Q. I'm looking to install wood flooring. I've got two VERY active yellow labs. I've heard that laminate flooring is much more resistant to scratching by dog nails? Is that true and if so, what brand do you recommend. If not, how do I get hard wood to resist dog nails?

A. Laminate floors are wonderful for owners of indoor pets. Check this link for Pergo flooring. http://www.pergo.com

Q. We are putting down the board like laminate wood flooring that snaps together & have been told it is easy to do . Does anyone know how to do it? We could use your help.

A. Hello, Just follow instructions that are on every pack, Tools needed , Fine tooth saw, square, ammer, stanley knife for scribing the line to be cut,rule and pencil, and common sense. Some you just snap together by hand, others have a driving tool to knock the laminate joints into one another. Just take your time, make sure before jointing up as to take apart again will damage laminate. Go for it.

Q. The carpet in my "new" bedroom is very old and gross...its dirty and a sea green color from the 80s...yuck. My parents are gonna help me re-do my room, but i cant decide on getting a new carpet or wood laminate flooring. I would also like to know if there are any pros/cons on either type of flooring. Btw im 13 yr old girl

A. Absolutely laminate! So much cleaner. Then, get a nice area rug, and you'll have a beautiful room.

Q. I accidentally used a wood floor cleaning product manufactured by Orange Glo that was a polish as well. It has left a stain on my pergo flooring. I have purchased and tried other laminate floor cleaners and nothing seems to work. Any suggestions?

A. This happened to me before....I had to replace the piece. Remember, pergo is laminate flooring unlike actual hard wood that can be re-stained.

Q. I'm a teenager, and I'm redoing my room in kind of a beachy theme. Since we don't plan on moving anytime soon, my parents have given me pretty much free reign with the flooring- as long as it is affordable. I always see cool rooms in magazines with laminate wood flooring, so I'm kind of leaning towards that. But is carpet more practical? Any advice is appreciated! :)

A. The laminate flooring will be 'healthier' for you as it doesnt harbor the dust like carpets... and you can 'see' when you need to run a dust mop around to clean it up. Carpet is good if you want it to be more 'cushy' on bare feet when you are lounging around the room

Q. I'm fixing to move into a project house and one of the first "to-do's" is to replace the carpet with laminate wood flooring. After looking at many colors, I really like black. Unfortunately, I have a feeling there are a lot of negative aspects of having black laminate wood flooring with one (or more) large dogs and a new born that is only going to get older, bigger, and play harder--not to mention there may be more children in the picture down the road.. Anyone have black laminate wood flooring? If so, what are the pros and cons you have seen? Thanks

A. A solid black will show every thing. Blacks that are multi tonal or streaks of grays or other colors show much less.Laminates that look like slate or graining in woods show less too. Mohawk, Congoleum, Quick Step and Alloc all have laminates with these features. Google them and look at their selections.I m sure other companies have these too , but I ve worked with these and are familiar with them... Try also Armstrong and Pergo they also have a wide selection. Once you find some to look at, put in your zip code in the sites store locator to find a dealer near you to see the actual sample... GL

Q. I have just moved in to a brand new property and there is no flooring. The lounge is currently concrete and I am trying to decide whether to have laminate or real wood flooring. What are the pro and cons of real wood and laminate? Also the skirting board is MDF and has been glued to the wall, will this be a messy job to remove - my worries are that the plaster will be damaged when removing the skirting board. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

A. Laminates are less expensive, easier to put down, and wear better. (assuming you don't get the cheap stuff) Wood has a nicer tone, is warmer, and can be sanded so you can get a longer life. If your floor is cement, to lay real wood, you will probably have to lay a subfloor, vapour barrier, and cushion to stop the dampness from warping the wood. As well you will need the subfloor in order to provide a nailing support for the wood. You can lay a "floating" laminate floor on top of a combined barrier and cushion right on the cement. If you use laminate, because it is thinner - leave the skirting board (base board), pull off the quarter round, lay the floor right up against the skirt (with the 1/8 clearance of course) and reinstall new quarter round. SInce the laminate is usually 1/4 inch or so, you don't need to pull off the old skirt.

Q. I have read that laminate wood flooring is a good DIY job and that most are lock together planks. My mom's installer is telling her and me that if we do it ourselves we will have to cut every single piece of wood. While I realize we would have to cut some pieces like around the doors I didn't think we'd have to cut every single piece of laminate. Is that correct?

A. Nope you are correct you have to cut only the planks that are going around door casings and if they are to long to fit into the run. the leftover plank is used to start the next run this will keep your waste to a minimum. http://nckitchenbathremodel.ipage.com