The carpets have had it.

[the.fee.fairy]

it wasn't aimed at anyone on here specifically, it was just the throwaway comments about it being funny to watch dogs.

I The reason i apologised was because while it is a subject i feel strongly about (i had a Gt Dane cross who suffered with hip problems in the last 6 months of his life) i don't want to fall out with anyone because i really do enjoy using these forums.

So...that's why i apologised...i don't want anyone to be offended! And i don't like upsetting people...

I'm glad to hear that you have loads of rugs for your doggies...

[Wombat]

OK, someone has to ask it, and it may as well be me................what in the blue blazes is "laminate"? Until Muddy's comment I thought it was some obscure English dialect for Vinyl........

Nev

[Cheezy]

OK, someone has to ask it, and it may as well be me................what in the blue blazes is "laminate"? Until Muddy's comment I thought it was some obscure English dialect for Vinyl........

Nev

Nev, at worst it's 7mm thick interlocking MDF planks with fake wood effect foiling on it. At best it's 14mm thick plywood with a real 2mm wood veneer.
You put a layer of noise damping foam sheet over your current flooring (or just leave the carpet down) and float this on top. They tongue and groove, and these either are glued or "clip" As MP says you either have to remove the skurting or put nosing down cos it floats you have to leave a 10mm gap between the wall, which you need to cover up.
Tis the lasted fad. The "good" stuff is as expensive as buying real oak floor boards, I know cos I opted for real oak in my bathroom. ( I had to replace the boards and some joists any way due to wood worm and dry rot.)

Edit

P.S We love real linolium flooring in the kitchen. Forbo Nairn still make it. Its hard wearing, warm, made of natural ingredient and in naturally antiseptic.

Also Yes they have banned carpets as weed suspress due to the chemicals in carpets.

[Muddypause]

Quite clearly, this is going to be the thread that causes SS-ish to be taken off air due to uncontrolable flames, à la ACL

So, here's an option that we may all be able to agree is preferable to all the rest.

[Boots]

Oh yeah, now we're talking!

That looks ab fab, and I had been wondering about just that for some time as I want to extend and floor an entrance. What an excellent entrance that would make!

P.S. Carpet sucks, Lino sucks.... I have bits of both, but mostly polished concrete (and rugs in the cooler months) and that works just fine for me. Easy to keep clean, cool in summer, bit of a bugger if you drop something though... Have looked into staining it and would like to if only I could find the right stuff to do it. Have seen some brilliant mock marble floors... Oh, and I have a painted mat, but it hasn't held up too well and after 4 years needs re-doing.

[Shirley]

I was looking at this sort of thing recently Muddy!! I really like the look of it.

We've got laminate in the newer part of the house - I HATE it.. the dog hates it, the kids hate it... well no.. actually my 12 year old loves it because he uses it as a slide!! It's already got some heap big scratches in it from moving furniture/kids toys etc. It must be real cheapo stuff.

In the old part of the house we've got bamboo flooring - which looks great.. MUCH warmer underfoot but it's still slippy when polished. We need a big rug - it's on the wish list.... maybe I'll get round to that ragrug stuff, but will that not just slip about on the bamboo??

[Boots]

What's that Bamboo Flooring Shirlz? Is it like a pulped wood finish or a mat, like woven bamboo?

I have a huge clump of a real thin bamboo - like fishing rod bamboo - and I had considered maybe weaving it into screens... I need to do something with it, as it really needs cutting back.

[Cheezy]

I have bits of mostly polished concrete (and rugs in the cooler months) and that works just fine for me. Easy to keep clean, cool in summer, bit of a bugger if you drop something though... Have looked into staining it and would like to if only I could find the right stuff to do it.

Hey Boots saw some "fashionable" TV prog the other night, 'parently polished concrete is defo the des res.!, You trend setter you!.

MP like the cob floor idea, gonna have to add that to the green oak barn I'm, wishing on the ultimate house thread. (if thats OK with Dave, whose sharing with us:)

[Millymollymandy]

Hey I have beaten earth floor in my chook sheds - does this mean I have the trendiest chooks in town?

You guys want to revert to the way many old folks in France still live now? Ok they don't have polished beaten earth, but.....

As for laminate being slippery and dangerous for dogs! So are tiles, so is real wood!!! You should see the cats slip on the tiles too! What the cats DON'T like is the static shocks they get when I stroke them when I'm standing on carpet!!!!!!!

[Shirley]

http://www.bambooflooringcompany.com/shop.html

Boots.... take a look at that. Would have to wash my floor to take a pic and post here

Cheezy - Green oak barn with an earthern floor sounds perfect... You could commission Timberframer (David) to make one for you

[the.fee.fairy]

the bamboo looks nice, but are there still problems with noise like with Laminate or wood flooring?