Are you putting it in the kitchen also? I have the same dilemna. I also have the issue of requiring sound insulation regupol in an apartment and what gets out down first, the kitchen joinery and floor around or joinery on top. I have selected tongue n groove but have a very uneven concrete floor which now need levelling and doubling flooring costs. So check that you have fairly even underfloor for engineered flooring. Agnes

Cracks on the joins after a few years in a lot of cases. Insulation properties are like most FC cladding. The wall insulation batts do the work with a bit of assistance from the cladding. Insulate the walls no matter where you live or what material is on the outside or inside. Insulation is the answer to an efficient home. Its a prerequisite anyway with energy efficiency legislation, quite cheap as well. James Hardie/Scyon are good products. Not cheap or really quick but nothing good ever is. Hebel panels are a good alternative to brick but really the thermal mass is better on the inside of a house not the outside. So reverse brick veneer or Hebel internal walls with FC cladding outside and bulk insulation to wall cavity's.

Hi Lorraine, sorry I missed your question. I only bought this house a few months back and the glue has deteriorated anyway so I used the steam mop to test it out before I get new flooring. Because many animals lived in this house I was hoping the steam would help kill germs. I've read so many opinions on the use of steam on both vinyl and laminate so I'm at a bit of a loss now. One of my joeys has laminate and has been using a steam mop on it for 12 years now with no ill effects at all, despite that supposedly being a big no-no, but she found it so quick and efficient when the kids were toddlers particularly and the floor needed doing almost daily. I just have to wonder these days how much manufacturers are protecting themselves and not giving consumers honest information. How often do you buy an item of cotton clothing and then find the label says "dry clean only". This does not mean the item can't be washed, it is to protect the manufacturer from someone doing something like washing in boiling water. We need more transparency in care instructions, only then can consumers make informed decisions on the right product for them. If steam is going to affect the glue, then it follows water will too so then it comes down to just how do you clean your floors. Manufacturers' special products that are always ridiculously expensive are not the answer and having access to these products is not always possible for country people either. I believe there are two types of vinyl planks too - one type are glued down, the others are a floating floor which would not require glue, but I was told in the event of damage, a glued plank is much easier to replace than one in a floating floor. There are so many glues on the market now too, there must be one that could be used to reglue a plank that has come adrift.

Do you have any furniture you are wanting to put in there ? Does any of it have any colour ? I like the light floor colour , the rest let's just say it is a good neutral base . I'd start with a new front door -- a darker varnished ( glossy ) wooden door , or possibly even a blue to reference your outside . Then add colour via furniture ( or at least cushions ) , rugs , and artwork . Again , maybe several different blues would tie in with the floor , but also the exterior . If there are only blue exterior highlights , you may want to go for warmer colour inside -- reds , yellows , oranges -- again , ties in with the floor . To this end , I can't understand why people go with 117 shades of grey and offwhite and wheat -- live a colourful life is my attitude , as long as it is themed haha !