Was thinking about changing my kitchen floor. I have a lot of traffic. Was told about Laminate flooring.?

Question

Is this the best? My wood work is honey oak color. If i go with the wood look on the floor do i go darker or lighter for the floor. Thanks

Answer 1

One thing to ask about putting a laminate floor in a kitchen setting is whether or not your warranty will be voided if it sustains moisture damage. Some varieties of laminate will disallow claims if you install them in areas which are typified by the risk of excessive moisture - like kitchens. Laminate floors are designed to resist moisture, but once it gets in between the boards, it can cause visible warping.

Also, if traffic is a concern, it's important to take note of the AC rating - this stands for "abrasion class". For general household use, AC3 is the bare minimum. Ask about this too. It's important not to do things on the cheap when you're looking to have a laminate floor last a long time. There are a lot of cheap laminates out there which are prone to show signs of wear early even if they look great in the store or when you first lay them down. The AC rating is an international standard to provide a guideline as to how to judge this possibility as a consumer. Take advantage of it!

As for color, that's really a taste issue. Some like a more uniform look while others appreciate contrast a bit more. What ever you choose, it might be an idea to order samples of some of the types of laminates - both light and dark - that you're interested in. Once you've got your samples, see what types of effects you can get when you compare them to your current wood work.

Once you've decided on the right one, see about ordering the right kind of underlay with your laminate. See about whether or not you can get the 3-in-one type of underlayment - moisture barrier/acoustical/cushion - and whether it makes sense to use it on your particular subfloor.

Answer 2

I've had a laminate floor for over 3 years and nothing, and I mean NOTHING damages it. It still looks brand new. I was told that if you have a light oak color woodwork, pick a floor maybe a tad darker. Better still, bring a piece of your wood work and hold it against the various colors of laminate

Answer 3

I had a kitchen floor put in that was interlocking laminate tiles (about 16 inches square) that looked like terra cotta tile. The surface was flat, but the image - particularly the "grout" lines on the edges - were shaded so realistically that a friend of mine who does tile didn't notice that it was laminate until I told him it was. Even then, he had to get down on his hands and knees to verify that it wasn't real tile.

Anyway, when they install this stuff, they put a thin foam rubber backing down prior to installing the tiles to reduce noise, provide a bit of cushioning, and as a moisture barrier. The interlocking tabs were the length of the entire sides of the tiles (two sides had tongues and two sides had grooves). And, they lock together pretty tightly. So, there was never a problem with moisture geting through, buckling of the tiles, etc. It's also extremely durable and easy to clean.

Regarding the color, I would go with at least a slightly darker color on the floor than the cabinetry, and as dark as you want to go (like walnut or cherry, if that's your preference). I had natural maple hardwood floors once with white kitchen cabinets. And, it only really looked good because the maple, as light as it was, was still darker than the white cabinets.

Answer 4

4 kids and a dog...nothing has ever happened to the laminate. If it gets wet, you wipe it up. I clean the laminate with Murphy's Oil Soap for wood floors, once a week (smells good) and the rest of the time, I use the swiffer. No complaints.

Answer 5

I did Bruce hardwood flooring from Home Depot. And, it is great stuft. Only hardwood will increase the value of your home and if something happens to the laminate you have to take the whole floor apart, hardwood you can just take out a section

Answer 6

Stay away from laminate flooring it looks cheap ans if it gets any kind of moisture it will buckle.