I’m about to install a new hardwood floor in my family room. After countless threads, articles, and cost considerations, I’ve decided on engineered wood flooring. I’m referring to the all wood plywood, snap together type stuff..not the Pergo laminate. I wanted to install prefinished 3/4 inch nail down strip but the additional amount of “demolition” and cost of a nail gun was too much.
I found Vanguard snap together flooring at Home Depot. It was a much higher grade than the Bruce flooring. I’ll be checking out the local lumberyard and dedicated flooring stores to see what they have. The Bruce flooring, from what I have read on this forum, is one of the cheaper brands so I’d like to avoid it…unless they have a pro grade that’s not sold in Home Depot.
What are your thoughts or experience with Vanguard flooring? Good quality, ease of installation, durability?
Any other brands I should check out? Any brands I should definitely avoid?
There are just so many brands that they all look the same.
Replies
Last year I bought 30 SF of Vanguard for a walk-in closet. It was a test to see if I should buy a larger quantity for an entire room. During assembly the floor had some small gaps between boards which I could not close up no matter how much I whacked it (this is the plywood with 1/8 inch thick show wood on top - supposed to be good for 3 refinishes). The gaps are small, less than 1/32 inch, but since most of the joints have zero gaps they stand out. But it's only a walk-in closet. Would not buy it for a whole room.
Twenty years ago I installed a Bruce parquet floor. Still excellent (no gaps anywhere) and the finish is perfect. Moderate use. Unless Bruce has changed for the worse you shouldn't go wrong with them.
I've never used Vanguard.
You should check out Kahrs though.
It is a little expensive but I think it has one of the best locking joints I've seen.