I find the hard floors don't keep the house as warm as the carpet, but I also do not like pee on my rugs.

I really want a pellet stove. Maybe next winter. Right now I'm using the kerosene Monitor, and it does a very good job. The electric heat didn't warm the house up as well.

I got a roomba for the laminate floors. It does a good job of vacuuming. I let it loose in the great room and it does it's thing and then I put it away. I still have to wash the floors, and I must dry them or they streak. I think it will be much easier when they finish working on the house. I'll give the floors a really thorough cleaning and then I don't think I'll have to wash them more them once or twice a week.

I don't recommend dark, glossy laminate though. They're too much work because they streak.