Hey
I just signed up because we are looking to purchase hardwood flooring for the living room and kitchen. It's a very small, but open floor plan.
We have 2 1/4 red oak in the bedrooms that hasn't been touched for 40+ years. We are factoring in the price of refinishing vs. purchasing new hardwood.
Plus, being such a small house, we want the flooring to be the same throughout.

We are looking at Kahrs Linnea line in walnut city for a couple reasons.

1) Even though it's only 1/4 thick, the Kahrs installation instructions explain that it can go over another wood floor, as long as the wood floor is level and treated much like you would prepare a subfloor.
Although it says it must float over the existing hardwood.
2) Online price of $3.50 fits well within our budget
3) Only 2 adults live here and we plan to keep it that way.

Has anyone used this product whether you are a homeowner or an installer?
I read some pretty bad amazon reviews that say the floors crack, the finish is terrible, and they squeak a lot.
I'm sure some of these problems aren't the fault of the flooring company, but for every review to be bad really raises some red flags.
But then again, people usually write bad reviews when they are displeased and write nothing when they are happy with it because they assume thats the way it's always supposed to be.

This is a huge decision and purchase and want some expert reviews so I dont blow 3 grand on bad flooring.

Thanks

Mike

Hi Mike! You know the top veneer wear layer is only 1/64 of an inch. If you didn't have a an oak floor under there already and just had some OSB I'd say go for it with reservations. Just because an Oak floor is 40 years old does not mean it doesn't have another 40 years left in it. Try getting 40 years outa that Kahrs floor.

Kahrs website is a little misleading, it says;

Kährs Linnea
Number of layers: 3. Veneer base, HDF core and hardwood surface layer.
Surface layer: 1/64”
Installation: To be installed floating on a level, solid surface. Can also be glued down.
Warranty: 15 years
Can be sanded: Not needed but can be recoated.

"Can be sanded"??? I seriously doubt it, but it can have a recoat but you would have to be so careful not to hit a high spot and sand through the 1/64 in wear layer I doubt any finish guy would want to touch it.

Plus, would not glue it, that would be a huge mess and then you might have to demo the old oak. I think you'd be better off just buying a high end laminate for the same price. And many of those click wood floors do make noise even on the flattest substrates.

If it were me I'd redo the oak if it were in good enough condition.