HELP......Please!!!

[clueless21]

Hi,

We are in a state of confusion, which engineered floating floor should we choose and why? (we are on a slab)

1. Boral Slikwood in Sydney Blue Gum
2. Readyflor
3. Big River
4. Interloc

Any views on the above are very welcome.....please:please2:Any recommendations at all on floating floors.


Thanks in advance:U

[Claw Hama]

Why not put down real timber? Looks a lot better, lasts forever and it's real.

[clueless21]

Why not put down real timber? Looks a lot better, lasts forever and it's real.

Besides the price, I think it would raise our floor level by too much. We currently have carpet (that we want to replace with floating floors) which meet up with tiles.

[doug1]

Hi Clueless

a number of things come to mind

price is often dependant on the number of strips in the board, how ever the same board in different strips looks very different depending where it is put

I have laid about 55 Metres of 2 strip in a large area, this looks fine, in 3 strip it would look too busy.

You need to consider the thickness of the board and the thickness of your tiles when complete, Ours are 7mm + 2 + 1meaning 7mm board + 2 mm foam + 1 mm plastic sheeting this will determine what thickness should be purchased.

You should consider outside doorways as a source of scratches to you hard work, you will need decent mats to protect the surface. I have 1 ( scratch) and am considered unreasonable in wanting the surface to remain scratch free

Having said that the material is relativly trouble free

Price is usually dependant on garantee , but you want good material as it is too hard to take it up to claim. (Look at the actual garantee

hope this helps

doug

[clueless21]

Just found our that Interloc no longer make floating floors so I think at this stage we may be thinking either Boral Silkwood or Big River......what is the differnce between these two? But then again maybe we should look at boral slimwood 13mm, how high would this raise our floor level compared to silkwood....we are on a slab.

Thanks in advance!

[Wongo]

I was at Bunnings the other day. They have some good looking veneer on ply floating floors for around $50 per m2. Worth having a look.

[That Floor Guy]

All the products you've listed there (Premium, Silkwood, Big River) are pretty close in quality, I guess you just have to pick which one you like the look of most.

Yes you will dint and scratch the surface of any of these boards(like most timber), timber doesn't bounce back and the only way to fix this type of wear is to sand and re-finish, which you'll probably only get one go at (generally if you look after it it'll be years before you'd need to take this step though) You could get real timber because that same timber will be with you for life and still looking great after you've sanded and re-finished it several times (this is great if you're planning on staying where you are for a long time)

These products do look great installed and will last a long lime as long as you keep them clean and put mats at the entrances from outside, felt on chairs, etc.

If you go for the real timber then the height won't be a problem as you can get a rapid-set mortar ramp/s installed under your carpet which you won't notice over 70cm or so (it'll only have to be built up about 20mm). Any descent Carpet Layer could do this for you.

My personal opinion is go for a single plank if you can afford it, I've laid heaps and these always look impressive. Oh yeah and make sure you've got heaps of downlights! it really make the colour look that much better.

[Gaza]

bigriver, followed by ready floor then last of all boral.

bigriver is a great product, hardwood core and has been around for years.

worth the extra $$

[That Floor Guy]

Yep Big River is some nice stuff, actually laying some atm. very solid.

[clueless21]

bigriver, followed by ready floor then last of all boral.


bigriver is a great product, hardwood core and has been around for years

worth the extra $$

Big River seems to be having some good reviews, haven't actually seen it, how does it look compared to Boral Silkwood in Sydney Blue Gum.....anyone have any pics?

Also who in the northern suburbs stocks it?


If you go for the real timber then the height won't be a problem as you can get a rapid-set mortar ramp/s installed under your carpet which you won't notice over 70cm or so (it'll only have to be built up about 20mm). Any descent Carpet Layer could do this for you.


I'm assuming this is only if it meets up with carpert what about if it meets up with tiles?

[That Floor Guy]

Well yes tiles are a different story, although if the difference isn't great then you can simply get the installer to chamfer down the edge a bit, etc. Remember it's not uncommon to have height differences between floor coverings in residential situations (under approx 20mm) and it's something no one usually notices, especially the owner after a short while (don't count a difference in height into your bathrooms, etc, also there's a door there to separate them.

Also if the tiles are a problem remember there's always a Kanga:)

[clueless21]

Sorry.....what's a Kanga????:?

[That Floor Guy]

lol, a Jackhammer mate, ie remove the tiles. not serious tho:)

[123]

Big River will definitely be the best quality engineered flooring there is around. This is made with 5 layers in lieu of 3. What makes the Big River more stable than any other brand is the fact the whatever timber is used as the decorative layer, is also used as the bottom layer (creating even movement throughout)
The only downside is the Sydney Blue Gum by Big river now has a red stain through it, so it is not the traditional sydney blue gum that you may have seen. Nevertheless, a very nice looking floor.

In saying this the Readyflor have approximately 55% of the market, warranties are very good, and overall a very well made product.

If you do still like the Silkwood, i would definitely recommend direct sticking of this product. Good thing about this product is the company behind it. (Boral) they are never going to disappear like some of the companies that sell there stuff out of Bunnings or Harvey Norman.

Either way, if the flooring is installed correctly you will have a great floor. You have narrowed it down to the best 3 products on the market.

Hope this helps,

[glock40sw]

If you see Blue gum flooring at a showroom, and it is traditional timber flooring that you are viewing, It will look completely different to the Big River Blue Gum due to The Big river material being peeled veneer rather than sawn lamellas. Silkwood looks real. Big River looks wrong.

[clueless21]

123
Big River will definitely be the best quality engineered flooring there is around. This is made with 5 layers in lieu of 3.


I have been told that the top layer is only 2.5mm, so wouldn't this give me less wear and maybe only one sand and polish? Managed to get a look at the Sydney blue gum yesterday, it is VERY red.



123
If you do still like the Silkwood, i would definitely recommend direct sticking of this product.


With direct sticking how does the timber move or expand, you must excuse my ignorance, and does that mean I would not need underlay, is it stuck directly onto the slab? If not what underlay should I be using?


Thanks again!

[That Floor Guy]

Honestly mate if your main concern is how many sands your going to get out of your floating floor I would highly recommend that you go for real timber.

Premium and Big River are great floating floors, if installed correctly (floor prepared and expansion allowed for) they last you years. Silkwood is great looking and is still a good product for floating but I do know heaps of installers do like to direct stick it, etc.

If you install any of these three you can't really go wrong as they've all got good backing, just find a retailer your confident in and next thing you know you'll have a great looking floor in your house.

[clueless21]

One last question...I promise.

Readyflor Vs Boral Silkwood, Is Readyflor's middle layer better than the Silkwood as it is made from hardwood whereas Boral is thick pine? Is Readyflor top layer Australian timber? Readyflor total thickness 14mm, Boral 15mm.

So in you opinion, which is the better floor???