Quickstep

I'm sold on Quickstep laminate, but I'm curious about something. There is a 7 mm product that is less expensive and, I think, looks great. I want to put this in a living room and bedrooms. The sales person told me that the 7mm product is really just as good as the 8mm, just doesn't have the range of color/texture options you get in the 8mm. He is told by the Quickstep rep that the extra mm isn't worth the extra dollar and a half in terms of the way the product wears. Because of the volume I'm buying, I can get the 7mm in gunstock red oak for $1.35 sq.ft. and the 8mm product is $2.95. Anyone have first hand knowledge of the 7mm Quickstep product?
Thanks -

 

That is a very big price difference and maybe because Quickstep sells several quality levels of 7mm products. That aside, the best answer can be known when we know how sound and how flat the sub floor. Remember that a laminate is a finish or veneer and not so much a structural product. If the sub floor is super flat there's not much difference but 3/16 of an inch in 8' can be the difference in success and failure based on the plank thickness.

 

The subfloors are sound - plywood in the living rom and dining room, and the bedrooms have a 9inch cork tile that is currently there. If the cork looked good, I'd keep it, but it's showing age and discoloration. There are no areas where we need to fill in or level. So, I'm confident in the subfloor. This product is the 700 series common in Canada (they call it Steps in Canada, not Quickstep). It's got a 15 year warranty that the company is bumping up to 25 to match the other products. The only difference in this 7mm product is one mm from what we've researched. It's the uniclick system and we're purchasing the underlayment recommended for the floor. I hope it's the right choice! Thanks for your reply.

 

There is more than just the mm that makes another floor more money. No company would make a laminate exactly the same, then add a mm for xtra thickness. If these guys don't know what ELSE may be different, I would ask someone else.

 

Thanks, yes, like I mentioned in the first posting, there is a much bigger selection in the 8mm product. The color selection, and specialties such as "perspective" "living surface" and other characteristics that make the product LOOK different. I was curious if anyone had experience with the 700 series which is the 7mm product.
Thanks

 

Actually the 8MM product was the more or less original. The 7MM was added to compete with lower priced copy cat products. Eventually even cheaper 7MM and 6MM found their way to market. At the same time thicker products at a higher price also got their start. As the market for laminate expanded so did the varieties available. I'ts still best to find the product with an appearance that will look best to you, in your home, and research the product specifications to determine that the product will meet your expectations. The price difference of various flooring is tiny when compared that to the value of your home, choose wisely. The brands with the most color & pattern choices, still seem to be the same ones meeting buyers expectations best.

The thickness of laminate flooring will be most impacted by the surface and flatness of the subfloor, the success of the installer and to some degree the underlayment chosen.

 

Great information - thanks so much!

 

I'm installing the Quickstep 8mm long plank myself.

Did the sales guy mention that the 7mm warranty is 15 yrs vs the 8 mm 25 year warranty?

For me that made a difference, for you maybe not so important.

*oops* I missed your post where you already knew that