The Nest

[May_dream1 14]

Just some updates. We have spoken to two contractors. Both pricing are very competitive. We were thinking to save some costs by not changing the windows and not doing the ceiling works. As we want to spend on laying parquet for living + 3 bedrooms. What do you guys think? Is it worth spending on parquet? Our initial plan was to change all the bronze aluminium windows to white powder coated aluminium windows as the bronze windows make the house appear dark, especially the glass are tinted. What can we do to improve this? Really headache. It is either the window or the floor.

If the windows still in good condition then no need to change lah... i didn't change mine too cos the windows really solid aluminium compared to the white powder coated that quite flimsy.... Mine windows initially also looks dark and that is because the previous owner pasted a film over it. after removing the film, everything looks bright now!

As for parquet, its not easy to maintain... cannot drag any furniture ard and your mop have to be quite dry... or else it will start to rot and have termites. the costs of parquet also ex, not only wood is ex but the $$$ you need to get people to lay them. if you want lasting, better to get tiles.... confirmed easy to maintain and last a long time.... choose light colour, then even brighter. And tiles should be cheaper than parquet too.

[beluga 1]

Just some updates. We have spoken to two contractors. Both pricing are very competitive. We were thinking to save some costs by not changing the windows and not doing the ceiling works. As we want to spend on laying parquet for living + 3 bedrooms. What do you guys think? Is it worth spending on parquet? Our initial plan was to change all the bronze aluminium windows to white powder coated aluminium windows as the bronze windows make the house appear dark, especially the glass are tinted. What can we do to improve this? Really headache. It is either the window or the floor.

Waa.... parquet wood difficult to maintain wor....

1) Expensive. I think like 6.5 psf. This excludes skirting, which is 3.5 psf.

2) Long time to install. Depends on what is your current flooring, if you want to hack it away then need cement screeding, then tiling, then sandpaper, then varnish. If your schedule is tight then susah....

3) Tough to maintain, especially if you want to do it in living where traffic is high. Easily scratch though you can sandpaper it after a couple of years.

[Valerie Low 0]

Hmm.. seems like there are lots of comments on parquet. Not easy to maintain huh.. but hubby and I really like the warm feeling with parquet flooring. Or should we just consider laminate? Laminate is the cheapest option so far. However we are worry about its durability. We also consider laying tiles with wooden texture, but one of the contractors told us tiles are not expensive, it is the workmanship that is expensive! As timber tiles are very very heavy.

Probably we should go for a better quality laminate?

[ayazumi 0]

Laminate is more difficult to maintain than parquet. If you still prefer wood floorings, there is cheaper option, a grade lower than parquet - use wood engineer floorings. It is more expensive than laminate, cheaper than parquet, but last longer than laminate. Actually homogeneous tiles are not expensive, the labor cost is quite standard. I know why your contractor said labor more expensive because tiles are standard price, they cant earn from tiles, so they "name" you "Robert" to chop you on labor costs.

[Hoo8899 0]

In my opinion, parquet requires more maintenance than laminates. Reason being for parquet, the colour will fade years later, easy to get scratches than laminate, and need to polish or vanish after number of years. While there are still parquet lover because of the solid feel and the fact that it did last longer (if you maintain well). For me I am going for laminate, with the anticipation to change it after 10 years.

[NeoBY 1]

I heard from my contractor there are better quality laminates which is water resistant or something. Will cost me around 3k+ for my 3 bedrooms if I wanna do them. hhmm...will this be the same price as tiles?

[ayazumi 0]

There is a better quality grade of laminate, I think it is called rubber laminate. I am not saying about the rubber floorings that our granny used in old 1-room flat, they are actually wood laminates. This type of floor laminate are water resistant, but more expensive than normal laminate. Though it is water resistant floor laminate, I don't expect you to pour water or wash the floor. I can't inagine what will happen to the flooring. Valerie, you can consider about this.

Got contractor told me that you cannot use vacuum and mop on laminate floorings but you can use vacuum and mop on parquet.

Edited March 16, 2012 by ayazumi

[beluga 1]

Hmm.. seems like there are lots of comments on parquet. Not easy to maintain huh.. but hubby and I really like the warm feeling with parquet flooring. Or should we just consider laminate? Laminate is the cheapest option so far. However we are worry about its durability. We also consider laying tiles with wooden texture, but one of the contractors told us tiles are not expensive, it is the workmanship that is expensive! As timber tiles are very very heavy.

Probably we should go for a better quality laminate?

Durability wise, Laminate should be more durable than parquet as laminate hard to scratch. Water resistance wise, I think both equally poor. Only thing parquet win is that, parquet can sand off the surface but laminate cannot. Even then, you can sand off a few times only (not sure how many times). I do agree, parquet feel is way better.... I wanted to do also but gave up in the end....

[beluga 1]

There is a better quality grade of laminate, I think it is called rubber laminate. I am not saying about the rubber floorings that our granny used in old 1-room flat, they are actually wood laminates. This type of floor laminate are water resistant, but more expensive than normal laminate. Though it is water resistant floor laminate, I don't expect you to pour water or wash the floor. I can't inagine what will happen to the flooring. Valerie, you can consider about this.

Got contractor told me that you cannot use vacuum and mop on laminate floorings but you can use vacuum and mop on parquet.

Engineered wood lor... Hafary got sell. They said can even use it as kitchen flooring. If I'm not mistaken, 10 psf.

[getzski 1]

I chose laminate, cos it is the easiest to change in the future. nothing is glued (parquet) or cemented (tiles) to the floor.

can't really say laminate is that tough though. during renovations, my contractors created a few fine line scratches, and after moving in, i added a few more as well. but i learn to get use to it. it is the same as scratches on cars. if you are particular about that, it will cost you a bomb to always go touch up the scratch lines or re-spray.

[getzski 1]

engineeerd wood and vinyl flooring are also not cheap. almost same price as low/mid grade parquet.

[May_dream1 14]

Durability wise, Laminate should be more durable than parquet as laminate hard to scratch. Water resistance wise, I think both equally poor. Only thing parquet win is that, parquet can sand off the surface but laminate cannot. Even then, you can sand off a few times only (not sure how many times). I do agree, parquet feel is way better.... I wanted to do also but gave up in the end....

I totally agrees.... laminate and parquet are equally difficult to maintain...

my parents' old house have parquet and after a few years, its full of termites. Just because we lives in flat doesn't mean there are no termites. you can check here where there are people having termites issues.

As for laminate, the feel is not good at all. nice to see, not nice to step on. You can read some regret that friends78 have on installing laminate.

Tiles are cold but at least its durable and you can clean it as much as you like. you will appreciate tiles when you have babies... when they are crawling all over and you can mop with dettol etc. not sure whether laminate can stand strong cleaning liquid.

[ayazumi 0]

People with sweaty feet best not to do wood floorings. I don't like the floor to feel sticky

[getzski 1]

People with sweaty feet best not to do wood floorings. I don't like the floor to feel sticky

very good point. i did not factor this into consideration previously. so now i have to dry-mop my laminated floor every 3 days. but it is only a 15m job, so it is not so bad.

[May_dream1 14]

People with sweaty feet best not to do wood floorings. I don't like the floor to feel sticky

not only sticky feeling, can see the footsteps..... my platform have my footprint when i come out of shower.... so have to use magic clean to wipe it till not footprint stains.