Laminate in Lake Oswego, OR

Usually, yes, and it is generally the better call. Original millwork in the older neighborhoods is worth keeping. We scribe and undercut to it rather than shimming a floor to a wall that has not been straight since the 1920s, and we quote quarter-round or shoe only where it genuinely improves the finish.

Attached and multi-level homes often have one, and it is worth checking your HOA or building documents before you order anything. Bring us the requirement and we will spec an underlayment that meets it. It is a small cost at the start and an expensive problem to fix after the floor is down.

Yes — stairs and trim are one of our core services. On the multi-level homes common here, treads, risers, nosings and the transition at each landing are what make the whole job read as finished. We would rather do them with the floor than leave you looking for a second contractor.

Neither, they are good at different things. Laminate has a harder wear surface and usually looks better for the money, so it wins in living rooms, bedrooms and hallways. LVP handles water, so it wins in kitchens, bathrooms, entries and laundries. Running both in one house, with a planned transition, is a common and sensible answer.

We would rather it did not. Kitchens have dishwashers, fridges with water lines and sinks, and the failure mode for a wood-cored floor is a leak that runs for a week behind a cabinet. Water-resistant laminates have improved a lot, but the honest recommendation for a kitchen is LVP or tile.

Almost always because it is floating over a subfloor that was not flattened, or over a missing or unsuitable underlayment. The plank is bridging a dip and drumming against the void underneath. Fix the subfloor and the sound goes away. It is a preparation issue rather than something inherent to the product.