, decent wood laminate or carpet. We've just got our first house and after looking at loads of places, my OH and me often wondered whether cheap laminate might become the wood chip of modern housing...

My new place has laminate everywhere downstairs and I hate it! Don't mind it in the kitchen and dining room but it makes the living room freezing - not cosy like a living room should be! Gonna save some money and have it carpetted.

I think it depends on personal choice. I wouldn't base the choice of flooring on the potential value it may fetch. I don't think it matters that greatly. Cos people can replace laminates with carpet and vice versa as they wish anyway. Most people don't buy a house on the small cosmetics, but more on the potential added value, like extra rooms, or a decent size kitchen etc.

I have laminates throughout my place, and I think it's true on some of the points made about noise level and potential house wiring work. At the same time, you can work around this. i.e. use thicker laminates and thicker underlays. Sort out the wiring before laying this down. The thing with laminates is that, you can potentially replace it yourself again, if you need to dig it up. Cos it's a floating floor basically. It's the same thing with carpet. Just easier.

On a cost level, carpets are (or can be) cheaper than laminates. I guess it depends on what quality laminates you want to put down. Some which range into the 15 - 20 pound per sq metre region are quite high quality already. Real wood starts from around 20 + region. Wood actually is warmer and insulate the floor that little bit more. Yet, it's higher maintenance. You can also consider underfloor heating, which warms up a room. I've yet to look into the costing factor of this, but I was seriously thinking of this option a while back too. However, with a decent new boiler and heating system, this isn't necessary any more.

Most people choose laminates for easy cleaning, and because its hard wearing than wood. Some real wood are soft, and can bear marks. Yet, hey can insulate a house better. I guess there's pros and cons in all options. It just depend on your personal taste, and the possible costs.

I have laminate down stairs, and carpet up stairs.!

Yes it is easier to keep clean.but like a few people have said.it isn't warm and cosy like carpet.!

but when i eventually get fed up of laminate, i can always put quality underlay on top then an ok priced carpet as well...

then when i get fed up with that...take it up..and hey presto....laminate flooring again.!!

jt

carpets or at least wooden flooring, laminate is cold, slippy and I am forever fishing the contents of the toy box/ dog toys/ slippers from under the sofa....everything just slides under there!! I am switching back to carpet asap.

carpets or at least wooden flooring, laminate is cold, slippy and I am forever fishing the contents of the toy box/ dog toys/ slippers from under the sofa....everything just slides under there!! I am switching back to carpet asap.

same in my house! the entire toy box has to be swept back out from under the sofa at least once a week!

we have laminate downstairs and carpet up, but i'd go for laminate definately, if its been put down properly it looks great. carpet looks nicer but only for about 3 months!

my advice would be, if you can keep the carpet clean and don't have kids then carpet in living room, otherwise laminate or wood flooring.

I would say that very cheap, badly laid laminate would decrease the value... make sure its good laminate ;)
If you're looking to sell on then I think laminate is the way to go... no-one likes other people's 2nd hand carpets when they buy a place, but if the buyers prefer carpet then they've got a good base to lay it on :thumbsup:

Decent quality well laid laminate downstairs. Carpet the rest