Flooring options - recommendations/opinionns?

[MaytagMan]

Looking for experience, input, and recommendations…


As I mentioned in the Unhappy thread – I had a tiny frig leak that caused a big issue. Water got under the existing super low-grade laminate and with the damage, it is all going to have to come up and I’m going to need to replace about 500 sf of flooring on a slab.

It will be in dining room/family room area so no direct prolonged moisture, and there will not be a ton of foot traffic, no pets, and there will be rugs in the family room and under the dining room table.

I would love to consider getting the existing slab resurfaced in the brown color family to match the room and polished, but I imagine that is super expensive so that is out.

I’m looking into either a high grade laminate or lvp.

Ease in installation would be a plus since I’m planning to do it but otherwise does anyone have any thoughts, opinions, or experiences with either?

And if so, and manufacturers to consider or avoid?

I’ve look at consumer reports and such, but I’d like real info from real people too…



Thanks for your input!!!

 

[rbbrock]

I've done something like 1500 square feet of "snap together" laminate and vinyl. Most of it was the super cheap stuff because we had little kids and pets and planned on it getting wrecked anyway, but the main bathroom was mid level LVP. My recommendation would be something that is glue down, not floating, but if you do floating glue the joints in the high traffic portions (top and bottom of stairs, doorways, the entire kitchen) because it starts to come apart eventually. The ease of installation is great, but I've not been super impressed with it long term. I do look at the stuff when at the store occasionally and the newer high end stuff does appear to be better from what I can tell.

For what it's worth, I'm gradually replacing it room by room as needed with regular hardwood. It's not that much more expense, and far nicer. But I see you are on a slab so that would be a lot more work and cost to lay in a nailable subfloor. I'll probably do glue down sheet vinyl in the kitchen and bathroom due to moisture concerns.

 

[MaytagMan]

Thanks for the info! I'm just doing the family and dining room areas - the kitchen is tile so no worries there - and no stairs.

Whichever way I go, I'm definitely going a high grade poduct - plus no kids and no pets, so I'm hoping that will give me the best life span possible.