nerdnik ---- Thanks for the great advice! Unfortunately, the hardwoods in the house are in horrible condition. About 70% of the living room hardwoods are in great condition, but the other 30% was ripped up and replaced with plywood. The bedroom/office downstairs had hardwood, but they glued the carpet pad down and the floor is in HORRIBLE condition. Same with the kitchen. The kitchen had the same awesome hardwood that the living room has, but they glued down lenoleum. We're not talking 15 years ago, either; this lenoleum looked to be about 80 years old. HORRIBLE. It took us two days, just to scrape it up. And I like hardwood, but I like carpet better...it's more cozy. We're going to have porcelain tile in the den, kitchen, entry, and bathrooms, and carpet everywhere else.