Flooring Question in downtown Charleston, SC?

Question

Hey BP,

I am in the process of ripping out the old carpet in one unit of my downtown Charleston, SC duplex. I am looking to replace with a hard flooring. My original thought was simply a wood-look laminate. I spoke with a neighbor recently and he said that idea could turn out to be a nightmare down the road with these older Charleston homes (mine was built in 1930). He warned about the gaps, peaking, and other problems sometimes associated with floating laminate flooring.

• Does anyone have experience installing laminate flooring in older homes (like those in Charleston) and would be willing to share insight? 
• Would you suggest re-carpetting, wood, tile, other?

I appreciate all your feedback, guidance, and pointers!

Russ Scheider · Answer

Unrelated to this conversation, I just heard a story from a realtor of an ice cube left on a laminate kitchen floor overnight that caused swelling and minor de-lamination.  Terrible product IMHO

Patrick Bross · Answer

@Tim Schmitz - thank you for your input. I hope installing LVP turns out well for you. That is the route I am leaning.

Tim Schmitz · Answer

I just bought LVP for a rehab I'm doing on James Island for a lot of the reasons Russ mentioned. This is the first time I've used it but I've had issues with laminate due to humidity and plumping leaks. It's cheaper than wood and the reviews say it holds up well so we'll see.

Tim

Patrick Bross · Answer

@Scott Winbigler and @Russ Scheider, thank you for the advice Here. Sounds like it's fair to say that the preference would be LVP or wood, and to not even consider laminate. I hate the idea of tearing up the current crappy carpet and replacing with another soon to be crappy carpet, but that might just be personal preference. Since I am very new to all of this, I suppose I thought laminate and vinyl were pretty much the same. Is there really that big of a difference?

This was great feedback and please feel welcome to leave any additional thoughts.

Russ Scheider · Answer

@Scott Winbigler LVP is a great suggestion!  I have used LVP on residential and commercial projects.   In my experience, LVP is extremely long-wearing, inexpensive, and very forgiving.  Great choice for renters, because a single damaged plank can be removed and replaced without affecting the entire floor.

John Semanchuk · Answer

I don't know of any old house specific problems if it's installed properly.  If you have gaps and Peaking (buckling?), then it was probably ultra cheap laminate or not installed properly.  I just looked at a house where the laminate was not installed with the required 1/4" expansion gap around the edges and it was buckling in several places.

If the floor is wavy, that can cause problems too.  Install instructions usually give a maximum tolerance for uneven floors.

Scott Winbigler · Answer

I can tell you that laminate is very susceptible to moisture and liquids in general. Anything spilled on it and left even for a short time can damage the floor. If you like the idea of wood flooring look into lock & fold or glue down wood.

One of the newest items going in is LVP or luxury vinyl plank flooring. Check into it, it's very durable, easy to install and they are coming out with some very attractive wood look designs.

Russ Scheider · Answer

DO NOT put laminate flooring in a downtown property. Laminate floors don't do well in our humid climate.  Furthermore, old houses "breathe" more so than modern homes. Spring for prefinished hardwood flooring. The less expensive narrow (2 1/4") oak flooring in golden oak or gunstock is appropriate to Charleston and will expand and contract with the house in our humid climate.  You can have to prefinished floors re-finished for $2 per square foot in 3-5 years when they wear through. Much cheaper than putting in laminate and replacing it every 12-18 months when the tenants get tired of tripping over the raised seams and the surface starts to peel off revealing the fiberboard core.

Ben Leybovich · Answer

I wouldn't :)

Patrick Bross · Answer

Hey thanks for the input @Ben Leybovich!

I think my concern is less about durability to normal wear and tear, tenant preference, and cost. Its more about the viability of laminate flooring actually standing up to the test of time (minus tenant abuse) given the age of the home and all things that go with it. For instance, I don't want to install laminate only to discover that investors in my area prefer tile or wood because older houses don't "take to" laminate well, if you will.

i.e. I think I am looking for confidence that laminate flooring will agree with the structural integrity of older Charleston homes.

Does that make any sense?

Flooring Question in downtown Charleston, SC?

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