Flooring selection dilema

Hello,

I was surfing the net looking for flooring information and found this site. In a nutshell, I am trying to make an informed decision about flooring. I have quite a bit of building/carpentry experience and "do it myself" is the norm with around-the-house projects. I have a difficult time, however, selecting things like flooring since I don't have a lot of mixed feelings about the options. Of course, everyone has an opinion and this is one of those cases where I'd really like to hear them!

My dad and I built the house about ten years ago and used mostly carpeting w/ vinyl in the kitchen/baths to save money (except for 3/4 T&G oak in the entryways). I have since remodeled the master bath with ceramic tile (including building-in the shower) and am now looking at remodeling the upstairs bedroom areas for two (soon to be three) children that have since come along. These areas are presently carpet but I am definitely going to replace the hallway carpet with a hard surface and do the same in some large (presently non-floored) walk-in closet areas. The bath will be tile. The bedroom areas are up in the air. We may just leave the carpet while the kids are young or I am open to replacing with a hard surface.

So... what I am looking for are opinions about laminates (or hard wood) in children's areas. I'm concerned about the noise from overhead as well as the damage the kids may do to the floor. Wood floor is possible but there will be a lot of "bang bang bang" over my head when they're playing up there. I have no experience as to how loud or soft a laminate floor would/could be. Subfloor is in excellent shape (3/4 T&G over pine trusses)--i.e., it is flat.

Any and all opinions about what kind of flooring you would personally use in upstairs bedroom areas are most welcome.

Thank you!

 

You will find substancial info here by reading the "back" and "archive" posts. Click on the blue www button below and check out my website for some more insight.

There are a couple of underlayment products that excell in reduced transmission of noise downward through the floor to the room below.

Good luck in your search for infomation, and your project.