Remove the parquet flooring - install laminate

Hello everyone,

In our used property (25-year-old single-family house), there is strip parquet flooring in the children's rooms and the study. It shows "normal" wear and tear. The plan was/is to have the floor sanded and sealed before moving in, which will happen sometime in spring.

Now we noticed a laminate floor (wild oak design) at friends' place that we really like. Therefore, the idea came to us to tear out the strip parquet and install the laminate. The laminate price is cheaper than having the strip parquet sanded and sealed. We would lay the laminate ourselves.

Is there anything speaking against this? How laborious will it be to remove the strip parquet including the adhesive? Oh yes – the house has underfloor heating. The laminate would be suitable for this (without gluing).

What speaks in favor? What against? What should we consider or think about in our planning?

Thank you very much in advance

The parquet strip flooring is likely more durable, meaning it will still be there even if you have already replaced the laminate twice. From my experience with laminate and underfloor heating, I can say I wouldn't want that again; it tends to be rather cold underfoot. If the parquet looks good overall, I would have it refinished and not switch to laminate. It's natural material versus plastic after all.

I am also definitely in favor of keeping the parquet floor! It certainly feels much more pleasant underfoot than the laminate. Best to have it sanded and just oiled, without lacquering it again.

Remove parquet to lay laminate?! That immediately makes all the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. But if it’s cheaper and you like it better ... what else can you say

Compare the thickness of the coverings including impact sound insulation etc., and what that does with the door frames etc. Are you sure that parquet is so easy to remove and that you won’t encounter any surprises underneath?

Are you sure that parquet is so easy to remove and that you won't encounter any surprises underneath?

I suspect that because it is fully glued down, any savings will quickly vanish.
Refinishing the floor probably won’t be free either.

It's no coincidence that many parquet layers say, "You won’t get it out like that anymore, luckily the floor will outlive you."

Inferior goods are rarely more expensive than high-quality ones. But if you absolutely oppose value retention and prefer having plastic stuff in the house: go ahead, but who can understand the world?!? I cannot comprehend it: laminate is an inexpensive alternative for those who cannot afford parquet... That's what it was invented for...,